Below is an account from the lighthouse keeper from Machias Island, which is situated 12 miles off the northeast coast of Maine. Its famous for its puffins. His account deals with a major fallout of warblers dropping in like flies in dense fog May 24th. To get the whole incredible story, read on and click on the picture link to the keeper's blog (after clicking on the link , go to the bottom files "MAY 24th" )
The lighthouse keeper is describing the warblers landing on him:
"The wind drop and shift overnight seems to have encouraged heavy migrant movement. The movement through here was easily the largest this year and one of the largest that I've ever seen. The fog and rain showers prompted lots of fall-outs. There was a good mix of species including shorebirds and Gr. Blue Herons. Thrushes and Catbirds were noted but the mass was warblers. At one point, while on the light taking a few photos, I counted 15 warblers perched on me comprising 11 species. They feel odd when they cling to your beard or cozy down to sleep in your hair. A Blackburnian Warbler and Yellow Warbler squabbled for several minutes to see which would perch on my right index finger, both oblivious to the finger's movements as I took photos and made camera adjustments. Evenyually, both the warblers lost the apparent prime perch to a male Common Yellowthroat. That fellow kept his position for nearly a half hour, interrupted only briefly when I had to reach into my pocket a coup0le times. I bet that White Head is dripping warblers this morning." 15 Warblers perched on him????
Here's a link to a brief photo essay http://www.surfbirds.com/mb/Features/MSI2007/MSI2007.html
Wonder what the job pays - may get a little lonely out there but great birding :) Brian Hansen Milwaukee On Fri, May 27, 2011 at 9:14 PM, Mike McDowell wrote: > > >
http://www.pbase.com/lightrae/naturenb
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
The ugly side of Wind Energy ( Windmills)
http://tinyurl.com/Windmillskillsbirds
Check out this video regarding Windmills
http://www.youtube.com/abcbirds#p/u/33/QRSAvD8VAbI
From ABC Birds Conservancy media press release:
Dramatic Video Shows Bird Strike at Wind Turbine: One Bird Currently Killed Every Minute by Wind Power in the U.S.
Footage available for editorial use - click here to preview
Experts available for interview
(Washington, D.C., April 5, 2011) American Bird Conservancy (ABC), the nation’s leading bird conservation organization, today distributed dramatic footage showing a wind turbine striking a bird—a poignant illustration of the dangers posed to birds by the burgeoning wind industry. The footage will also appear as part of a wind TV commercial to be run on major networks later this week. The commercial encourages viewers to sign a petition asking that wind power be made bird-smart.
Estimates by the federal government say that currently, about 440,000 birds are killed annually by wind farms in the U.S., nearly one bird every minute.
“While the present bird impacts from wind farms are unacceptable, we are doubly concerned about what will happen as the U.S. increases its wind capacity approximately 12-fold by 2030 to meet federal targets. At the present rate of wind development, we expect to see bird kills in the millions from wind farms in coming years,” said Michael Parr, Vice President of ABC.
“ABC supports wind power when it is bird-smart, and believes that birds and wind power can co-exist if the wind industry is held to mandatory standards that protect birds,” said Parr.
Bird-smart wind power implements siting considerations, operational and construction mitigation, bird monitoring, and compensation to redress any unavoidable bird mortality and habitat loss.
The dramatic video, which was provided to ABC courtesy of instantlyviral.com, was filmed in Crete by an American tourist in the area. It shows a Griffon Vulture striking a large, modern wind turbine similar to those commonly in use in the United States. The bird suffered a broken wing and has been in rehab for over one year, still unable to fly.
“Many people mistakenly think that birds will routinely avoid wind turbine blades, but in reality, turbines kill more than 40,000 birds each month. One encounter with a wind turbine is typically fatal, so there is no learning curve for the birds. Eagles, vultures, and hawks tend to be looking for prey as they soar, so they often fail to see the blades until it is too late,” Parr said.
ABC has scheduled a Congressional briefing on April 8th on the issue. More than 40 bird groups from 25 states have already signed on in support of the bird-smart wind campaign and the list of supporters is growing rapidly.
American Bird Conservancy (www.abcbirds.org) conserves native birds and their habitats throughout the Americas by safeguarding the rarest species, conserving and restoring habitats, and reducing threats while building capacity in the bird conservation movement. ABC is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit membership organization.
=
Check out this video regarding Windmills
http://www.youtube.com/abcbirds#p/u/33/QRSAvD8VAbI
From ABC Birds Conservancy media press release:
Dramatic Video Shows Bird Strike at Wind Turbine: One Bird Currently Killed Every Minute by Wind Power in the U.S.
Footage available for editorial use - click here to preview
Experts available for interview
(Washington, D.C., April 5, 2011) American Bird Conservancy (ABC), the nation’s leading bird conservation organization, today distributed dramatic footage showing a wind turbine striking a bird—a poignant illustration of the dangers posed to birds by the burgeoning wind industry. The footage will also appear as part of a wind TV commercial to be run on major networks later this week. The commercial encourages viewers to sign a petition asking that wind power be made bird-smart.
Estimates by the federal government say that currently, about 440,000 birds are killed annually by wind farms in the U.S., nearly one bird every minute.
“While the present bird impacts from wind farms are unacceptable, we are doubly concerned about what will happen as the U.S. increases its wind capacity approximately 12-fold by 2030 to meet federal targets. At the present rate of wind development, we expect to see bird kills in the millions from wind farms in coming years,” said Michael Parr, Vice President of ABC.
“ABC supports wind power when it is bird-smart, and believes that birds and wind power can co-exist if the wind industry is held to mandatory standards that protect birds,” said Parr.
Bird-smart wind power implements siting considerations, operational and construction mitigation, bird monitoring, and compensation to redress any unavoidable bird mortality and habitat loss.
The dramatic video, which was provided to ABC courtesy of instantlyviral.com, was filmed in Crete by an American tourist in the area. It shows a Griffon Vulture striking a large, modern wind turbine similar to those commonly in use in the United States. The bird suffered a broken wing and has been in rehab for over one year, still unable to fly.
“Many people mistakenly think that birds will routinely avoid wind turbine blades, but in reality, turbines kill more than 40,000 birds each month. One encounter with a wind turbine is typically fatal, so there is no learning curve for the birds. Eagles, vultures, and hawks tend to be looking for prey as they soar, so they often fail to see the blades until it is too late,” Parr said.
ABC has scheduled a Congressional briefing on April 8th on the issue. More than 40 bird groups from 25 states have already signed on in support of the bird-smart wind campaign and the list of supporters is growing rapidly.
American Bird Conservancy (www.abcbirds.org) conserves native birds and their habitats throughout the Americas by safeguarding the rarest species, conserving and restoring habitats, and reducing threats while building capacity in the bird conservation movement. ABC is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit membership organization.
=
Friday, April 15, 2011
NYCDEP buys more land to protect NYC reservoirs
It may not seem like a big thing but the NYC Department of Environmental Protection which safeguards and manages NYC's drinking water bought 1775 acres of additional watershed recently. For birds, this means a good thing.....
see the link : http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/press_releases/11-28pr.shtml
see the link : http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/press_releases/11-28pr.shtml
Monday, April 4, 2011
Sunday, April 3, 2011
JBWR task force meeting April 7th
URGENT NOTICE, CHANGE IN MEETING LOCATION
JAMAICA BAY TASK FORCE MEETING
APRIL 7, 2011 @ 6:30 pm
NEW LOCATION--
AMERICAN LEGION HALL ¼ MILE SOUTH OF WILDLIFE REFUGE CENTER ON WEST SIDE OF Cross Bay Blvd.Broad Channel, NY
-209 Crossbay Blvd Broad Channel NY 11693 1-718-474-5029
MAP----http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl
AGENDA
6:30 - 6:45 Sign in, Introductions, Acknowledgement of Elected/Agency
Officials
6:45 - 7:05 Overview of Regional plan Association Proposed Plan for
Expansion of JFK Airport- Environmental Response
Dan Mundy Jr. Jamaica Bay Ecowatchers
7:05 - 7:15 Potential impacts of JFK Expansion
Brad Sewell, Senior Attorney, Natural Resources Defense
Council
7:15 - 7:35 JFK Airport Expansion and Bird Hazard issues
Don Riepe, Jamaica Bay Guardian
7:35 - 7:55 Marine Life in the targeted areas; A commercial/recreational
perspective from the local Fishing Industry
Captain Vincent Calibri
7;55- 8:30 Discussion, Q & A
Co-Chairs: Dan Mundy, Don Riepe
JAMAICA BAY TASK FORCE MEETING
APRIL 7, 2011 @ 6:30 pm
NEW LOCATION--
AMERICAN LEGION HALL ¼ MILE SOUTH OF WILDLIFE REFUGE CENTER ON WEST SIDE OF Cross Bay Blvd.Broad Channel, NY
-209 Crossbay Blvd Broad Channel NY 11693 1-718-474-5029
MAP----http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl
AGENDA
6:30 - 6:45 Sign in, Introductions, Acknowledgement of Elected/Agency
Officials
6:45 - 7:05 Overview of Regional plan Association Proposed Plan for
Expansion of JFK Airport- Environmental Response
Dan Mundy Jr. Jamaica Bay Ecowatchers
7:05 - 7:15 Potential impacts of JFK Expansion
Brad Sewell, Senior Attorney, Natural Resources Defense
Council
7:15 - 7:35 JFK Airport Expansion and Bird Hazard issues
Don Riepe, Jamaica Bay Guardian
7:35 - 7:55 Marine Life in the targeted areas; A commercial/recreational
perspective from the local Fishing Industry
Captain Vincent Calibri
7;55- 8:30 Discussion, Q & A
Co-Chairs: Dan Mundy, Don Riepe
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Jamaica Bay Task Force meeting on JFK airport expansion issue
JAMAICA BAY TASK FORCE MEETING
APRIL 7, 2011 @ 6:30 pm
NPS Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center
Cross Bay Blvd. Broad Channel, NY 11693
AGENDA
6:30 - 6:45 Sign in, Introductions, Acknowledgment of Elected/Agency
Officials
6:45 - 7:05 Overview of Regional Plan Association Proposed Plan for
Expansion of JFK Airport- Environmental Response
Dan Mundy Jr. Jamaica Bay Ecowatchers
7:05 - 7:15 Potential impacts of JFK Expansion
Brad Sewell, Senior Attorney, Natural Resources Defense
Council
7:15 - 7:35 JFK Airport Expansion and Bird Hazard issues
Don Riepe, Jamaica Bay Guardian
7:35 - 7:55 Marine Life in the targeted areas; A
commercial/recreational
Perspective from the local Fishing Industry
Captain Vincent Calabro
7:55- 8:30 Discussion, Q & A
Dan Mundy, Don Riepe
Co-Chairs
For more information and directions, please call 718-318-9344
APRIL 7, 2011 @ 6:30 pm
NPS Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center
Cross Bay Blvd. Broad Channel, NY 11693
AGENDA
6:30 - 6:45 Sign in, Introductions, Acknowledgment of Elected/Agency
Officials
6:45 - 7:05 Overview of Regional Plan Association Proposed Plan for
Expansion of JFK Airport- Environmental Response
Dan Mundy Jr. Jamaica Bay Ecowatchers
7:05 - 7:15 Potential impacts of JFK Expansion
Brad Sewell, Senior Attorney, Natural Resources Defense
Council
7:15 - 7:35 JFK Airport Expansion and Bird Hazard issues
Don Riepe, Jamaica Bay Guardian
7:35 - 7:55 Marine Life in the targeted areas; A
commercial/recreational
Perspective from the local Fishing Industry
Captain Vincent Calabro
7:55- 8:30 Discussion, Q & A
Dan Mundy, Don Riepe
Co-Chairs
For more information and directions, please call 718-318-9344
Friday, March 25, 2011
Floyd Bennett Regional Planning Assn request for photos
Hello,
As an invested community member of Floyd Bennett Field, we invite you to submit your own photographs of your activities at Floyd Bennett Field for our consideration for use in our report. We are looking to represent the great diversity of uses and users at the Field and your contribution is important in this effort. Please click here to upload pictures and submit credit information. Thank you in advance for helping us capture and advocate for public enjoyment of our park. We would appreciate the submission of photos by Wednesday March 30.
We invite you to continue to check www.rpa.org/floydbennett for further updates regarding the Panel’s recommendations and for the final report in the coming months.
Sincerely
Marian S. Heiskell Deborah Shanley
Panel Co-Chair Panel Co-Chair
Maya Borgenicht
Research Associate - Regional Plan Association
Director of Public Programs - Governors Island Alliance
4 Irving Place, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10003
maya@rpa.org
Phone: 917.652.6359
Fax: 212.253.5666
http://www.rpa.org/
www.governorsislandalliance.org
twitter @govisalliance
April 15, 2011: RPA's Regional Assembly "Innovation and the Global City" www.regionalassembly.org
As an invested community member of Floyd Bennett Field, we invite you to submit your own photographs of your activities at Floyd Bennett Field for our consideration for use in our report. We are looking to represent the great diversity of uses and users at the Field and your contribution is important in this effort. Please click here to upload pictures and submit credit information. Thank you in advance for helping us capture and advocate for public enjoyment of our park. We would appreciate the submission of photos by Wednesday March 30.
We invite you to continue to check www.rpa.org/floydbennett for further updates regarding the Panel’s recommendations and for the final report in the coming months.
Sincerely
Marian S. Heiskell Deborah Shanley
Panel Co-Chair Panel Co-Chair
Maya Borgenicht
Research Associate - Regional Plan Association
Director of Public Programs - Governors Island Alliance
4 Irving Place, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10003
maya@rpa.org
Phone: 917.652.6359
Fax: 212.253.5666
http://www.rpa.org/
www.governorsislandalliance.org
twitter @govisalliance
April 15, 2011: RPA's Regional Assembly "Innovation and the Global City" www.regionalassembly.org
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