Author Archives: Amy

Arctic Gull Spotted In California, Attracts Birders

by Amy Posted on 2 December 2006

A Ross’ Gull sighting earlier this month in California attracted about 150 birders hoping to get a glimpse of the bird normally not seen south of Alaska. The bird was spotted in the Salton Sea, a lake located between Imperial and Riverside counties. It marks the first sighting of the gull, which normally breeds in Siberia or Greenland, in California. Read more about the Ross’ Gull’s southern visit.

Ross's Gull (Rhodostethia rosea)
Ross’s Gull (Rhodostethia rosea) by dominic sherony, Creative Commons on Flickr

Posted in Aside, North America, Rare / Vagrant | Leave a comment

Track Dutch Geese Via www.Goosetrack.nl

by Amy Posted on 1 December 2006

Each year approximately 1.5 million geese overwinter in the Netherlands. The mild weather and abundance of meadows and fields make the birds feel at home. With such a large migratory goose population, the country has some responsibility in their welfare. Through an extensive ringing program, questions about the origins and habits of the geese can be answered.

The geese are ringed either around a leg or the neck. The markings are clear enough to be read through binoculars at a distance, to avoid the need to re-catch the same individuals multiple times.

The Goosetrack program will allow the public to contribute to the welfare of the Dutch geese by taking part via SMS and the Internet. Ring data can be sent to Goosetrack via SMS in the field. The site will open in the fall of 2006 and offer information about geese as well as the tracking information.

Source: Nederland is ganzenland

Posted in Netherlands, Websites & Blogs | Leave a comment

Birds Don’t Migrate From Record Dutch Heat

by Amy Posted on 30 November 2006

Holland is experiencing the warmest fall season in three hundred years and the migratory birds that normally leave the area around this time aren’t going anywhere. Many migratory birds leave for the south of Europe at first frost. Lapwings, geese and song birds which should have migrated already have remained in Holland.

The mild weather has insured that the birds that have remained in the Netherlands have plenty to eat. Acorns and chestnuts are available in abundance. The warm temperatures also mean that birds don’t have to use extra energy to keep themselves warm.

Insect-eating birds have also had enough to eat in the mild autumn. The good fortunes of the birds remaining in northern Europe can change quickly once the first frost arrives.

Source: Vogels blijven langer door warm najaar

Posted in Europe, Migration, Netherlands | Leave a comment

Rare Bird Sighting Boosts Small Town Economy

by Amy Posted on 28 November 2006

The sighting of a Western Reef Heron in Kitttery Point Maine this summer proved to be a boost to the small town’s economy in the last days of the summer tourist season. During the 10 days the bird was known to have been in the area, it is estimated that 300 to 400 birders visited in hopes of catching sight of the heron, whose normal habitat is in Africa. Results of an internet survey showed that the average visiting birder spent 1.38 days in Kittery and spent about $26. Read more about the heron’s impact. Thirty survey respondents said they had no plans to visit Maine before hearing about the rare bird. Read more about the bird’s economical impact.

Posted in Aside, North America, Rare / Vagrant | Leave a comment

Duck Hunting Disallowed In Friesland

by Amy Posted on 23 November 2006

A judge in the Frisian town of Leeuwarden placed a ban on duck hunting last Friday. Frisian government officials had previously granted hunters the right to shoot wild ducks in case the birds might cause damage (to property). The Dutch wildlife protection group Faunabescherming found this allowance too vague and took it up with the courts.

The province must now draft a new law if it wishes to allow duck hunting. The law must be more clearly written.

Source: Streep door afschieten wilde eenden in Friesland

Posted in Aside, Law, Netherlands | Leave a comment

Proposed Airport Expansion Threatens Barn Swallows

by Amy Posted on 22 November 2006

More than 1% of the global population of Barn Swallows winters in the Mount Moreland Reedbed, an Important Bird Area in South Africa. The site is close to Durban, where an airport expansion threatens to clear the area to make way for landing aircraft. BirdLife South Africa opposes the proposal. The swallows breed in Europe and then migrate down to South Africa to spend the winter there. Read more about the proposed expansion.

Juv Barn Swallows
Juv Barn Swallows by chapmankj75, Creative Commons on Flickr

Posted in Africa, Aside | Leave a comment

Unprotected Dutch Natural Monument Is Deadly For Red Knots

by Amy Posted on 19 November 2006

The migratory path of the European Red Knot brings it to the Wadden Sea flats in the northern part of the Netherlands each year. There, the birds feed on cockles before continuing their migration, which can be up to 16,000 kilometers in distance. The flats are protected by two different acts, yet suction dredging was sanctioned by the Dutch authorities until 2004. As a result, the cockles’ meat has diminished significantly, causing a quarter of the Red Knot population to have died out. Read more about the Red Knots at New Scientist.

Posted in Aside, Endangered, Migration, Netherlands | Leave a comment