NEW IPHONE APP HAS HIGH HOPES FOR HELPING HAITI

The vibrant painting of Haiti’s national bird, the Hispaniolan Trogon, glowing on the iPhone screen and its “cock-crow” call rolling from the speaker offer a stark contrast to the aftermath of January’s disastrous earthquake in Haiti. But the partners that joined together to create The Birds of Haiti and the Dominican Republic iPhone and iPod Touch application hope that a bit of avian beauty will raise much-needed funds for humanitarian aid in Haiti.

“With nearly 100 million birders in North America alone, we hope this will be a way for all of us to easily contribute to Haitian earthquake relief efforts and learn about the island’s amazing birdlife at the same time,” said Vermont Center for Ecostudies biologist Kent McFarland, who hatched the idea.

The app features 58 bird species and subspecies that are unique, or endemic, to the island of Hispaniola, the birthplace of John James Audubon. With comprehensive information on each, strikingly detailed paintings, and an astounding library of bird songs and calls, The Birds of Haiti and the Dominican Republic is an insightful look into some of the most remarkable bird habitats on the planet. At the same time, it provides a powerful tool to support the rebuilding efforts of a nation in great need.

This project was wholly underwritten by the partners,” said Green Mountain Digital Creative Director Charlie Rattigan. “Not a single penny will be charged for our time, effort or materials. All of the funds we raise from the sales of this app will go to help Haiti.”

Most of the material for the app came from the popular Princeton University Press field guide, The Birds of the Dominican Republic and Haiti, while the recordings of bird songs and calls were provided by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology Macaulay Library, the world’s largest archive of natural sounds.

“It was an easy sell to convince each of the partners to contribute,” said McFarland. “From the artists and authors to the publishers, designers and software developers, all leaped at the opportunity to help Haiti.”

With materials in hand from the other partners, Green Mountain Digital, creators of natural history guides for mobile devices, and Brisk Mobile, a Canadian mobile application developer, designed and developed The Birds of Haiti and the Dominican Republic app.

100% of the app sales will go immediately to relief efforts in Haiti led by Partners in Health and Habitat for Humanity. The funds will directly support on-the-ground efforts to provide medical care and critical supplies to those affected by the earthquake, as well as to long term strategies to rebuild stronger and more sustainable communities in Haiti.

“We chose these two organizations because they have a long history in helping Haiti and have been doing amazing work there since the earthquake -- they really need our help,” said National Aviary biologist Steve Latta, lead author of the Princeton University Press field guide.

Partners In Health (PIH) has been working on the ground in Haiti for over 20 years. They urgently need your support to help those affected by the recent earthquake. The work of PIH is inspired by three primary goals: to care for its patients, to alleviate the root causes of disease in their communities, and to share lessons learned around the world. Based in Boston, PIH employs more than 11,000 people worldwide, including doctors, nurses and community health workers.

Habitat for Humanity has 26 years of experience serving families in Haiti. It has provided more than 2,000 families with housing solutions through a variety of initiatives including projects for new home construction, progressive building, and home improvements. It also builds capacity in construction skills, disaster mitigation and financial literacy, and works in coordination with community and government representatives. Habitat has responded to Haiti’s current crisis by addressing both immediate relief efforts and long-term shelter solutions for low-income families.

You can find the app on iTunes:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-birds-haiti-dominican/id365543449?mt=8

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Partners of The Birds of Haiti and the Dominican Republic iPhone and iPod Touch app:

Green Mountain Digital
http://www.audubon-guides.com/haiti/
A digital media company that designs, develops, and publishes interactive programs with emphasis on nature and field guides.

Brisk Mobile is a full service mobile development house focusing on providing development services on all major mobile platforms with extensive experience on iPhone, Android, and Blackberry.

Vermont Center for Ecostudies
Dedicated to the understanding and conservation wildlife, VCE promotes conservation practices to benefit biodiversity. With a reach extending from northern New England through the Caribbean to South America, VCE’s work in wildlife research and population monitoring unites people and science for conservation.

The Department of Conservation and Field Research at the National Aviary focuses on applied conservation problems linked to the impact of human population and resource consumption on birds, environment, and environmental sustainability.

Princeton University Press

Our fundamental mission is to disseminate scholarship (through print and digital media) both within academia and to society at large. Material for this app comes from the field guide, The Birds of the Dominican Republic and Haiti, published by PUP.

Cornell Lab of Ornithology Macaulay Library

www.birds.cornell.edu
macaulaylibrary.org

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology uses the best science and technology--and inspires the widest range of people and organizations--to solve critical problems facing wildlife. The bird vocalizations in this app come from the Macaulay Library, the world’s largest archive of animal sounds.

United States Fish and Wildlife Service Wildlife Without Borders Program
www.fws.gov/international/DIC/dic_home.html
Conserving international wildlife and plants for future generations.

Barry Kent MacKay
www.metalorchids.com/artists-detail.php?artistid=13
A naturalist, writer and illustrator, Barry portrayed all of the endemic birds of Hispaniola in the field guide, The Birds of the Dominican Republic and Haiti, and shared them here.

Newts Dine on Toad Tadpoles

While conducting field work as part of an amphibian inventory at the Hartford Town Forest, I observed a large group of recently-hatched American Toad tadpoles on the edge of a small pool. After a few moments, I quickly realized that I was not the only one watching this "school" of tadpoles. Eastern Newts, which were abundant in the pool, were actively feeding on the tiny larvae.

In the video clip below there are 3 individual feeding events. At the very beginning, keep an eye on the newt at the left, which grabs a tadpole at the start of the clip, spitting it out a few seconds later.

In the second section (at 16 sec), watch the newt at the top demonstrate the "gape and suck" method of feeding, which consists of rapidly opening the mouth while expanding the throat, causing a rapid inflow of water (and hopefully the prey!). Very often, silt and other non-edible debris also get sucked in, and must be carefully expelled, hopefully without losing the prey. This behavior can be seen in the third section of video (beginning at 33 sec).

Although it seems like the tadpoles were "sitting ducks" for predators such as newts and diving beetles, they have their own strategies for dealing with them. Remaining still is one of their better defense mechanisms against movement-stimulated predators such as newts, which like most amphibians, typically require their prey to move in order to trigger a feeding response. In fact, one researcher found that toad tadpoles were less active as predator density increased, and that smaller, younger (and presumably more vulnerable) tadpoles were more sensitive to the presence of predators than larger tadpoles.

In addition, the poison found in American toad's skin glands is also deposited in their eggs. Although the toxicity declines as the eggs develop, the newly-hatched larvae apparently retain some toxins, as they are sometimes unpalatable to Eastern Newts, while intermediate-age toad tadpoles are readily consumed. Once the tadpoles approach metamorphosis age however (about 3 to 6 weeks after hatching), they have developed their own toxic glands and are distasteful to most predators. Forming large aggregations, such as the "schools" that I observed, may also help to confuse predators, as well as stir up bottom detritus into a rich food suspension, which will of course help them become larger tadpoles.

-- Steve Faccio
VCE Conservation Biologist

7,000 Miles Nonstop, and No Pretzels

The New York Times
24 May 2010

In 1976, the biologist Robert E. Gill Jr. came to the southern coast of Alaska to survey the birds preparing for their migrations for the winter. One species in particular, wading birds called bar-tailed godwits, puzzled him deeply. They were too fat.

On Alaska’s Yukon River delta, scientists implant a transmitter in a bristle-thighed curlew. The birds fly as far as 6,000 miles without a stop.

“They looked like flying softballs,” said Mr. Gill.

At the time, scientists knew that bar-tailed godwits spend their winters in places like New Zealand and Australia. To get there, most researchers assumed, the birds took a series of flights down through Asia, stopping along the way to rest and eat. After all, they were land birds, not sea birds that could dive for food in the ocean. But in Alaska, Mr. Gill observed, the bar-tailed godwits were feasting on clams and worms as if they were not going to be able to eat for a very long time.

“I wondered, why is that bird putting on that much fat?” he said.

Mr. Gill wondered if the bar-tailed godwit actually stayed in the air for a much longer time than scientists believed. It was a difficult idea to test, because he could not actually follow the birds in flight. For 30 years he managed as best he could, building a network of bird-watchers who looked for migrating godwits over the Pacific Ocean. Finally, in 2006, technology caught up with Mr. Gill’s ideas. He and his colleagues were able to implant satellite transmitters in bar-tailed godwits and track their flight.

The transmitters sent their location to Mr. Gill’s computer, and he sometimes stayed up until 2 in the morning to see the latest signal appear on the Google Earth program running on his laptop. Just as he had suspected, the bar-tailed godwits headed out over the open ocean and flew south through the Pacific. They did not stop at islands along the way. Instead, they traveled up to 7,100 miles in nine days — the longest nonstop flight ever recorded. “I was speechless,” Mr. Gill said.

Since then, scientists have tracked a number of other migrating birds, and they are beginning now to publish their results...

Read entire article

Scientists in Hinesburg find Bobolink tracking device

Burlington Free Press, 26 May 2010

Wildlife biologist Noah Perlut found a needle in a hayfield Tuesday morning. Three hours later he was still celebrating, his voice jumpy with excitement.

He and Vermont ornithologist Rosalind Renfrew [Vermont Center for Ecostudies] had recovered a 3-year-old male bobolink carrying a tiny recording device packed with information new to science. When the contents are downloaded and analyzed, for the first time the scientists will be able to trace the precise route the yellow-headed songbird flew between Vermont and his unidentified wintering grounds in South America.

They will know how long the journey took, whether the bird made any stopovers and where it spent the winter.

“This is going to be revolutionary,” Renfrew said. She has studied migrating American bobolinks in South America but has been unable to find 95 percent of the population despite surveys on foot and by airplane.

Perlut and Renfrew tied featherweight “backpacks” to 15 Vermont bobolinks last summer. The harnesses held devices called geolocators that record the amount of daylight each day, information that can be converted to latitude and longitude. Even when the bird is changing its location every day as it flies south, the geolocator will establish its position within 60 miles.

Click to read entire article

Bobolinks return with geolocators!

A geolocator worn by a Bobolink for a year was successfully recovered yesterday. This tiny device, worn backpack-fashion throughout migration and winter, has been collecting light data every day. By using times of high noon, sunset, and sunrise, the data will provide an estimate of the bird's daily location for an entire year.

And this is just the beginning. VCE biologists Chris Rimmer and Kent McFarland will soon be recapturing Bicknell's Thrush carrying geolocators from 2009.

Never before have biologists been able to directly track the movement of migratory songbirds, and this new breakthrough technology will provide dramatic new insights into the lives of these small birds.

VCE biologist Rosalind Renfrew and collaborator Noah Perlut recaptured the bird in a Shelburne farm field where they fitted it with a geolocator one year ago. The geolocator was taken off the bird and the data it carries is being processed to reveal the bird's migratory route, timing, and wintering grounds - information that has been very difficult if not impossible to piece together in the past for any songbird.

Renfrew and Perlut and their collaborator Dan Kim, who attached geolocators on Bobolinks in Nebraska and Oregon, will be looking for more birds returning with the precious information stored by the geolocators.

There will certainly be more news to come - stay tuned!

For more on VCE's work with geolocators on Bobolinks and Bicknell's Thrush, see the Fall 2009 issue of Field Notes.

Norwich 2010 Quest Closes in on 150 Species

After a six-day hiatus in sightings of new species since our last update (Wilson's Warbler on May 9), the Norwich 2010 Birding Quest added the following species through Sunday, May 23:

* Golden Eagle flyby at 8:00 pm during a VCE Birdathon, May 15
* Black-billed Cuckoo early on May 16 along Bragg Hill Road
* Blackpoll Warbler at the Montshire Museum, May 16
* Great Crested Flycatcher, also at the Montshire on May 16
* Eastern Wood-Pewee, trails of Parcel 5 on May 18
* Willow Flycatcher on May 18 near Farrell Farms
* Alder Flycatcher on May 20, Parcel 5 trail
* Tennessee Warbler, May 21 along Bragg Hill Road
* Mourning Warbler singing along Elm St. on May 21
* American Bittern flyby at Ledyard Bridge, May 22
* Whip-poor-Will at 8:30pm in Parcel 5 on May 22
* Least Sandpiper on Ompompanoosuc River on may 23

These sightings bring us to 144 species for the year, with 317 checklist submissions to Vermont eBird. Incredible as it may seem, spring migration is actually beginning to wind down now, but there are plenty of species yet to be found within Norwich's borders. Among these are a few likely breeding species, including Red-shouldered Hawk, Virginia Rail, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Yellow-throated Vireo, and Blue-winged Warbler.

As always, the unexpected beckons, so get out there and find Norwich's first Black Vulture, Short-billed Dowitcher, or Bay-breasted Warbler!

Doug Hardy and Chris Rimmer
Norwich Questers

Photo: male Blackpoll Warbler, courtesy and copyright of Jeff Nadler

Red Admirals on the Move

We had a neat 30 minutes today near our office. At the Coop gardens on Rt. 5 south of Norwich from 11am to 1130am we saw over 40 Red Admirals traveling fast to the north one after the other. There was a light breeze from the north and they appeared to go like heck anyhow. It was really amazing sight watching them stream northward. I ha...ve never seen this in Vermont. There is a movement afoot across the Northeast apparently. It has reached Vermont.

First Loon Rescue of 2010

Thanks to an alert motorist and the help of many people, a loon was saved last week after crashing on a road near Berlin Pond on May 12th. The Central Vermont Humane Society received a call about a loon on the side of the road. The VLRP has documented many crash-landings on roads especially in areas where the lakes are far apart. Loons might become exhausted looking for a lake to land on or become confused by the black, water-like appearance of road surfaces, especially at night. Joan Van Cour of the Humane Society contacted VLRP coordinator, Eric Hanson, shortly after she took the call. Following the standard protocol for dealing with loons in this situation, the loon spent the night in a padded box before being delivered to Craig Newman, a wildlife rehabilitator for the Outreach for Earth Stewardship. Craig and Richmond, VT veterinarian Dr. Daniel Hament found the loon to be healthy with almost no signs that it had just had a traumatic crash. Craig released the loon at the south end of Berlin Pond just in case that is where it came from. The established loon pair was observed, but luckily the crash victim did not pose a territorial threat and was left alone. Eric Hanson visited the pond on May 14th and observed the territorial pair at the north end of Berlin Pond and a single loon near the south end, likely the main character of this story. The pond is big enough for a third loon to stay around and not interfere with the territorial pair.

2010 update: Loon pairs are starting to nest at a rate slightly ahead of normal. Nine nests have been confirmed as of May 18, but many volunteers are just beginning to check on their loon pairs as part of the Adopt-a-Lake program. We have a potential record for early nesting, at least during the past 13 years, on Lake Eden with a start date of May 8 based on the change from 2 adults being observed to 1 adult. We’ll know for sure on June 5 after the usual 28 days of incubation. Let the loon season begin.
Eric Hanson

Vermont’s Monthly Invasives Update: May 2010

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.

NOTEWORTHY NEWS

1. The Vermont Chapter of The Nature Conservancy receives $43,000 National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Pulling it Together Grant.

2. Vermont Landowner’s Guide to Invasive Plant Management is hot off the press. TNC’s invasive plant fact sheets have also been revamped. Both are available at www.nature.org/vermont/weeds.

3. University of Maine receives grant to develop Northeast Invasive Plant Working Group. Vermont joins the fun!

4. Richmond Floodplain Forest Restoration featured in Sunday May 9 edition of Burlington Free Press article

5. The Upper Valley Land Trust served garlic mustard pesto to visitors at the 2010 Taste of the Valley Event

6. WCAX Channel 3 tv ran a piece on the Richmond Floodplain Forest Restoration Project.

7. Montpelier Conservation Commission, the City of Montpelier Parks Department, Vermont Youth Conservation Corps, The Nature Conservancy and Green Up Day Volunteers remove Japanese Barberry plants from in front of City Hall!

8. New York Moves to Classify and Control Invasive Species

9. Counting the cost of alien invasions

10. Lyme Disease is here: donning a tyvek suit can keep you safe!

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

11. Tired of being in the office? Looking for an excuse to see some of the most beautiful places in the state? The Nature Conservancy has plenty of opportunities to pull garlic mustard and knock back knotweed

12. The Richmond Floodplain Forest Restoration Project seeks volunteers to remove garlic mustard and knotweed

13. Frogbit Removal at the Mouth of Thorp Brook on Town Farm Bay wetlands of Lake Champlain

LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

14. Invasive removal demonstration: May 12, 10 am at the Charlotte Park & Wildlife Refuge.

15. Webinar 1: Case Studies in Citizen Monitoring for Invasive Species Monday, May 24, 2010 11:00 am-12:15 pm Eastern

16. Invasive Species Workshop & Wild Edibles Potluck, May 19, 6:30 – 8:30 Starksboro, Vermont

17. Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area starts up in Ottaquechee River Basin Meeting: June 16^th, 6 pm, VINS Nature Center, Quechee

18. Eco-gardening Workshop Using native plants & installing rain gardens June 5, 10 – 1, Camel’s Hump Middle School & On the Rise Bakery, Richmond, Vermont

19. Forest Pest Workshop and Visual Survey, Saturday June 5, 2010 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM South Burlington City Hall; 575 Dorset Street

20. Invasive Species, Taking Action in Our Town. June 10, 2010, 7:00 pm. Montpelier City Hall

21. Invasive Plant Management for Road Crews June 16, 2010 8 am – 12:30 Richmond West Monitor Barn

22. Replacing the Beast with Beauty: Alternatives to Invasive Species Friday, June 25, 2010. 2:30 - 3:30 at the Golden Eagle, Stowe.

23. Container Gardening with Native Plants at Montshire Museum, Saturday, June 19, 10 a.m.-12 noon

24. Save the Date: INVASIVE PLANT SYMPOSIUM, October 13, 2010 University of Connecticut, Storrs Presented by the Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group (CIPWG)

NOTEWORTHY NEWS

1. The Vermont Chapter of The Nature Conservancy receives $43,000 National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Pulling it Together Grant. Funding will be utilized to work with Redstart Forestry, Vermont Land Trust, Upper Valley Land Trust, Redstart Forestry, and VT Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation to develop a comprehensive set of best management practices for managing invasive terrestrial plants in working forests and natural areas. Partners will develop a set of tools and training materials that will be disseminated to private and public land managers beginning in Winter 2011. Stay tuned for more information

2. Vermont Landowner’s Guide to Invasive Plant Management is hot off the press and ready to download from the web. Produced by Tim Holton, M.S. Antioch New England Graduate Student, and Sharon Plumb, The Nature Conservancy. The document provides an overview to what invasive species are, why they are a problem, steps to take when developing a weed management plan, and important contact information for NRCS and county forester information. TNC’s invasive plant fact sheets have also been revamped. Both are available at www.nature.org/vermont/weeds.

3. University of Maine receives grant to develop Northeast Invasive Plant Working Group. This project will establish a coalition of experts from conservation organization, state agencies, and land grant universities from New England and New York who will come together to exchange information on state coordination of invasive species efforts via councils, advisory boards and/or networks, and assist each other with instate coordination efforts and assessing the needs of stakeholders within individual states. The IWG will then prioritize specific regional IPM outreach and research needs for invasive species that reflect the input from each of the state invasive species councils. Sharon Plumb from The Nature Conservancy will represent Vermont’s Conservation organizations. The representative from UVM will be determined in the next few weeks. Ann Bove from the Department of Environmental Conservation will represent the State of Vermont.

4. Richmond Floodplain Forest Restoration featured in Sunday May 9 edition of Burlington Free Press article. The article summarizes the project, and provides loads of information. Share it with friends and neighbors to get the word out about invasive species, management, and eco-friendly gardening. http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20100509/LIVING09/100509006/Going-native

5. The Upper Valley Land Trust served garlic mustard pesto to visitors at the 2010 Taste of the Valley Event! Rumor has it people found it tasty and wanted more! There’s likely garlic mustard to be pulled in your area – so get out there and pull it up and make it into a tasty dinner. http://www.valley-news.com/vol1/drupal-5.12/valleybuzz/free-food

6. WCAX Channel 3 tv ran a piece on the Richmond Floodplain Forest Restoration Project. http://www.wcax.com/global/video.asp?clipId=4757790&autostart=true

7. Montpelier Conservation Commission, the City of Montpelier Parks Department, Vermont Youth Conservation Corps, The Nature Conservancy and Green Up Day Volunteers remove Japanese Barberry plants from in front of City Hall! VYCC school crew members from U32 spend the last 3 days of April pulling out 10 Japanese barberry plants from in front of city hall. The activity not only removes an important seed source for the invasive plant, but provides a strong message to Montpelier area businesses and residents: practice safe gardening! Learn more about it by going to The Bridge articles found here http://www.montpelierbridge.com/

8. New York Moves to Classify and Control Invasive Species ALBANY, New York, April 14, 2010 (ENS) - Zebra mussels, Sirex wood wasps and Eurasian milfoil, snakehead fish and giant hogweed - these are among the non-native species invading New York state. Now state officials are proposing a system that could help control invasive species, one of the state's fastest growing environmental threats. http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2010/2010-04-14-091.htm See the link above for the full article text. The report that is mentioned can be found at http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/63402.html

9. Counting the cost of alien invasions VIEWPOINT Achim Steiner Far too many governments have failed to grasp the scale of the threat from invasive species, warns UN Environment Programme's executive director Achim Steiner. In this week's Green Room, he issues a call to arms to halt the alien invasion. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8615398.stm

10. Lyme Disease is here: donning a tyvek suit can keep you safe! By Victoria Weber, VIEPC member. There is an invasive organism that we cannot see, but which exists in every Vermont coutny, and that is the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, Borrelia Burgdorferi. Lyme disease as well as 3 other bacterial 'co-infections' are most often brought to us by deer ticks, which are also on the rise due in part to the burgeoning deer population in Vermont. Most dangerous are poppy-seed sized tick nymphs which are most likely to bite and spread Lyme in the spring. The question is: how to get out and work on invasive plants, or just enjoy nature, and still protect oneself ? A tyvek suit is a possibility. Northern Safety & Industrial in Utica NY, 800-631-1246, www.northernsecurity.com recommended Activgard 100, item # 134-19848 with hood, boots and elastic at wrists for $4.33 each plus shipping. MPE Protective Apparel in Hammond IN, 800-841-4230 https://www.disposable-garments.com/ has recycled tyvek coveralls. Their tyvek coverall is breathable and costs $4.95 each plus shipping. The Anacostia Maryland Watershed Society has a report on the topic of Lyme and safety measures, attached as a pdf. See Top Ten Tips to Prevent Chronic Lyme Disease at http://www.ilads.org/lyme_disease/lyme_tips.html to help sort through the controversy about Lyme disease treatment. No matter what, it is wise to inspect your body and scalp daily looking for tiny black dots.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

11. Tired of being in the office? Looking for an excuse to see some of the most beautiful places in the state? The Nature Conservancy has plenty of opportunities to pull garlic mustard and knock back knotweed. Contact Ron Wild for more information at rwild@tnc.org or 802-229-4425 x111

· May 11, 12, 13 – Williams Woods in Charlotte – removing Garlic Mustard, 8:30am – 4:30pm

· May 17, 19 – White River Ledges (Pomfret) – removing Garlic Mustard, 10:00am-2:00pm

· May 25, 26, 27 – Richmond Rivershore – removing knotweed, 11:00am -3:00pm

· June 2 – Williams Woods in Charlotte – removing Garlic Mustard, 11:00am – 4:30pm

12. The Richmond Floodplain Forest Restoration Project is a team of conservation organizations and volunteers from throughout Chittenden County who are coming together to restore one of the most beautiful and largest remaining Silver Maple Ostrich Fern floodplain forests in the state. Throughout the growing season, there are ample opportunities for citizens, scout troops, summer camps, and other interested parties to come out, enjoy the rivershore, and pull invasive species. Volunteers are needed on the following dates. To help, call 881-3423 or e-mail richmondfloodplain@hotmail.com For more info find us on Facebook or go to www.richmondlandtrust.org

· Wednesday, May 5: 5-6:30 pm

· Saturday, June 5: 2-5 pm

· Monday, June 14: 5-6:30 pm

· Monday, June 28: 5-6:30 pm

· Sunday, July 11: 2-5 pm

· Monday, July 12: 5-6:30 pm

· Monday, July 26: 5-6:30 pm

· Sunday, August 8: 2-5 pm

· Monday, August 9: 5-6:30 pm

· Monday, August 23 5-6:30 p.m

13. Frogbit Removal at the Mouth of Thorp Brook on Town Farm Bay wetlands of Lake Champlain

Lewis Creek Association will be going ahead for the second year of removal of the invasive aquatic plant called frog-bit (hydrocharis morsus-ranae). This is a floating plant that is easily picked by hand. It is not rooted in the lake bottom. We would like to invite volunteers to help with this project. The project coordinators, Craig Bunten and Mollie Wills will be working with a hired crew to manually hand-pick frog-bit from June 7^th to August 5^th, a period of 9 weeks. Sue Smith and Dianne Leary will be working with volunteers on most Monday’s and Tuesdays and some weekend days. We are looking for additional help to hand-harvest frog-bit! Please contact Sue Smith for more details and are interested in helping out. If you have a group who is interested in volunteering, additional volunteer dates can be arranged ssmith@gmavt.net Volunteer dates are as follows:

· June 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29, July 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 17, August 2, 3, 9:30-12:30

· June 26 1:00-3:30

LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

14. Invasive removal demonstration: May 12, 10 am at the Charlotte Park & Wildlife Refuge.

The town of Charlotte and Forest Savers LLC are pleased to announce an habitat reclamation/invasive removal demonstration project to be held Wednesday, May 12, at 10:00 AM at the Charlotte Park and Wildlife Refuge. The Park is a 280 acre matrix of forested, riparian, early successional and agricultural lands. It is valued by Charlotters for its network of recreational trails, its excellent birding, and spectacular views of the Champlain Valley. In recent years, many sections of the park have been severely compromised by the proliferation of exotic invasive plants. Honeysuckle, Buckthorn, and Amur Maple are the biggest offenders. Over the past 12 months more than 300 volunteer hours have been dedicated to the removal of these invasives. Work crews have cut by hand thousands of plants, as evidenced by the numerous brush piles lining the trails. Gerry Hawkes, founder of Forest Savers will employ his proprietary system capable of removing trees and shrubs up to 4 inches in diameter. During the demonstration, a parcel of approximately 3 acres will be targeted. The area is dominated by heavy, mature (impassible) honeysuckle growth beneath a 25-35% closed canopy consisting of red maple, sugar maple and butternut. Our goals are as follows: 1) release desirable tree specimens; 2) return soils to a condition that will promote native species regrowth; and 3) reclaim views of Lake Champlain. Prior to May 12 the targeted area will be surveyed for desirable plant/tree specimens and nesting birds so they may be avoided during the cutting.We are extending an invitation to foresters, managers of private and public lands, and private property owners to view the Forest Saver system in action. Contact Robert Hyams for more information and detailed directions, at robert@gmavt.net, or 734-5630.

15. Webinar 1: Case Studies in Citizen Monitoring for Invasive Species Monday, May 24, 2010 11:00 am-12:15 pm Eastern

The threat that invasive species pose to the urban forest is an important and timely national issue. Often, the initial observations of these devastating invasive insects, plants and diseases are by private citizens, not by the natural resource scientist. For this reason, enlisting assistance from the public in the timely search for these pests is essential to increase the likelihood that early detection response plans will be implemented and invasive species will be managed and/or eradicated. Since invasive species affect all land ownerships, early detection is essential not only to the health of our urban forests, but our public and private forestlands as well.

This webinar will highlight four Citizen Monitoring Programs already using best practices to educate and engage citizen scientists (CS) in early detection and ongoing monitoring of invasive pests. Presenters will include Travis Gallo (Invaders of Texas), Angela Gupta (Minnesota Forest Pest First Detectors), Sarah Kirn (Vital Signs), and Jennifer Schwarz Ballard (Project Budburt). Contact Kate Forrer for more information at katherine.forrer@uvm.edu

16. Invasive Species Workshop & Wild Edibles Potluck, May 19, 6:30 – 8:30 Starksboro, Vermont

Non-native invasive plant species are changing Starksboro’s streambanks, roadsides 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 an outdoor demonstration of finding and controlling invasive plants. The Nature Conservancy’s Invasive Species Coordinator, Sharon Plumb, will teach how to identify these non-native plants and will share ideas about how other groups have developed solutions to the problem. The evening will close with a sampling of wild edibles, including some of the invading species (such as Japanese knotweed shoots) in question. The Starksboro Conservation Commission will describe invasive plant control activities for which they are recruiting volunteers in the coming months. Come prepared to go outside. Hosted by the Starksboro Conservation Commission For more information (including ideas for wild edible hors d'oeuvres), call Matt Witten at 434-3236. Location: Common Ground Center, 473 Tatro Road, Starksboro http://cgcvt.org/camp

17. Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area starts up in Ottaquechee River Basin Meeting: June 16^th, 6 pm, VINS Nature Center, Quechee

On April 21^st, a group of interested citizens convened in Woodstock, VT to learn from Sharon Plumb, at the Nature Conservancy, about Cooperative Weed Management Areas (CWMA). At this meeting, the assembled group learned about the impacts of invasive plants, and discussed the merits of setting up a CWMA in the Ottauquechee River Watershed. With the mounting interest in invasive species management, VINS has joined forces with the Nature Conservancy and stepped forward to take a leadership role in coordinating invasive species management efforts in the Ottauquechee River Watershed. We therefore hope you will be able to join us at the VINS Nature Center on Wednesday, June 16^th at 6:00pm for one of what we hope to be many planning meetings to establish a Cooperative Invasive Species Management area for the Ottauquechee River Basin. In preparation for this meeting, we recommend that you please read through the guide for establishing a CISMA/CWMA found at http://mipn.org/MIPN%20Cookbook%20Lo-res.pdf . If you are unable to make the meeting in person, we hope you will be able to call in to our conference line: Conference Call-in Number: 218-486-1600 Pass Code: 242293 For more information, please contact Tree Sturman at tsturman@vinsweb.org

18. Eco-gardening Workshop Using native plants & installing rain gardens June 5, 10 – 1, Camel’s Hump Middle School & On the Rise Bakery, Richmond, Vermont

Lush foliage and vibrant flowers are more than meet the eye when you plant with natives and design gardens to capture and absorb stormwater. Learn which Vermont perennials, shrubs and trees are beautiful and attract butterflies, pollinators and birds. We’ll explore Camel’s Hump Middle School’s new 1000 square foot native plant garden and then move to On the Rise Bakery, where we’ll learn the basics of designing and installing a rain garden – with natives and edibles! Workshop held rain or shine, mostly outdoors. Bring comfortable foot wear, sunscreen, hats and any other creature comforts. We will not be walking far, just around 2 garden areas. This is a workshop of the Richmond Floodplain Restoration Project www.richmondlandtrust.org Speaker Sharon Plumb, Invasive Species Coordinator The Nature Conservancy & Laura Killian, UVM Sea Grants Fee: $5 donation to support Camel’s Hump Middle School native plant garden

For more information or to register, call 859-3086 x340 or email lkillian@uvm.edu

19. Forest Pest Workshop and Visual Survey, Saturday June 5, 2010 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM South Burlington City Hall; 575 Dorset Street

Presented by Emilie Inoue, VT Cooperative Agriculture Pest Survey Coordinator, Vermont Agency of Agriculture, this educational opportunity will focus on the Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) and the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) insects that present a real danger to our urban forests.

· Learn how they got here, why they are so devastating and what we all can to do.

· See real exhibits of these insects and the tree damage they caused up close.

· Participate in a visual survey of host trees during the workshop.

Hosted by TREEage and Branch Out Burlington! All are welcome to this FREE event. Pre-registration is recommended by May 31, 2010. Contact: Marie Ambusk 802-999-1126 or marie.ambusk@ge.com . Sign up is recommended.

20. Invasive Species, Taking Action in Our Town. June 10, 2010, 7:00 pm. Montpelier 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.

Registration/Fee: The lecture is free and open to the public. For more information, call Kris Hammer at 262-1222 for info.

21. Invasive Plant Management for Road Crews June 16, 2010 8 am – 12:30 Richmond West Monitor Barn

This workshop is intended for road crew personnel and town government officials to learn more about invasive terrestrial plants, the threats they

pose to our natural resources, our local economies, and human health. Town conservation commissions and all municipal officials are invited

to attend. Learning Objectives include:

· Discuss why invasive species are a threat to Vermont’s natural resources, local economies, and human health

· Be able to identify weeds in the field based on plant form and habitat

· Use effective prevention techniques; how to top the spread of invasive terrestrial plants one load of dirt at a time

· Develop methods for communicating with the public regarding what your road crew is doing to reduce the spread and impact of invasive species

· Discuss methods for troubleshooting barriers to implementing best management practices

Workshop facilitators include Craig Dusablon, Landscape Coordinator Vermont Agency of Transportation and Sharon Plumb, The Nature Conservancy. Sponsored by Vermont Local Roads Program. Go to www.vermontlocalroads.org or call 1-800-462-6555 for more information.

22. Replacing the Beast with Beauty: Alternatives to Invasive Species Friday, June 25, 2010. 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. Featured Speaker: Sharon Plumb, Invasive Species Coordinator with The Nature Conservancy, Vermont Chapter Registration/Fee: The lecture is free and open to the public. Go to http://www.stowegardenfestival.com/ to see all of the fantastic workshops you can attend.

23. Container Gardening with Native Plants at Montshire Museum, Saturday, June 19, 10 a.m.-12 noon
Forget the petunias and potato vines; create container plantings using native perennials adapted to our New England winters. Container plantings add accents to your outdoor spaces whether large or small. Learn which natives are ideal for containers and how to combine them effectively. First, explore design elements, container and plant selection, lighting requirements, temperature, growing media, irrigation, fertilization, over-wintering, and long-term maintenance. Then assemble and plant your own container under the instructor’s guidance. BYOC--bring your own container. Liz Kreig instructs this lively workshop! The class fee includes plants, potting mix, fertilizer and mulch for your container. For more information go to www.montshire.org

24. Save the Date: INVASIVE PLANT SYMPOSIUM, October 13, 2010 University of Connecticut, Storrs Presented by the Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group (CIPWG) Title: Challenges and Successes: Working Cooperatively to Manage Invasive Plants

ALL WHO ARE INTERESTED IN INVASIVE PLANT ISSUES ARE INVITED to this symposium (8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.) at the University of Connecticut, Storrs. This conference will address the importance of native habitats, how invasive species harm these habitats, and why cooperative efforts are vital to understanding and managing our natural landscapes. All interested people, including municipal staff (parks and recreation, public works, inland wetlands/conservation commissions), nursery, tree and landscape professionals, educators, students, landscape architects, gardening enthusiasts, state and federal employees, and members of conservation organizations are encouraged to attend. Full program and registration information are available on the CIPWG website: www.hort.uconn.edu/cipwg or call (860) 486-6448 for more information

Invasive kudzu is major factor in surface ozone pollution, study shows

Kudzu, an invasive vine that is spreading across the southeastern United States and northward, is a major contributor to large-scale increases of the pollutant surface ozone, according to a study published the week of May 17 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Kudzu, a leafy vine native to Japan and southeastern China, produces the chemicals isoprene and nitric oxide, which, when combined with nitrogen in the air, form ozone, an air pollutant that causes significant health problems for humans. Ozone also hinders the growth of many kinds of plants, including crop vegetation.

"We found that this chemical reaction caused by kudzu leads to about a 50 percent increase in the number of days each year in which ozone levels exceed what the Environmental Protection Agency deems as unhealthy," said study co-author Manuel Lerdau, a University of Virginia professor of environmental sciences and biology. "This increase in ozone completely overcomes the reductions in ozone realized from automobile pollution control legislation."

Lerdau and his former graduate student, lead author Jonathan Hickman – now a postdoctoral fellow at Columbia University – used field studies at three sites in Georgia to determine the gas production of kudzu. They then worked with Shiliang Wu and Loretta Mickley, atmospheric scientists at Harvard University, who used atmospheric chemistry computer models to evaluate the potential 50-year effect of kudzu invasion on regional air quality.

"Essentially what we found is that this biological invasion has the capacity to degrade air quality, and in all likelihood over time lead to increases in air pollution, increases in health problems caused by that air pollution, and decreases in agricultural productivity," Lerdau said.

"This is yet another compelling reason to begin seriously combating this biological invasion. What was once considered a nuisance, and primarily of concern to ecologists and farmers, is now proving to be a potentially serious health threat."

Ozone acts as an irritant to the eyes, nose and throat, and can damage the lungs, sometimes causing asthma or worsening asthma symptoms. It also is a mutagen and can cause lung cancer.

Ozone, while essential to the health of the Earth in the upper atmosphere where it shields the surface from excess ultraviolet radiation, is hazardous to human health when it forms at the earth's surface. This occurs most often in the summertime as plants grow and produce chemicals that react with the air.

Introduced to the United States in the late 19th century, kudzu, with its unique nitrogen-fixing physiology, allows a rapid, nearly uninhibited rate of growth, about three times the rate of trees and other vegetation. The vine was cultivated more extensively in the 1920s and 1930s as a control for soil erosion and rapidly became known as "the vine that ate the South."

In recent, milder winters, Kudzu has expanded its range northward into Pennsylvania and New York.

"What was once a Southern problem is now becoming an East Coast issue," Lerdau said.

Various strategies are used for controlling and eradicating kudzu, including livestock grazing, burning, mowing and herbicides.

Help Needed for Jamaican Nature Preserve

Please visit http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/save-font-hill-nature-preserve-from-development to sign a petition to save Font Hill Nature Preserve, Jamaica from development by Fiesta Hotels.

Pete Marra of the Smithsonian Institution has conducted bird studies at this reserve in Jamaica, and provides background below about saving a threatened Caribbean nature reserve from a large hotel chain:

“For those of you who don’t know Font Hill, it contains remarkable pristine habitats including Black Mangrove Forests, scrub and beaches. It should be a world Natural Heritage site! It also has a spectacular population of endemic Jamaica species, as well as Crocodiles, Whistling Ducks and large populations of various migratory birds. It has also hosted a large and productive research program for US and Jamaican scientists for the last 25 years that has resulted in over 100 scientific publications on the non-breeding ecology of migratory birds as well as several papers on Jamaican habitats and other wildlife. The research on the winter ecology of migrant birds has no parallel anywhere in the world.” – Peter Marra

Volunteering for Gulf Oil Disaster

Wildlife lovers from across the Gulf and across the nation are volunteering to help save wildlife threatened by the massive oil spill still gushing into ocean. National Audubon Society has been coordinating an extraordinary volunteer effort. If you would like to be a volunteer, see http://www.audubonaction.org/site/Survey?ACTION_REQUIRED=URI_ACTION_USER_REQUESTS&SURVEY_ID=3400. Bird rescue specialists from International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC) have been deployed to the Gulf Coast and are setting up rescue stations. IBRRC’s blog provides updated information on bird impacts: http://wbx.me/l/?p=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fintbirdrescue.blogspot.com%2F

1st Vermont Breeding Bird Atlas Now Available Online

The first Vermont Breeding Bird Atlas Project (1976-81) represents the most complete set of baseline data gathered on the nesting birds of Vermont, and one of the first sets of statewide information on breeding birds ever gathered in the United States. Data were collected by 200 volunteers, including members of the seven Vermont chapters of the National Audubon Society and of the Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) research staff, who spent six summers in the field. This volume was the first state or provincial breeding bird atlas to be published in North America (1985). It is now completely available online!

Partners in Flight — 20 years of conserving birds

VCE Biologists have been involved with Partners in Flight for nearly 20 years. To celebrate Partners in Flight’s 20th Anniversary, Cornell Lab of Ornithology created a compelling movie highlighting Partners in Flight’s mission and approach. Spectacular bird footage and vocalizations bring the message to life—we must continue to work together to effectively conserve the Western Hemisphere’s amazing and diverse bird life. The video additionally showcases the International Migratory Bird Day 2010 artwork by Robert Petty that illustrates the theme “Power of Partnerships.”

Saving Our Shared Birds: Partners in Flight Tri-National Vision for Landbird Conservation

VCE biologists have been involved with Partners in Flight for nearly two decades. We are pleased to announce that “Saving Our Shared Birds: Partners in Flight Tri-National Vision for Landbird Conservation” is now available! Government officials, on behalf of international bird conservation leaders from the United States, Canada, and Mexico, released the report today at the XV Annual Trilateral Committee for Wildlife and Ecosystem Conservation and Management meeting in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Bicknell's Thrush, a species VCE has studied closely and is helping to conserve, is listed as a priority species under the category "Temperate Breeders of High Tri-National Concern."

The tri-national assessment followed Partners in Flight’s process of scientific evaluations of conservation vulnerability for 882 native landbirds to Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Please note that the results of this new tri-national species assessment do not replace the priorities and objectives identified previously in the 2004 PIF Landbird Conservation Plan (Rich et al. 2004) or regional priorities in the PIF species assessment database. The messages in this report are highly relevant to successful conservation of all North American landbirds.

Visit www.savingoursharedbirds.org to learn more, download a copy, view our new PIF video, or read the press release.

Migration Approaches its mid-May Crescendo

These are exciting times for Norwich Quest birders! New species continue to stream in on a daily basis, some arriving here to breed, others stopping en route to more northerly destinations. Several local species are nest building (e.g., Tree Swallows, Black-capped Chickadees, Baltimore Orioles), feeding nestlings (e.g., American Crows, Eastern Bluebirds), even tending fledglings (e.g., Canada Geese).

Thanks to our increasing number of eBirders, 39 Norwich reports have been submitted since our last update on May 4th, adding an amazing 17 more species to the tally.

The following species have been added to the Norwich Quest 2010 list:
* Yellow Warbler first seen on May 4, reported near-daily since
* American Redstart also on May 4 from Ledyard Bridge
* Eastern Kingbirds were spotted at 3 different locations on May 4
* Bobolink seen first on May 5
* Red-eyed Vireo at Co-op garden area on May 5, now widespread
* Indigo Bunting seen May 6, New Boston Rd. near Thetford line
* Black-throated Blue Warbler on Spring Pond Rd., May 7
* Blackburnian Warbler also on Spring Pond Rd., May 7
* Cape May Warbler (2 males singing near Ledyard Bridge on May 8!)
* Canada Warbler with above, brief look
* Merlin (flybys on 8 and 9 May at Ledyard)
* Least Flycatcher also seen near Ledyard on May 8
* Wood Thrush heard along Bragg Hill Rd early evening, same day
* Greater Yellowlegs in Pompy area, during the 5th Birding Quest walk, May 9
* Solitary Sandpiper along Campbell Flats Rd. during above walk
* Veery seen Hogback Rd. during above walk
* Wilson's Warbler in Ledyard area, briefly on morning of May 9

The 2010 Norwich Quest total now stands at 133 species. With several VCE Birdathon efforts being undertaken over the next couple of weeks, interesting new species are sure to turn up! Everyone is encouraged to get outdoors, beat the bushes, meadows and waterways, and report those sightings to Vermont eBird. As the breeding season gets underway for many songbirds, this is an exciting time to observe and ponder behavior, as well as marvel at some brilliant plumage... and maybe find a new arrival, or even an unexpected visitor! How about an Acadian Flycatcher or Hooded Warbler? A Red Knot or Stilt Sandpiper?? Migration is ever unpredictable!

Doug Hardy, Co-organizer
Norwich 2010 Birding Quest

Photo courtesy of Eladio Fernandez

New eBird Tool for Tracking Gulf Coast Birds and Oil

As oil continues to gush into the ocean from the Deepwater Horizon well, Gulf Coast bird watchers are taking action by surveying beaches and marshes for birds. Team eBird has produced the eBird Gulf Coast Oil Spill Bird Tracker gadget that can be embedded in your iGoogle page for quick access to the eBird database. This gadget includes ten focal species of conservation concern that could be impacted by the current oil spill. For each species, we display hundreds of recent Gulf Coast sightings on a map along with count information. This information can effectively steer beach protection and cleanup efforts to the sites with the greatest concentrations of birds and most important habitats.

This gadget is driven by the eBird point maps. The data displayed is for the five Gulf Coast states since April 2010. To explore these, remember that the maps show only the markers for this recent period. To find out more information on the report, click on the stickpin and you will see the location name as well as a list of all the recent reports with the observer's name and the species counts. Note that the stickpins with a plus symbol (+) are ones that represent multiple locations; simply click on them to see the full gamut of points.

Also, please remember that it is easy to change to a different species, region, or date range. Just notice the options for these changes at the top of your screen. Many other species, like Black Skimmer, Sandwich, Gull-billed, Least and Forster's Terns, and even offshore species like Audubon's Shearwater and Bridled Tern, are at risk too. The ten we have selected are simply some of the most conspicuous, engaging, and at risk species.

eBird - Gulf Coast Oil Spill Bird Tracker

What Species are Hardest Hit by the Oil Spill?

The oil spill from the offshore drilling platform Deepwater Horizon has reached the US Gulf Coast. The US Fish and Wildlife Service is concerned about impacts on beach-nesting, wading and sea birds, as well as turtles, and fisheries.

Some of the birds and turtles affected:

• Brown pelican
• Royal tern
• Caspian tern
• Sandwich tern
• Least tern
• Laughing gull
• Black skimmer
• Loggerhead turtle
• Green sea turtle
• Hawksbill turtle
• Kemp's Ridley turtle
• Leatherback turtle

Fisheries species in the affected region include

• White shrimp
• Pink shrimp
• Red snapper,
• Anchor tilefish
• Greater amberjack
• Eastern oyster
• Blue crab

US Federal and State agencies are posting information to a common portal. The US Fish and Wildlife Service has posted a Fact Sheet concerning wildlife impacts.

Many commercial fisheries as well as sport-fishing will be impacted by the spill. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on May 2nd closed the affected federal waters from the Mississipi River to Pensacola Bay to all fishing for at least ten days.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals has advised the public not to fish (or swim) in LA state waters The White shrimp season closes May 4 because sustainable harvest has been completed. The inshore shrimp season dates have not yet been determined.

To get an idea of the glorious organisms and landscapes threatened by this disaster, see the Gulf of Mexico Wildlife - Before the Oil Spill Flickr Group. There are many other great sites linked from the group home page including GulfBase, a resource database for Gulf of Mexico Research with lots of great information about the area.

Visit the Encyclopedia of Life for more information.

Editorial: Deepwater Horizon’s Far-reaching Impacts

Two starkly opposing ecological dramas are unfolding before our eyes. One – the spectacular annual return of migratory birds to Vermont’s woodlands, meadows and back yards – stirs our souls and gives us hope. The other – an evolving environmental crisis of epic proportions on the Gulf Coast – casts a pall on spring’s wonders and has shaken us to the core. As the Deepwater Horizon oil spill’s enormity becomes increasingly apparent, we are all challenged and obligated to consider how we can help.

Mounting reports of oiled birds and other wildlife underscore the Gulf Coast’s immense importance to marine and terrestrial life. From bluefin tuna to red drum, sea turtles to sperm whales, nesting colonial birds to trans-Gulf migrant songbirds, and oysters to shrimp, a huge diversity of life forms is at stake. The Coast’s varied ecosystems are extremely vulnerable, lacking resilience to cope with severe perturbations, whether from hurricanes or oil spills. It is becoming clear that the Deepwater Horizon spill’s ecological and economic impacts will extend across the entire western hemisphere. Its unprecedented scope and unpredictable course make accurate forecasting of both short- and long-term effects impossible.

With the crisis 1200 or more miles to our south, what can Vermonters and others do?

First, stay informed. Follow closely the evolving situation in the Gulf. Gain an appreciation for the rich biodiversity and complex fragility of coastal ecosystems, and this disaster’s far-reaching impacts. Many of the migrant birds arriving here now stopped over on the Gulf Coast just a few days or weeks ago to replenish their energy reserves before continuing northward. They are the lucky ones – those later-migrating species just completing trans-Gulf flights from Central America may not fare as well.

Second, volunteer if you can. Several local and national conservation groups offer opportunities for hands-on involvement in recovering oiled wildlife or otherwise assisting clean-up efforts. Locally, participate in wildlife monitoring projects conducted by the Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE; http://www.vtecostudies.org/citsci.html) and other Vermont or New Hampshire conservation groups. These will help to assess the oil spill’s effects on migratory birds that nest far north of the Gulf Coast.

Third, advocate for a redoubled local, state and national commitment to renewable energy. While every form of energy generation poses risks to wildlife and their habitats, the Gulf Coast crisis has raised the stakes many-fold. It has never been more imperative that we carefully re-examine the ecological costs of our energy options. Aggressive reduction of consumption and exploration of alternative, renewable options must become culturally and politically ingrained.

There are many outstanding North American conservation organizations tackling this problem, it is incumbent upon all of us to better educate ourselves and take action. The migrant thrushes, vireos, and warblers singing outside now, and those still winging their way north, depend on our collective will to act.

Chris Rimmer, Director
John Peiffer, Board Chair
Vermont Center for Ecostudies

Migration floodgates opening wide

The first weekend in May brought a dramatic wave of migration to New England, with at least 14 species of warblers arriving in the Upper Valley, eight in Norwich alone. Joining the warblers since our last update to the Norwich 2010 Birding Quest were eagerly-awaited appearances of swallows, vireos, and species such as Eastern Towhee and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. The 12 new species seen on Sunday may stand as a single-day record for some time.

From records submitted to Vermont eBird, the following species were recorded in Norwich between April 22 and May 2:
* House Wren repeatedly singing along Elm St. on Apr. 22
* Nashville Warbler also singing, Spring Pond Rd on Apr. 25
* Green Heron (beaver pond on Tigertown Rd, Apr. 25)
* Common Loons (3) midday on Apr. 28, Ledyard Bridge
* Barn Swallow at Ledyard Bridge on Apr. 28
* Cliff Swallow (one seen at Ledyard Bridge late afternoon on Apr. 28)
* Bank Swallow (2) feeding with other swallows, Apr. 28 at Ledyard
* Pied-billed Grebe on the river near sewer plant, Apr. 29
* Palm Warbler (1 at Ledyard on the first of 2 big arrival days; May 1)
* Black-and-white Warbler, seen with above at Ledyard
* Spotted Sandpiper, seen with above at Ledyard
* Brown Thrasher on May 1 (singing), Kendall Station Rd. and next location
* Eastern Towhee (singing male, jct. Rt. 132 & Kerwin Hill Rd, May 1)
* Black-throated Green Warbler singing, Spring Pond Road on May 1
* Warbling Vireo (Elm St. on May 2)
* Chimney Swift (3 over Dan & Whit's, 1 on Elm St, May 2)
* Chestnut-sided Warbler (1 each at Milt Frye Nature Area & on Elm St, May 2)
* Ovenbird (1 each at Spring Pond Rd. & Milt Frye Nature Area, May 2)
* Northern Parula singing May 2 on Tigertown Rd.
* Rose-breasted Grosbeak (2), seen with above
* Common Yellowthroat on May 2 at Milt Frye Nature Trail (1)
* Magnolia Warbler, seen with above
* Gray Catbird (1 at Ledyard Bridge May 2, with 20 Yellow-rumps)
* White-crowned Sparrow (4 at Ledyard, 3 on Bragg Hill Rd, May 1)
* Orchard Oriole (1 singing at Ledyard Bridge, in female plumage, May 1)
* Ruby-throated Hummingbird (McKenna Rd. on May 2, male)
* Scarlet Tanager (2); male singing on Tigertown Rd., May 3
* Northern Waterthrush on May 3, Rt. 5 at Co-op garden area
* Baltimore Oriole, seen with above

A look back of the first four months of the 2010 Quest shows that 9,034 individual birds have been tabulated in eBird, representing 96 species. Twenty-four of these species were seen in each month, January through April, including Mallard, Red-tailed Hawk, and all 3 of our more-common woodpeckers. Another resident, the Brown Creeper, appears on 26 of the 223 checklists submitted, an impressive tally given how inconspicuous this species can be. Cedar Waxwings claimed high individual count honors among species reported during January and March, with 80 and 120, respectively, in these 2 months. American Crow claimed the maximum count honor in February (150) and Canada Goose in April (97). Black-capped Chickadees were the most-frequently reported species in January, February, and March, with Song Sparrow assuming this status in April.

Although leaves are emerging rapidly, the thin foliage makes this a great time to get out and observe new arrivals in fresh breeding plumage. A number of few warbler species have yet to be reported in Norwich, and each day promises new encounters. With our May species count already at 81, the rest of this month promises to be exciting. Grab your binoculars, head outdoors, and intercept those spring migrants!

Doug Hardy
Norwich, VT

photo: male Black-and white Warbler by Steve Faccio