Scientists have revealed how the male common snipe 'flies the flag' to get the girl

A new study – using high speed video and feathers bought on ebay – shows that when the male snipe sticks out his outer tail feathers, they flutter like flags in the wind, producing a highly seductive drumming sound. The winged Lothario also dives to increase the speed and therefore raise the pitch of the call in a bid to impress the female of the species.

The acoustic communication of birds has been widely researched as it is clear that it plays vital roles in key behaviours. Most of this work has been on vocal sound production. However there have been several attempts to demonstrate the aerodynamic mechanisms responsible for the distinctive drumming produced by the snipe.

Many authors have noted the difference between the outer and inner tail feathers; interest goes back even back to World War II, when pilots first noticed that the wings of their Spitfires started juddering when they went into dives. Flying Officer Carr-Lewty suggested that the snipe's outer tail feathers were stronger with a stout shaft and strong hooks joining the barbules (secondary branches) to prevent the feather from breaking at high wind speeds. Later authors placed the feathers in a wind tunnel and showed they made similar sounds to the displaying birds.

However this latest study, by Drs Roland Ennos and Jonathan Codd and their team at The University of Manchester's Faculty of Life Sciences, is the first to observe deformations of the feathers as they produce the actual sound, and the first to describe feathers that are specially designed to flutter like flags in the wind.

The team, whose findings are published in the Journal of Experimental Biology, used high speed video and a new understanding of the physics of aeroelastic flutter (the self-feeding and potentially destructive vibration caused by positive feedback between the natural vibration and aerodynamic forces). They compared how fast the vane actually fluttered with predictions of how fast ideal hinged plates would do so, and found excellent agreement between prediction and experiment.

Dr Ennos said: "The snipe has a special outer tail feather that he can stick out. The feathers have a weakened hinge region in their rear vane so they flutter like flags to produce the noise, which the males use to attract females. They dive to increase their speed and make a more attractive higher-pitched sound.

"We got the idea of studying this mating call from work on more exotic hummingbirds, but we have shown that our own home-bred snipe are just as ingenious. Our first tests were carried out on specimens from Manchester Museum, but we obtained most of our feather through ebay!"

His colleague Dr Jonathan Codd added: "These are significant findings because unlike other birds that produce sounds (such as Annas hummingbird) the entire length of the rear part of the feather vane is mobile, acting as a single unit."

Check out a video of the feather in action!

VCE Annual Report 2009

VCE ended 2009 – our second full year of existence – in strong shape. Staff achieved tangible progress towards our ambitious wildlife research and conservation agenda. We solidified our core initiatives, diversified our breadth, and added several innovative dimensions. Importantly, we kept our citizen scientists engaged, strengthened our numerous collaborations, and broadly communicated our results through an array of channels. We weathered 2009’s challenging economic climate and again ended our fiscal year in the black – we are poised to enjoy a robust 2010. As this report highlights, contributions from a legion of individuals like you constitute VCE’s programmatic and financial lifeblood. Your continued support will be instrumental as we expand our conservation programs across the Americas.

We sincerely thank each and every one of our supporters.

Please check out our full annual report at http://www.vtecostudies.org/images/AnRep09.pdf

Migration Pushes Northward

New arrivals are being noted almost daily now, as the migration surge pushes north. While a few lingering winter species remain (e.g., American Tree Sparrow), most of the activity now is from migrants passing through and summer residents arriving. Here are the new species since our last update:
* Osprey (several since the 9th, mostly heading north and flying high)
* Winter Wren at 2 locations, first on the 11th
* Fox Sparrow (1 at Ledyard, and 2 at 1200 ft - first sighting on the 12th)
* Long-tailed Duck (5 birds seen on the 16th, Connecticut River)
* Red-necked Grebe (3 birds on Conn. River, also on 16th)
* Bufflehead (single male on same day and location as above, lingered at least 3 days)
* Northern Rough-winged Swallow (also on the Connecticut, since April 16th)
* Blue-headed Vireo (first and only report from Spring Pond Rd on the 17th)
* Swamp Sparrow along Ompompanoosuc River near Rt. 132 & Hogback Rd jct. on 17th
* Northern Goshawk (lucky sighting from Bragg Hill on the 17th)
* Golden-crowned Kinglet (only one sighting to date, Bragg Hill on 17th)
* Yellow-rumped Warbler along the river on the 18th and then more widely
* Broad-winged Hawk above Warner Meadows on Tues. & Elm St. on Wed.
* Louisiana Waterthrush (on Wed. along lower Bragg Hill Rd.)
* Red-eyed Vireo in West Norwich on Thurs. morning

Note that we have had a couple additional four-new-sighting days, but 5 species in a day remains as a challenge to the Quest. Perhaps this weekend?

The Norwich 2010 Bird Quest has now generated >200 eBird checklist submissions - forming a permanent record of species arrivals and diversity in Norwich! With participation at this level, interesting patterns in the data will emerge, and we encourage anyone to explore the growing database. Here is a suggested starting point:

1. Go to http://ebird.org/content/vt
2. click "View and Explore Data"
3. click "maps"
4. in the "Select Species" box enter a name, for example "Evening Grosbeak"
5. click continue
6. click the "Change Date" button to Start and End in 2010
7. zoom in on the map to see Norwich sightings
8. click any of the markers to see when and where sightings have been made
9. explore other tabs to see time series of Evening Grosbeak sightings for all of Vermont
10. try clicking "Change Location" to see sightings only in Windsor County (for example)
11. be the first to explore other temporal and spatial patterns
    

Keep listening, looking and reporting to Vermont eBird!

Posted by Doug Hardy, Norwich 2010 Bird Quest co-founder

"Missing" Heat May Affect Future Climate Change

Out of balance: more energy is absorbed than emitted
Current observational tools cannot account for roughly half of the heat that is believed to have built up on Earth in recent years, according to a "Perspectives" article in this week's issue of the journal Science.

Scientists at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colo., warn that satellite sensors, ocean floats, and other instruments are inadequate to track this "missing" heat, which may be building up in the deep oceans or elsewhere in the climate system.

"The heat will come back to haunt us sooner or later," says NCAR scientist Kevin Trenberth, the article's lead author.

"The reprieve we've had from warming temperatures in the last few years will not continue. It is critical to track the build-up of energy in our climate system so we can understand what is happening and predict our future climate."

The authors suggest that last year's rapid onset of El Niño, the periodic event in which upper ocean waters across much of the tropical Pacific Ocean become significantly warmer, may be one way in which the solar energy has reappeared.

Until 2003, measured heat increases were consistent with computer model expectations. But a new set of ocean monitors since then has shown a steady decrease in the rate of oceanic heating, even as the satellite-measured imbalance between incoming and outgoing energy continues to grow.

Some of the missing heat appears to be going into the observed melting of ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica, as well as Arctic sea ice.

Read the entire article

WINTER SURVEYS SHOW WHITE NOSE SYNDROME SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTING N.H. BATS

Winter surveys by biologists show that the deadly bat disease called White Nose Syndrome (WNS) is having a dramatic impact on New Hampshire's bat populations. Currently, five of the eight species of New Hampshire bats are affected by WNS, including the common little brown bat. One species, the northern long-eared bat, has now disappeared from hibernacula (bat wintering places) all over the Northeast.

Monitoring bat populations for the devastating fungus has become a necessary regimen in recent years, but biologists dedicated to managing bats and other nongame species in New Hampshire were particularly discouraged by their findings during a February survey of a Grafton County mine that is the second largest hibernaculum in the state. New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Biologist Emily Brunkhurst joined biologist Dr. Jacques Veilleux of Franklin Pierce University and Dr. Scott Reynolds of St. Paul's School for the midwinter survey of bat hibernacula in New Hampshire.

As Veilleux cut a hole in the ice covering the front of the mine, he encountered the first sign that all was not well within – a dead little brown bat encased in the ice. Climbing through the small hole, wearing protective gear to prevent the spread of WNS, the biologists looked down upon a gruesome scene: dozens of dead bats littered the floor or were frozen into the ice. Some 48 dead bats were found near the cave entrance, and more further in. The biologists proceeded with their grim duty – to count every bat in the mine, living and dead; recording the species and any signs of the WNS fungus (Geomyces destructains). In all, the biologists found 96 dead and 185 live bats in this mine, with 76 of the live bats showing evidence of WNS. This total of 281 bats was down by 83% from 2009.

"These are the worst indicators I have ever seen," Veilleux said sadly. "It was devastating to see this vibrant colony so decimated, and heart-rending to see a couple of the bats clinging to the walls, but obviously very, very sick."

The second survey of the day was conducted in a mine that does not get sealed in by ice. There, just one dead bat was found. "We could only assume that the sick bats had flown out of the mine and were either under the snow or had been eaten by predators," said Brunkhurst. As with the first site, the numbers of bats remaining in the mine were very low, down at least 50% from last year.

Over several weeks, the team surveyed six other New Hampshire bat hibernacula. Overall, numbers were way down, but a few encouraging signs emerged. In one small mine, which is heavily flooded (researchers wear wetsuits to conduct the survey), the bat population had increased from 48 bats in 2009 to 60 bats this year, with very little sign of WNS. Two very small hibernacula were discovered in old World War II bunkers, and no signs of WNS were apparent in the 83 bats found there. Statewide, however, bat population numbers were down significantly, for an overall population decline of 66% since last year.

In addition to surveying numbers of living and dead bats, the biologists looked for tiny silver bands on the bats' wings, markers placed during a survey of bats near New Hampshire hibernacula last fall. Individual identification numbers on each banded bat reveal whether the bat was captured at this hibernaculum or another, as bats don't always use the same wintering place from year to year.

One theory as to why New Hampshire hibernacula actually saw increases in bat populations in 2009 was that bats stayed in the state instead of flying to Vermont to hibernate last year. WNS has hit hard in Vermont, which has the biggest hibernacula in New England, Aeolus Cave. Bats from all over New England, including ours in decades past, migrate there to hibernate for the winter. Before WNS, Aeolus cave had an estimated population of 200,000-300,000 bats. Now, bat numbers there have plummeted by as much as 90% -- a loss of tens of thousands of bats in a single hibernaculum.

As the winter progressed in New Hampshire, March brought a strange new phenomenon. Though it was much too early for bats to be leaving their hibernacula, many bats were seen flying in the Mt. Washington area, over the trail and base road, in the parking lots and at all altitudes. Several dead bats were collected by volunteers and U.S. Forest Service biologists for testing for WNS. “We aren't aware of a cave or mine hibernaculum in that area,” says Brunkhurst, “but we are looking for one now, and it may have more bats than any known hibernaculum.” Some of the live bats observed were big brown bats, which are known to hibernate in buildings, including the cog railway buildings, as well as caves and mines. (WNS has not been detected in bats living in buildings.) However, all the dead ones collected were little brown bats, which hibernate in caves and mines and are very susceptible to WNS, and the closest known hibernaculum is over 13 miles away.

Nationally, the rapid advance of the deadly bat disease is gaining attention. States that do not yet have WNS yet are busily planning their response and working with biologists and cave owners on this critical issue. National Geographic magazine dispatched a photographer to join the New Hampshire biologists on one of their recent winter surveys for a future story showing what state biologists, university researchers and the US Fish & Wildlife Service are doing to combat this destructive disease.

WNS first appeared in New York in 2006 and now has been documented in 11 states; it has expanded as far south as Tennessee and as far north as Ontario, Canada. Some of the spread can be attributed to migrating bats, but it is also feared that humans are transporting the fungus on their caving clothing and gear. Because of this, the US Fish & Wildlife Service requests all cavers to disinfect their gear between cave visits. In addition, do not bring any gear used in an infected state into a cave in an uninfected state, as disinfection procedures are not 100% effective, and respect all cave closures.

Why is the spread of WNS so important? Bats are the biggest predator of night-flying insects. Also, recovery from the onslaught of the disease will be difficult, because bats are slow breeders. They typically live a long life (over 20 years) and produce one, or rarely two, pups each year. As with most young of the year wildlife, not all pups survive, so rebuilding bat populations after such a rapid decline could take decades. "We don't know whether some of these bats will permanently disappear from the landscape, or exactly how the loss will change the ecology of our state," said Brunkhurst. "We may have more forest or agricultural pest issues, but it’s just too early to tell."

Hundreds of scientists across the country are working to solve the mysteries of WNS. We know that the fungus is persistent – it remains in a cave and can infect bats that return there. Two types of treatments designed to control the fungus on the bats have been tested, but the results are not yet in. What is known is that it is extremely difficult to treat bats for fungus without also killing other native fungi in the cave ecosystem. Work is being done to see if surviving bats have slightly different genes than bats that have not yet been affected by WNS. Additionally, research is just beginning to look at why this very same fungus occurs on European bats, but does not harm them.

How can you help? If you have bats in your barn or house or other buildings, please try to leave them there, say biologists. Bats breed much more successfully in large colonies where the combined heat helps the young bats grow. If you have problems with guano, put a ceiling of plastic between the bats and your equipment, but DO NOT seal the bats in. Also, stay out of caves and mines, year round. The fungus can be picked up on clothing and gear, and transported to other sites. If you travel to a state which has not yet detected WNS, do not take any clothing or gear that has been in a cave or mine in the affected states (the entire Northeast and as far south as Tennessee). For more information, visit the N.H. Fish and Game website at http://wildnh.com/Wildlife/Nongame/bats.html.

State of Vermont eBird 2009

In 2009, eBird grew by leaps and bounds as birders across the Western Hemisphere made it a part of their daily birding routine. Participation increased by greater than 50% over the year, and eBird now collects between 1 and 2 million bird observations a month! In 2009 we collected of a half million bird records in Vermont eBird from over 7,500 checklists! Thanks to your hard work and dedication, eBird is now becoming an important resource for scientists working to conserve birds and biodiversity. Please read this 'State of eBird - 2009' feature, and take pride in all the things that you've helped us accomplish this year. With your passion for birds and continued eBird support, 2010 promises to be even better!

Perhaps you're a 'hardcore' birder, submitting dozens of checklists a week, pouring over the Top 100 reports, and itching to find the latest arriving migrant in your region. Or maybe you're more casual in your approach, getting out birding now and then, or maybe just in the backyard--but still contributing your observations to eBird each time you go birding. Both types of birder, and every level in between, can take pride in knowing that they've helped push eBird forward in 2009. Your efforts do not go unnoticed at eBird, and your data are being appreciated by science now more than ever.

With all these data and more than five years of progress under our belt, 2009 was the time to see what science could do with it. We published our first peer-reviewed paper in the journal Biological Conservation (Sullivan et al. 2009), highlighting how eBird data could be used to help conserve birds and biodiversity. We then created the ‘eBird Reference Dataset’, available through the Avian Knowledge Network, that enables scientific researchers to access raw eBird data in more useful ways (Munson et al. 2009). Several scientific publications already have arisen from this dataset, including a pioneering statistical methodology paper that predicts when and where birds will occur across vast landscapes—all based on eBird (Fink et al. 2010). This technique has tremendous implications for predicting how birds occur in regions where few people live, as well as for improving our ability to monitor and track large-scale changes in bird populations in the face of climate change.

On the development side we launched several new features to engage the birding community, including the ‘eBird Alerts’ system which compares your bird lists against new reports coming into eBird, and then lets you know about any potential new birds for you in a particular region. We also created a series of 'eBird APIs' that allow outside developers to access streams of eBird data, increasing the utility of eBird and making it available for tools like the recently launched 'BirdsEye' iPhone application. Perhaps more importantly, we spent much of 2009 solidifying our database infrastructure so that eBird can continue its phenomenal growth, and truly become a worldwide project.

In addition to continuing to develop tools that engage the birding community and broaden eBird's general use and appeal, our primary goal for 2010 is to make eBird available worldwide. Birders from all over the world will soon be able to contribute observations to the project, and our current users will be able to enter checklists from trips abroad. This unified global bird monitoring system will have tremendous value and conservation impact in the future. While we will continue to meet the needs of the birding community through eBird development, we will not lose our focus on science, and making your data available for the ongoing protection of birds and biodiversity.

Thanks for all your help and dedication to eBird over the years. We truly appreciate all your efforts! If you value eBird as much as we do, please consider supporting the VCE birdathon to help support our project this year.

Good Birding,

Team Vermont eBird--Kent McFarland, Brian Sullivan, Chris Wood, Marshall Iliff

References

, D., Hochachka, W. M., Zuckerberg, B., Winkler, D. W., Shaby, B., Munson, M. Arthur, Hooker, G. J., Riedewald, M., Sheldon, D., Kelling, S. 2010. Spatiotemporal Exploratory models for Large-scale Survey Data. Ecological Applications (in press).

M. Arthur Munson, Kevin Webb, Daniel Sheldon, Daniel Fink, Wesley M. Hochachka, Marshall Iliff, Mirek Riedewald, Daria Sorokina, Brian Sullivan, Christopher Wood, and Steve Kelling. The eBird Reference Dataset, Version 1.0. Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, Ithaca, NY, June 2009. http://www.avianknowledge.net/content/features/archive/eBird_Ref/

Sullivan, B.L., C.L. Wood, M.J. Iliff, R.E. Bonney, D. Fink, and S. Kelling. 2009. eBird: a citizen-based bird observation network in the biological sciences. Biological Conservation 142: 2282-2292.

Photograph: Hermit Thrush nest, the state bird of Vermont, found in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. Photographed by K.P. McFarland.

Bobcats Moving Through Our Valley: Envisioning a Shared Landscape

Where the Wildlife Roam

Joint Program by
Kimberly Royar, Wildlife Habitat Biologist, Vermont Fish & Wildlife
Jens Hawkins-Hilke, Conservation Planning Biologist, Vermont Fish & Wildlife
Linking Lands Alliance, Townspeople Working Together on Regional Issues

Thursday, April 22, 7:00pm
VINS Nature Center Classroom

Vermont’s Monthly Invasives Update April 2010

1. Mad River Buffer Project

In recent decades, invasive Japanese knotweed has colonized vast stretches of the banks of the Mad River, especially in areas where the riparian canopy has been removed. The knotweed poses problems for establishing stream buffers. With funding from a Department of Environmental Conservation Watershed grant and technical assistance from The Nature Conservancy, Friends of the Mad River (FMR) plans to establish a riparian buffer in a knotweed infested area on town land in Waitsfield. Herbicides will not be used. Instead, FMR plans to plant a mix of 8-foot tall trees throughout the entire area, and use mechanical cutting to manage knotweed for 3 years after the trees are planted. By the third year post-planting, the trees should be tall enough to out-compete the knotweed for sun. As the trees mature, the riparian canopy should be restored in this area. FMR hopes to demonstrate a viable method for removing knotweed without using herbicides. This site will become a WOW!demonstration site for the Wise on Weeds program. (From Caitrin Noel, Friends of the Mad River)

2. Article in "Fisheries" on AIS boat transport study

There is an excellent article in the March edition of Fisheries journal that identifies trailered boats as an important vector in the spread of AIS. This

article reviews different spread prevention boat cleaning methods (high pressure wash, visual inspection, etc.) and discusses the different types of water craft users (guides, recreational boaters, and those that leave their boats in one body of water for most of the season).

Citation: Rothlisberger, J.D., Chadderton, W.L., McNulty, J. and Lodge, D.M. 2010. Aquatic Invasive Species Transport via Trailered Boats: What Is Being Moved, Who Is Moving It, and What Can Be Done. Fisheries 35(3): 121-132.(From Med Modley, Lake Champlain Basin Program)

3. Where Have All the Monarch Butterflies Gone?

AOL News

Published: 20 March 2010

For the beloved monarch butterfly, these are dire times. "Across the country, we're looking at the lowest returning monarch population we've ever seen," said Chip Taylor, professor of entomology at the University of Kansas and the director of Monarch Watch, a group that tracks the butterflies. "It's a bit curious as to the reason we're seeing such precipitous declines, but we do have theories." Theories include degradation of the eastern monarch's wintering grounds, loss of breeding habitat (milkweed is vital for the survival of the monarch, and is often removed or killed off with pesticides when wild lands are adapted for other uses), climate change and a drop in the percentage of females over the past few decades.

For the full article go to: http://www.aolnews.com/science/article/monarch-butterly-population-has-dropped-drastically/19406875 icid=main|htmlws-main-w|dl2|link7|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aolnews.com%2Fscience%2Farticle%2Fmonarch-butterly-population-has-dropped-drastically%2F19406875

4. Mortgages refused over invasive knotweed

By Richard Gray, Science Correspondent

Published: 9:00PM GMT 13 Mar 2010, England

Home buyers are being denied a mortgage by banks and building sites because the property they are trying to purchase has been affected by an invasive garden weed.For full article go to: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/propertynews/7436431/Mortgages-refused-over-invasive-weed.html (From PCA's Alien Plant Working Group)

5. Unwanted, unloved and living here: If it slithers, stings, eats or just grows, the state wants invasive species gone

By BRIAN NEARING, Staff writer

First published in print: Thursday, April 8, 2010 ALBANY -- The state is compiling a hit list of invasive plants, animals and insects -- from exotic invaders like a voracious Chinese fish to ornamental shrubs available at the local nursery. http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=919550

RESOURCES & LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

6. Calendar of Events from Vermont Woodlands:

· Wetlands, Soils, and Water Quality Protection, April 24th 9:00AM – 3:30PM

For details and registration http://vermontwoodlands.org/documents/April24Registrationwithadditionaldates.pdf

· Wildlife Habitat: Creation, Protection, Enhancement, June 5th 9:00AM-3:30PM

Maximum: 30 people. For details and registration http://vermontwoodlands.org/documents/June5Registrationwithadditionaldates.pdf

· Invasive Plants, August 28, 2010 with Sam Schneski and Bill Guenther, Windham and Windsor County Foresters.

Timber, Road, and Trail Construction and Maintenance, October 2, 1010 with Markus Bradley, Consulting Forester.

· Sugarbush Walk, April 17th 1-4PM, W. Fletcher

Tour host: Nancy Patch. No cost. Pre-registration is required. Contact Trish at 802-747-7900 or trish@gwriters.com

· Wildflowers in Your Woods, May 15th 8:30AM – 12:30PM, Starksboro

Tour host: Steve Eustis. Co-sponsored by VWA and VT Coverts. No cost. Space is limited. Pre-registration required. Contact Lisa at 802-338-3880 or lisa@vtcoverts.org

· Forest Bird Habitat Assessment, July 10th 8:30AM – 12:00 PM, S. Strafford

Tour Host: Dave Paganelli. No limit. No registration required.

7. A presentation (total time 1 Hour 14 Minutes) titled ‘NYS Native Species in the Landscape (for the most challenging site conditions)’ by Donald Leopold (SUNY-ESF) has been posted at the following location: https://nethope.webex.com/nethope/lsr.php?AT=pb&SP=MC&rID=58982297&rKey=22be9d7c314b76ab (Thanks to Troy Weldy of TNC for posting this)

8. Woodstock Conservation Commission presents: Invasive Plant Workshop on April 21, 2010, 7:00 pm at the Town Hall.

Invasive woodland species are changing Woodstock’s working forests and natural areas. Come and learn what invasive plants are, why they are a problem, and how you can help be part of the solution. The evening will begin with a presentation, followed by a community discussion. The Nature Conservancy’s Invasive Species Coordinator, Sharon Plumb, will share ideas about how other community groups have developed local solutions to the problem. The Woodstock Conservation Commission, Marsh Billings National Historical Park, the Vermont Land Trust, and Vermont Institute of Natural Science will be on hand to share invasive plant management activities they will be undertaking in the coming year.

Call Michael Brands at 457-3456 for more information.

9. Montpelier Conservation Commission Presents: Invasive Plant Workshop June 10, 2010, 7 pm. City Hall

Invasive woodland species are changing Montpelier riparian areas, city parks and conserved lands. Come and learn what invasive plants are, why they are a problem, and how you can help be part of the solution. The evening will begin with a presentation, followed by a community discussion. The Nature Conservancy's Invasive Species Coordinator, Sharon Plumb, will share ideas about how other community groups have developed local solutions to the problem. The Montpelier Conservation Commission and the Vermont Land Trust will be on hand to share invasive plant management activities they will be undertaking in the coming year.

Presented by the Montpelier Conservation Commission. For more information, call Kris Hammer at 262-1222 for info.

10. Invasives and Safe Beautiful Alternatives
FRIDAY, JUNE 25^th 2:30 - 3:30 at the Golden Eagle, Stowe
Nurseries, perennial beds and borders are filled with tempting plants of every size, color and shape. Come and learn about which plants to choose, which to avoid, and how the choices you make will increase your chances of seeing butterflies, bees, and birds. Presented by Sharon Plumb, Invasive Species Coordinator, Nature Conservancy Go to http://www.stowegardenfestival.com/ to see all of the fantastic workshops you can attend.

11. Save the date! Invasives 101 for Road Crews, June 16, Richmond, Vermont

Road crews from the region are invited to attend. Presented by Sharon Plumb, Invasive Species Coordinator, The Nature Conservancy. Sponsored by Vermont Local Roads. Location and time TBD. http://www.vermontlocalroads.org/

12. VT Coverts accepting applicants for spring trainings

Go to http://www.vtcoverts.org/ for more information.

13. 2010 Biological Control for Nature Conference (http://biocontrolfornature.ucr.edu/)

October 3-7, 2010 | Hotel Northampton | Northampton, Massachusetts (USA)

"Exploring the benefits of classical biological control for forests, wetlands, grasslands, and deserts"

This meeting will explore the benefits of classical biological control for the control of invasive insects and plants in natural forests, and associated habitats such as wetlands, grasslands, and deserts. Applications to islands and other natural systems will also be included. The meeting will not address other forms of biological control (e.g., augmentation, conservation, biopesticides), nor will it address use of biological control in plantation forestry. The meeting will appeal to biological control scientists, conservationists, invasion biologists, and land managers. The meeting is supported by the USDA Forest Service (Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team,), USDA, ARS, the National Park Service, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the mid Atlantic Exotic Pest Plant Council. This meeting continues the series started with the 1st International Workshop on Biological Control of Invasive Species of Forests, held September 20-25, 2007 in Beijing. http://svinetfc2.fs.fed.us/biocontrol/

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

14. Help TNC remove invasives in Richmond and Charlotte

Volunteers are requested to stay for a minimum of 3.5 hours per day (4 hours including lunch), but you're welcome to stay longer. No previous experience is necessary, we'll provide training, tools, knee pads, gloves, and snacks. Volunteers must be capable of moderate physical activity that includes bending over and/or kneeling on the ground.

Schedule:

Richmond Rivershore – removing Garlic Mustard

May 1, from 2:00-5:00pm

May 3, 5, 7 and 19, from 8:30am – 4:30pm

Williams Woods in Charlotte – removing Garlic Mustard

May 10, 11, 12, 13,

June 2, from 8:30am - 4:30pm

Richmond Rivershore – removing knotweed

May 25, 26, 27 from 8:30am - 4:30pm

To sign up, please contact Ron Wild, AmeriCorps Volunteer Coordinator, The Nature Conservancy, Montpelier, VT

rwild@tnc.org (802) 229-4425 Ext. 111 (Phone office)

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

15. Lake George Association

Position: Lake Steward (4 positions), Lake Steward Program Assistant Coordinator (1 position)

Deadline to apply: Applications reviewed as received. Posting will remain open until positions are filled.

Internship Date: Mid-May through Mid-August 2010

5 days/week, Wed-Sun. 8 hour work day. Hours may fluctuate based on time of year, scheduled boating events, and weather.

• Must be able to start by Monday, May 17th

• End date flexible based on school schedules (mid-August – Sept)

• Pay rate is $9/hour. (Pay for assistant coordinator is $11/hr).

• Lake steward is responsible for their own housing and transportation to work location.

Position Summary:

Spend your summer outdoors on beautiful Lake George. Help protect the lake by interacting with lake users and educating them about invasive species and other water quality issues. Stewards will provide public outreach and education about the threats of ecologically harmful aquatic invasive species to the waters of Lake George and other waterways. They will help stop the introduction and transport of invasive species by boats and trailers by conducting visual inspections and interviewing boaters. Other related duties as assigned.

Main Duties: Educate the public on invasive species, Distribute written information to watercraft users, Inspect watercraft for invasive species, Conduct a verbal survey and inspection inventory, Enter collected data in database and write summary report. (The assistant coordinator will oversee the daily activities of the lake stewards, perform outreach to local marinas about invasive species, and will also perform many of the same lake steward duties).

Contact: Emily DeBolt, Director of Education, Lake George Association, PO BOX 408, Lake George NY 12814. Email: edebolt@lakegeorgeassociation.org Phone: 518-668-3558 ext. 309

16. Paul Smith’s College Watershed Stewardship Program: Watershed Stewards

For information go to the following link: http://www.paulsmiths.edu/offices/hr/job_view.php?job_id=75

17. Positions Available at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP in Woodstock, Vermont:

SCA Lead Invasive Plant Management Intern (1-year appointment)

This 1-year Student Conservation Association intern position will work extensively with the park and its partners on invasive plant management.

Responsibilities: Prepare a program and supervise a crew of 3-4 workers in invasive plant identification, inventory, and management. Learn and teach the crew the identification and proper techniques for invasive plant management. Inventory and map invasive plant locations and remove plants as appropriate. Provide written reports on work progress, inventory of plant locations to be treated or monitored in the future.

Qualifications and Skills: 18 or older; knowledge of invasive plant identification and management; experience with supervising and motivating youth crews; keeping detailed records and preparing reports; ability to conduct field inventories; project planning; ability to use basic technological equipment such as computers and global positioning systems; ability to use hand tools and supervise the use of hand tools by others; willingness to learn herbicide application and use herbicides on a limited basis in the field.

For an application and information on benefits, visit: www.thesca.org Position Code: 11295 One position open 2010 (an additional 1-year position will be available starting April 2011) Inquires about position responsibilities can be directed to: Kyle Jones, Park Ecologist, 802.457.3368x30

SCA Summer Invasive Plant Management Corps (10 week appointment)

Participate in a 3-member crew for invasive plant identification, inventory, and management at the national park.

Responsibilities: Inventory and map invasive plant locations and remove plants as appropriate through the safe use of hand tools. Will contribute to written reports on work progress, inventory of plant locations to be treated or monitored in the future.

Qualifications and Skills: 18 or older; ability to communicate and work well with others; ability to learn to use hand tools and identification and

management of invasive plant species in field conditions.

Benefits: $75/week plus housing, Americorps award.

Starts June 14th

For an application and information on benefits, visit: www.thesca.org Position Code: 11329

Up to four internships available in 2010 (an additional 3 to 4 positions will also be available summer 2011)

Inquires about position responsibilities can be directed to: Kyle Jones, Park Ecologist, 802.457.3368x30

Vermont Youth Conservation Corps - Community Crew Leaders

Lead a dynamic team of diverse local youth to address key conservation projects at the national park and learn about the ecology and history of this nationally unique site. Responsibilities: Serve as a teacher, work supervisor, and a role model for a crew of 10 young adults. Together with another leader, professionally manage high priority conservation work projects at the national park, teach young adults life and job skills, facilitate crew education and leadership development, oversee the health and safety of crew, and uphold VYCC work policies.

Qualifications: Minimum age of 22; background in education, parks and recreation management, environmental studies, or related fields; leadership experience with diverse groups of young people in the outdoors; excellent organizational and communication skills; strong work ethic and ability to work long days in challenging conditions; Standard First Aid/CPR or equivalent; good driving record and valid drivers license.

Benefits: $430 - 500/week depending on experience; training stipend ($200-$250 per week while in training sessions)

Starts May 24th, ends August 9th

For an application and information about the position, visit: www.vycc.org

or contact Katherine at 802.434.3969x135 or katherine.buell@vycc.org Position description: Woodstock Community Crew Leader One position available

Vermont Youth Conservation Corps - Community Crew Members

Be part of a ten-member team tackling a diversity of conservation projects at the national park.

Responsibilities: conduct high priority conservation work projects at the national parks, including trail maintenance, invasive plant management, native plant restoration, forest management, and more; participate in daily and weekly VYCC activities including team building workshops and evaluations; learnabout the national park and community resources; contribute to a highly motivated and functional crew; abide by all VYCC rules and policies.

Qualifications: Ages 16 to 24; strong desire to work hard and make a difference; open to learning and receiving feedback; ability to work long hours both indoors and outdoors in all types of weather.

Benefits: $322.40 per week; opportunity to earn academic or internship credits.

Starts June 21st, ends August 6th, meets Monday through Friday 7:45-5:15.

For an application and information about the position, visit: www.vycc.org or call 802.434.3969x200

Position description: Woodstock Community Crew Up to 10 corps member positions available.

Steward Interns

Open to local high school students interested in exploring careers in the National Park Service and allied fields.

Responsibilities: Work as part of a team of National Park rangers; serve as a national park liaison at park visitor centers and special park events; assist with hands-on work projects in a diversity of park divisions (interpretation, resource management, facilities management, cultural resources); participate in leadership and skill development workshops and mentoring.

Qualifications: Local high school junior or graduating senior at least 16 years of age; ability to work with a diversity of people in a public setting;

strong interest in learning about careers in the National Park Service or allied fields; willingness to work outdoors.

Benefits: $320 per week; National Park uniform

Starts June 21st, ends August 6th

For information on the position, contact Tim Maguire, Chief of Visitor Services at 802.457.3368x18 or Tim_Maguire@nps.gov Up to 2 positions available.

18. Giant Hogweed Technicians in New York State

Up to five giant hogweed control pesticide technician positions within the Division of Lands & Forests will be located out of one of several Regional DEC offices in Regions 7, 8 and 9 (Allegany, Avon, Bath, Cortland, Reinstein Woods (Depew), West Almond). The position’s duties involve fieldwork collecting information on and implementing control of invasive plants (giant hogweed) within central and western NY using herbicide as a control method. Working under a commercial pesticide applicator, the pesticide technician will be assisting with the implementation of the chemical portion of a statewide giant hogweed control strategy on public and private lands. For more information contact Naja Kraus at: nekraus@gw.dec.state.ny.us or 845-255-1701

The Monthly Invasives Update is distributed by The Vermont Chapter of Nature Conservancy’s Wise on Weeds! program. If you would like to receive the newsletter, have a news item, upcoming workshop, job or volunteer opportunity or anything else you’d like others to know about, please contact Sharon Plumb at splumb@tnc.org.

Norwich Bird Quest: 73 Species and Counting!

What an exciting week for the Quest! Immediately following our previous entry, a nice variety of exciting birds were seen here for the first time in 2010, one of which hadn't been seen in Norwich for several years. Once again, for the third time this year, we had a day with four new species (April 2nd). Here are the returning birds we welcomed this week:

• one Tree Swallow, seen moments after last week's challenge was posted
• Northern Shovelers on the river (spectacular find by Ed Hack)
  
• a Northern Harrier working the fields on Hogback Road
  
• one Double-crested Cormorant on the river upstream of Ledyard, seen after viewing the shovelers
  
• the season's first Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, at Chris' house
  
• a Wilson's Snipe near the Ompomanoosuc River
• a Hermit Thrush along Hopson Road
• Chipping Sparrow, same day as above
  
• Pine Warblers, 4 in 3 different locations, by George!
• Ruby-crowned Kinglet, singing
• one Savannah Sparrow at the Rt. 5 Co-op gardens

Enthusiasm for the Quest has been especially high this week. Can we keep it going, and boost the record for number of new species seen in one day up to five? Perhaps on a low-overcast morning, after a clear night with southerly airflow? If you step outside some morning like this and hear lots of singing, take a few minutes and check for new arrivals. Make some phone calls to put the alert out!

Our total after today is at 73 species - up 11 in one week. Already this month 56 Norwich species have been reported to eBird, and for the year we've gotten 137 checklists. Keep up the great work!

Photo: Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata), Rockport, Texas. Al Wilson, www.naturespicsonline.com

Plant growth aided by insect-feeding animals:Study shows how birds, bats and lizards play their roles in preserving plant species in face of global cl

Add insect-feeding birds, bats and lizards to the front lines of the battle against global climate change.

Summarizing the results of more than 100 experiments conducted on four continents, UC Irvine ecologist Kailen A. Mooney and colleagues found that these insect-gobbling animals increase plant growth by reducing the abundance of plant-feeding insects and the damage they do to the plant life that helps mitigate global warming.

Our efforts solidify the importance of birds, bats, lizards and other similar animals to ecosystem health, and underscores the importance of conserving these species in the face of global change," said Mooney, an assistant professor in ecology and evolutionary biology.

The results come at a time when the importance of birds and other insectivores as plant protectors has come into doubt, Mooney added. Studies on bird, bat and lizard diets show they devour both plant-feeding insects and the spiders and other insect predators that eat plant feeders.

Recognizing these complex feeding relationships, Mooney said it had become unclear whether animals like birds reduce plant-feeding insect populations, or whether they might in fact be protecting them from spiders and the like.

"It has long been hypothesized that birds and other insect-feeding animals may protect plants by keeping plant-feeding insects in check in accordance with the adage, 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend,' " Mooney said. "Our study provides the most comprehensive support of this hypothesis to date. It shows that despite feeding on predatory insects, birds, bats and lizards still act as plant protectors by having net negative effects on plant-feeding insects."

Study results appear in early online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences the week of April 5.

Eastern US forests resume decline: New research finds 4.1 percent loss over 3 decades

After increasing during much of the 20th century, forest cover in the eastern United States in recent decades has resumed its previous decline, according to an exhaustive new analysis published in the April 2010 issue of BioScience. The work is described in an article by Mark A. Drummond and Thomas R. Loveland of the US Geological Survey (USGS).

During the 19th century and earlier, forests were cleared for agriculture on a large scale, but from around 1920 onward, the eastern United States experienced a net increase in forest cover as fields were abandoned and trees regrew. Experts have been uncertain whether this trend has continued. Drummond and Loveland examined changes in the eastern part of the country from 1973 to 2000 as part of the USGS's Land Cover Trends project, using remotely sensed imagery as well as statistical data, field notes, and ground photographs. Over this time they found a 4.1 percent decline in total forest area, a "substantial and sustained net loss" equivalent to more than 3.7 million hectares. The researchers describe considerable regional variation, with net loss being particularly marked in the southeastern plains.

The net loss occurred even though reforestation of abandoned fields and pastures continues, in some regions more than others. Most net forest loss occurs as result of mechanical disturbance of forests for timber production, which keeps some land free of forest, and as a result of urban expansion, which is generally a permanent change. Mountaintop removal for mining in the Appalachian highlands has also had a "substantial impact" on eastern land cover, contributing more than 420,000 hectares of net forest decline. The authors comment that their findings suggest forest transitions may not plateau and stabilize after reaching a point of maximum recovery, which "has important implications for sustainability, future carbon sequestration, and biodiversity."

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After noon EST on 7 April and for the remainder of the month, the full text of the article will be available for free download through the copy of this Press Release available at www.aibs.org/bioscience-press-releases/.

New study shows rising water temperatures in US streams and rivers

New research by a team of ecologists and hydrologists shows that water temperatures are increasing in many streams and rivers throughout the United States. The research, published in the journal Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, documents that 20 major U.S. streams and rivers – including such prominent rivers as the Colorado, Potomac, Delaware, and Hudson – have shown statistically significant long-term warming.

By analyzing historical records from 40 sites located throughout the United States, the team found that annual mean water temperatures increased by 0.02-0.14°F (0.009-0.077°C) per year. Long-term increases in stream water temperatures were typically correlated with increases in air temperatures, and rates of warming were most rapid in urbanized areas.

"Warming waters can impact the basic ecological processes taking place in our nation's rivers and streams," said Dr. Sujay Kaushal of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) and lead author of the study. "Long-term temperature increases can impact aquatic biodiversity, biological productivity, and the cycling of contaminants through the ecosystem."

"It's both surprising and remarkable that so many diverse river systems in North America behaved in concert with respect to warming," said Dr. David Secor of the UMCES Chesapeake Biological Laboratory whose work focused on Maryland's Patuxent River, where he has noted a 3°F increase since 1939.

The analysis indicates that 20 of the 40 streams studied showed statistically significant long term warming trends, while an additional 13 showed temperature increases that were not statistically significant. Two rivers showed significant temperature decreases. The longest record of increase was observed for the Hudson River at Poughkeepsie, New York. The most rapid rate of increase was recorded for the Delaware River near Chester, Pennsylvania.

"We are seeing the largest increases in the most highly urbanized areas which lead us to believe that the one-two punch of development and global warming could have a tremendous impact on stream and river ecosystem health," said Dr. Kaushal.

Given long-term global warming and "urban heat island effects" related to the abundance of buildings, roads, concrete, and asphalt, the authors point out that conserving riparian forests, reducing impervious surfaces, adopting "green" infrastructure practices, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions can help reduce increased water temperatures.

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This research was supported by the National Science Foundation and Maryland Sea Grant. The article, "Rising stream and river temperatures in the United States," appeared online in Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment e-View on March 23, 2010 and was authored by Drs. Sujay S. Kaushal, Gene E. Likens, Norbert A. Jaworski, Michael L. Pace, Ashley M. Sides, David Seekell, Kenneth T. Belt, David H. Secor, and Rebecca L. Wingate.

New Online Brochure: How to Prevent Birds from Colliding with Home Windows/Doors

American Bird Conservancy (ABC) has just published a new, downloadable brochure that offers a variety of tips on how to reduce the chances of birds flying into home windows and glass doors. Scientists estimate that 300 million to one billion birds die each year from collisions with glass, the majority of which is on homes.

“A bird may survive flying thousands of miles on migration, only to die when it tries to fly to a tree, or sky reflected in your window. That’s tragic. It’s also preventable. This publication emphasizes quick, cost effective ways to reduce the chances of that happening, while minimizing obstruction of your view,” said Dr. Christine Sheppard, Manager of ABC’s Collisions Program.

”Every year, people bump into glass doors. This happens enough that you’ll often see frosted areas at eye level, especially in public buildings.” she said. “The same thing happens to birds, only most collisions are lethal.”

The publication describes techniques homeowners can use to help birds see windows, and includes links to suppliers of suggested materials.

ABC is the only national organization with a program dedicated to reducing bird deaths from collisions. ABC promotes bird-friendly construction and has helped develop legislation recently introduced by Congressman Mike Quigley, (D-Ill.) that would require bird-safe construction for new federal buildings. ABC is also conducting research to identify the most effective ways to deter bird collisions and how to rate effectiveness of different materials. Dr. Sheppard said much of the work in the collisions program is made possible through a generous grant by the Leon Levy Foundation.

Norwich Bird Quest Reaches 62 Species and Counting!

Several Norwich birders have independently added 4 new species for 2010 in the past week (since last Friday), a mixture of new arrivals and retreating winter birds. With these, the total for the year stands at 62 species. The latest sightings are:

• an early Field Sparrow (Elm Street on Wed.)
• a couple Bohemian Waxwings mixed in with a flock of Cedars (Ledyard Bridge area on Tues.)
• a Herring Gull (Connecticut River near Ompompanoosuc River confluence on Sat.)
• a American Kestrel (I-91 bridge over Ompompanoosuc River on Sat.)

The wave of early migrants is just a short distance south of us, so higher temperatures forecast for the remainder of this week are likely to expand our list quickly. Warmer weather and longer days make getting out and birding easier for everyone, so keep an eye out – especially for interesting ducks on the river. Who will see the first tree swallow, easy to identify and always a cheery sign of spring?

Our Vermont eBird system for keeping track of sightings is working well, so don’t forget to ‘share’ your lists with the Norwich Quest, whether it contains new species for 2010 or not!

Visit our web site for more information about the Norwich Bird Quest 2010.