Loon Mortality - natural and the search for answers

We've had a few days of excitement, unfortunately resulting in the loss of several loons. The first case I became aware of was at 7 am Monday with a

call from Mark Luneau, assistant VFWD game warden, about a loon chick on someone's beach front on Joe's POnd. It appeared that it had been abandoned as

a result of sibling rivalry. Peck marks were obvious on the few day old chick. VLRP volunteer, Ray Richer, had also been called and was on the scene

with Mark trying to figure out what to do next. The VLRP likes to promote natural processes, thus the first choice was to determine if the chick was

truly abandoned. The second chick was with one of the adults; Mark and Ray boated out with the little fluff ball and gently left it close by. The

parent circled the loon and then swam away. I can only imagine what was going through Ray's mind watching this very sad situation. There is only one

rehab person in the northeast that I know of that can handle abandoned chicks, Kappy Sprenger in Maine. I sent her an email and got the phone number to

Ray. I was busy that a.m. and said I could make the drive in the late afternoon, but Kappy thought the sooner the better in giving this poor guy a

chance. Ray was on his way to meet in her at Crawford Notch. Unfortunately, the chick died in route. We tried. Thanks Ray, Evelyn, and Mark.

The second case was from my VFWD supervisor, John Buck, who was notified Monday about a dead loon on shore on Mollys Falls Reservoir found over the

weekend. I headed out that evening to see if I could find it before the Bald Eagle did. After a 30 minute paddle and lots of poking around fallen trees

and into inlets, I found it. It was obvious it had crawled up onto shore, likely having trouble keeping its feathers waterproof or staying afloat. The

bird was beautiful and in good condition (see photo). Often diseased birds and loons with lead poisoning begin losing weight before dying. This bird

had decent muscle mass thus my intial thoughts on the cause were possible loon fight or boat hit. I kept it on ice all night and spent the morning

gathering the materials to send it fresh to Tufts University Vet School where Dr. Mark Pokras has overseen the necropsies of over 1,500 loons since the

1980s. He knows dead loons and can usually figure out what killed them. The search for the cause is on. A mature bald eagle did fly over while I was

examining the loon on shore.

Then today, a Brattleboro resident who was paddling on Sunset Lake in Marlboro somehow got my number and told me about a dead loon near shore. She

actually picked up some clues from some other paddlers who said they saw 2 pairs on this lake an hour earlier. Intruder loons. I called my volunteer,

Ron Nelson, who has a camp on the lake, and luckily caught him minutes before he was about to drive up to the lake from his home in New Hampshire. I

asked him if he could check it out and bring 3 garbage bags along. Ron was game for the adventure despite the morbid nature of looking for a body in a

lake. Before he left, I called the state police office and a local vet, Ron Svec at the Vermont-New Hampshire Animal Clinic, to find a freezer for Ron

to bring the bird to. The vet office was willing to take it until I can come down next week to retrieve it and send it off to Tufts.

A few years ago, these types of responses to deal with these scenarios would not have been possible. Having a statewide network of volunteers and

connections with state police, VFWD, and vets allows us to take a difficult situation and improve our knowledge about threats to loons, both natural and

human-caused. It takes time, money, and a devoted corps of people, so thanks to all that have helped.

Eric Hanson, VLRP Coordinator

P.S. Ron just called from Sunset Lake and there are 2 adult loons with the 2 chicks. One of the adults actually led them to the dead loon checking it

out. And just 30 mintues before, each adult had a chick on his and her back. It looks like they defended their turf. Almost half of all non-breeders

find a spot in a territory through a takeover, thus these challenges are part of a loons life. Fights leading to death are usually between males;

females tend to drive one or the other off the lake. Boys.

Vermont scientists paint detailed picture of Bobolink migration

MONTPELIER — Bobolink No. 163146751 weighs about an ounce and fits in the palm of your hand, but in the air he’s Superman.

Conservation biologist Rosalind Renfrew nearly bounced in her seat as she read an e-mail last week confirming her computer analysis: As 163146751 flew back toward his Shelburne breeding ground in May, he covered the 1,100 miles between Venezuela and the Bahamas in a single day.

“That is cool! That’s so cool! That is SO cool!” she kept exclaiming. “It is such a long distance, I thought for sure I had done something wrong.”

What has Renfrew so excited is data from a recently developed miniature light-sensing device that is dramatically expanding scientists’ understanding of songbird migration.

Attached to the Shelburne bobolink’s back for the past year, the tiny geo-locator recorded daily information that allowed Renfrew to draw a map and a timeline of the bird’s 12,000-mile roundtrip migration to Argentina.

Read more

Birds reduce their heating bills in cold climates

The evolution of bird bills is related to climate according to latest research by the University of Melbourne, Australia and Brock University, Canada.

By examining bill sizes of a diverse range of bird species around the world, researchers have found that birds with larger bills tend to be found in hot environments, whilst birds in colder environments have evolved smaller bills.

The study led by Dr Matt Symonds of the Department of Zoology at the University of Melbourne and Dr Glenn Tattersall of the Department of Biological Sciences at Brock University provides evidence that maintaining body temperature in a bird's natural environment may have shaped the evolution of bird bills.

The size and shape of these distinctive structures are usually explained by their role in feeding and mate attraction. However, previous research shows bird bills have a third, less appreciated function, as organs of heat exchange.

Dr Glenn Tattersall says we know, from our thermal imaging studies that birds like toucans and geese can lose a large amount of their body heat through their bills.

"Unlike humans they don't sweat but can use their bills to help reduce their body temperature if they overheat."

"We then wondered whether this function had evolutionary consequences, and sought to compare bill sizes across a whole range of species," says Dr Tattersall.

The 214 species examined comprised diverse groups including toucans, African barbets and tinkerbirds, Australian parrots, grass finches, Canadian gamebirds, penguins, gulls and terns.

"Across all species, there were strong links between bill length and both latitude, altitude and environmental temperature," Dr Matt Symonds says. "Species that have to deal with colder temperatures have smaller bills."

"This suggests that there is an evolutionary connection between the size of the birds' bills and their role in heat management," he says.

Although it's possible that large bills have evolved to help shed heat loads and prevent overheating in hot climates, we think it's more likely that cold temperatures impose a constraint on the size of bird beaks," Dr Tattersall says.

"It simply might be too much of a liability to carry around a big radiator of heat energy in a cold environment."

The research validates a 133-year-old ecological theory called Allen's rule, which predicts that animal appendages like limbs, ears, and tails are smaller in cold climates in order to minimize heat loss.

Dr Symonds says Allen's rule has never been tested with this large a group of animals and was more anecdotal.

"This is the first rigorous study of its kind to test this theory and to show that bird bills have evolved in this manner."

###

The paper is published online this week in the journal American Naturalist and will be in the journal's August 2010 edition.

Photo Caption: This is a toco toucan, Ramphastos toco. Credit: Glenn Tattersall

Source: University of Melbourne press release

Loon Pair Nests in Tough Spot

The “potential” loon pair at the north end of Lake Groton has finally nested for the first time. Would you nest here? The arrow in the photograph

points at the location sandwiched between a large mowed yard next to the stream and about 50-60 feet from the porch where I took the photo. Lake Groton

is a well-developed lake with two state parks. There has been a successful south pair now for over 10 years, which nests in a much less developed part

of the lake. The north pair was first noticed in 2008, was around in 2009, and finally chose a nesting spot this June.
When pairs nest right in the middle of camps, docks, and shoreline activity, I view the nest as “experimental.” I’ve already gone door to door to all

the neighboring camps, spoken with the immediate neighbors, talked to state park staff, and placed nest warning signs to try to keep the small boats from

getting too close. But it’s difficult to reduce all activity near the nest and the loons will likely spook and leave the nest occasionally. By

responding to the situation within a few days, the VLRP has given this pair the best chance they can under these circumstances.
Eric Hanson, VLRP Coordinator

Vermont’s Monthly Invasives Update 2010 June 2010

SPECIES PROFILE

1. White-Nose Syndrome (WNS)

NOTEWORTHY NEWS

2. Almost 30% of the producers in the 2010 tapping survey reported the presence of invasive plants in their sugarbush.

3. An article in the Burlington Free Press reports on efforts to keep the spiny water flea from invading Lake Champlain.

4. One acre of thick, impenetrable honeysuckle and buckthorn are cleared for the Charlotte Conservation Commission’s invasives removal demonstration project.

5. A Giant Snakehead fish is discovered in the Saint-Charles River.

6. A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows kudzu to be a major factor in surface ozone pollution.

7. An article in Scientific American discusses "Spring Creep" and how the earlier arrival of spring appears to favor invasives.

8. iPhone app for invasives.

9. Beware of this invasive lurking in your garden!

10. Wealth and population key to invasive species risk, study shows

11. Didymo found in Gihon River, Vermont

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNIITIES

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 OPPORTUNIITIES

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

15. Flame Weeding for Invasive Plant Control June 10, 2010 Connecticut

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

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

18. Webinars on Invasive Species Databases June 17, 11 am – 12 pm; July 13, 11 am – 12:15 pm

19. Container Gardening with Native Plants at Montshire Museum, Saturday, June 19, 10 AM-12 PM.

20. Field identification of invasives and demonstration of control techniques, Saturday, June 19, 9 AM, meet at City Hall in Montpelier.

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

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

23. Save the Date: 37th Annual Natural Areas Conference, October 26-29, 2010, at Tan Tar A Resort in Osage Beach, Missouri, Presented by the National Association of Exotic Pest Plant Councils, the Midwest Invasive Plant Network and the Natural Areas Association (NAA).

FUNDING

24.National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Grants for invasive outreach and control projects are due Check them out at http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/rfp_item.jhtml?id=294300010

SPECIES PROFILE

1. White-nose Syndrome (WNS) has killed nearly 1,000,000 bats during the last three years. White-nose Syndrome was coined by biologists who observed a white fungus on the noses of affected bats. The fungus is new to science and may possibly be an invasive species (USDA. NAL. National Invasive Species Information Center).

NOTEWORTHY NEWS

2. Almost 30% of the producers in the 2010 tapping survey reported the presence of invasive plants in their sugarbush. Among the most common of these pests were barberry, honeysuckle and buckthorn, and close to half of these respondents reported that the infestation was moderate to heavy. With increasing yearly temperatures these infestations will likely get much worse for many sugarmakers. In Vermont they are currently a problem primarily in the southern counties and along the eastern and western borders of the state. In many other maple producing states, woodland invasive plants are much more pervasive. This year’s survey had 210 participants. The total number of taps of all participants was over 780,000, and there was a good mixture of different size operations. 36 were under 500 taps, and 52 were over 4000 taps, including 14 over 10,000. 11 people had at least 500 buckets and 16 had at least 1000 taps on gravity tubing. Most participants were from Vermont, but several were from New Hampshire, with a few from New York and Connecticut. For more information contact Jonathan Bouton, Winsor County Forester.

3. An article in the Burlington Free Press reports on efforts to keep the spiny water flea from invading Lake Champlain (May 28, 2010). The spiny water flea reproduces in such huge numbers it can foul fishing lines, displace native species and may make it more difficult for young fish to thrive. Spiny water fleas recently established themselves in New York's Great Sacandaga Lake, a water body connected to Lake Champlain by two rivers and two canals. This has raised great concern that the flea would float its way north into Lake Champlain. However a six-month study commissioned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service office in Vermont concluded that it is more likely that the spiny water flea will reach Lake Champlain on boats moved from one lake to the other without being properly cleaned. http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20100518/NEWS02/5180311/1007/RSS02

4. One acre of thick, impenetrable honeysuckle and buckthorn are cleared by Gerry Hawkes from Forest Savers for the Charlotte Conservation Commission’s invasives removal demonstration project. Two-thirds of the clearing was accomplished by uprooting, the remainder by grinding. The canopy trees were preserved. This is a great opportunity to experiment with different restoration/reseeding techniques which will be monitored over the course of the next several years. If any of you have experience in, or suggestions regarding management of exposed forest soils, the Charlotte Conservation Commission would greatly appreciate your input. Also, if you would like to inspect the work firsthand, please contact Robert Hyams. For more information on Forest Savers visit www.forestsavers.com.

5. A Giant Snakehead fish is discovered in the Saint-Charles River (QUEBEC CITY, April 29, 2010) – An Indonesian snakehead (Channa micropeltes, the Giant Snakehead) measuring over 50 cm in length has recently been found dead near the mouth of the Saint-Charles River (a tributary to the St. Lawrence River) in Quebec City. This voracious predator, non-indigenous to North America, is part of a family of fish that have the potential to become invasive in our region.

Quebec Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune (MRNF) press release: http://communiques.gouv.qc.ca/gouvqc/communiques/GPQF/Avril2010/29/c6997.html?slang=en

Gov't Photos: http://www.mrnf.gouv.qc.ca/faune/presse/tete-serpent/index.jsp

6. A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows kudzu to be a major factor in surface ozone pollution. 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. This invasive vine is spreading across the southeastern United States and northward. http://www.physorg.com/news193336899.html

7. An article in Scientific American discusses "Spring Creep" and how the earlier arrival of spring appears to favor invasives (April 21, 2010). Spring is coming earlier, and nature is scrambling to keep up, according to scientists who say climate change is to blame. The season starts an average of 10 days earlier in the U.S. than it did just 20 years ago. And that is scrambling the delicate balance of many ecosystems, as some species adapt to the change and others don't. For reasons scientists don't entirely understand, the climate mismatch appears to often favor invasive species over native species.

8. iPhone app for invasives (May 13, 2010, by Enrique Gili). How is Thoreau like an iPhone? Both gather data about natural phenomena that allow scientists to better protect the environment. Cell phone users not content to text and chat can put their minutes to good use for the National Park Service. http://www.miller-mccune.com/science-environment/invasive-weeds-theres-an-app-for-that-15823/

9. Beware of this invasive lurking in your garden! We can learn from the Utah Extension Service! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0foMKAxCww

10. Wealth and population key to invasive species risk, study shows

Wealth and population density are the main factors driving the rise of invasive species in Europe, new EU-funded research reveals. Writing in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), the scientists warn that tackling the invasive species problem will not be easy. http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=EN_NEWS_FP7&ACTION=D&DOC=1&CAT=NEWS&QUERY=012917a4bd89:29ac:66c0c74e&RCN=32184

11. Didymo found in Gihon River

WATERBURY – Water quality scientists at the Agency of Natural Resources have confirmed the presence of “didymo” in the Gihon River, the second occurrence of the invasive freshwater alga in Lake Champlain Basin, and the first in the Lamoille River basin. Jim Ryan, VT DEC basin planner for the Lamoille River basin, said a citizen spotted the didymo and water quality scientists obtained a sample and verified the didymo bloom. The infestation was discovered on the lower Gihon River in East Johnson. Didymosphenia geminata, also known as didymo and rock snot, is a type of freshwater diatom or algae with the potential to form nuisance blooms, or mats, several inches thick that carpet a stream bottom. Until 2006 it was unheard of in the northeastern U.S. It was discovered during the summers of 2006 and 2007 in the Batten Kill; in 2007 in the Connecticut River, the White River and the Delaware River system; and in 2008 in the Mad River. Dr. Leslie Matthews said there is nothing that can be done to control or eradicate didymo once it has infested a waterbody. Matthews urged river users to help prevent the spread of didymo, as well as other invasive species, including fish diseases, by always cleaning fishing gear, clothing, boats, and other equipment before moving between waters. Check and remove all visible clumps of algae and plant material from fishing gear, waders, clothing, watershoes, sandals, canoes, kayaks and anything that has been in the water. Clean gear by using hot tap water and lots of soap, scrub hard items and soak felt-soled waders for thirty minutes in hot soapy water. Scientific studies have shown that felt-soled waders are particularly efficient at harboring and transporting “hitchhiking” invasive species. “Our biggest focus right now is spread prevention and outreach. The more we can educate our community about this, the better chance we have in preventing further spread of didymo and other harmful invasive species into other water bodies.” Scientific studies conducted around the globe have yet to show conclusively that didymo has significant impacts to trout fisheries. However, it remains a priority of the Agency of Natural Resources to limit the alga’s spread throughout the region, as a precaution. More information on didymo and what Vermonters can do to help stop its spread is available online at: http://www.vtwaterquality.org/lakes/htm/ans/lp_didymo.htm

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

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

· 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 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.

15. 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.

16. Flame-Weeding For Invasive Shrub Control

Thursday, June 10 6:00-8:30 pm in Creaser Park, Thomas Worthley, Uconn Assistant Extension Professor-Forestry, Dr. Jeffrey Ward, CT Agricultural Experiment Station and Robert Rocks, CT-DEP Forestry Division. The invasive exotic plant problem is becoming increasingly obvious. Plants like Japanese barberry, winged euonymus and autumn olive are not choice food for native animals, reproduce fruitfully and edge out our native plants. Eliminating invasive plants is expensive, backbreaking and only temporarily effective. Recent research has shown people are far more likely to contract lyme disease in a patch of dense barberry than in other places. The Coventry Office of Parks and Recreation and Joshua’s Trust are excited to host a workshop that gives us a physically easier method for controlling these plants. Register with: Coventry Parks & Recreation 860-742-4068 or ctorcasio@coventryct.org Limited to 30 participants. Please cancel your registration if you decide not to come.

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. Selecting a Database for Invasive Species Management: A series of webinars featuring EDDMaps and iMapinvasives

Invasive species are an increasing threat to the urban landscape, working forests, fields, riparian buffers and natural areas. Land managers interested in managing existing populations of invasive species and preventing new species from entering their region need to first determine what species are on or near the properties they oversee, and then make an appropriate plan that fits within their land management goals and budget. A database is an essential tool in that process. It can be used to upload occurrences of species and as a tool for tracking management activities, plus much more. There are a number of database options available. Which one you choose wil depend upon how the data is going to be used, who is going to be using the data, financial resources, and key features desired by users. This series of WebExes will provide an overview of three databases that land managers may want to consider when managing public or private lands, or developing Citizen Science Monitoring programs about invasive species. Please note: the call in number for each WebEx is different.

EDDMaps June 17, 2010 11 am – 12:00 pm

EDDMapS was designed to provide a more accurate picture of the distribution of invasive species. EDDMapS allows land managers, agencies and others to set priorities for early detection and rapid response (EDRR), as well as formulate overall invasive plant management action plans. It is a tool to develop more complete local, state and regional level distribution data of invasive species, identify “leading edge” ranges of new invasive threats, provide a means of implementing EDRR, and help corroborate threats and refine invasive species lists and management priorities. EDDMapS has implemented by the Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council, Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council, Everglades Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area, Mid-Atlantic Exotic Pest Plant Council, Missouri River Watershed Coalition and the Alaska Exotic Plant Information Clearinghouse. EDDMapS has been online for 5 years and has nearly 1 million records. This presentation will highlight new features of EDDMapS and examples of how it is being used to fight invasive species.

Topic: Invasive Species Database: EDDMaps
Date: Thursday, June 17, 2010
Time: 10:30 am, Eastern Daylight Time (New York, GMT-04:00)
Meeting Number: 827 914 060
Password: Weeds08!

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To join the meeting online(Now from iPhones too!)
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1. Go to https://nethope.webex.com/nethope/j.php?ED=137009562&UID=491589972&PW=NYjczNWM3ZjQ4&RT=MiMxMQ%3D%3D
2. If requested, enter your name and email address.
3. If a password is required, enter the meeting password: Weeds08!
4. Click "Join".
5. If the meeting includes a teleconference, follow the instructions that appear on your screen.

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To join the audio conference only
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To receive a call back, provide your phone number when you join the meeting, or call the number below and enter the access code.
Call-in toll-free number (US/Canada): 1-866-699-3239
Call-in toll number (US/Canada): 1-408-792-6300
Global call-in numbers: https://nethope.webex.com/nethope/globalcallin.php?serviceType=MC&ED=137009562&tollFree=1
Toll-free dialing restrictions: http://www.webex.com/pdf/tollfree_restrictions.pdf

Access code:827 914 060

Sign up for a free trial of WebEx
http://www.webex.com/go/mcemfreetrial

July 13, 11 am – 12:15 pm

iMapInvasives: A Partnership to Support the work of Citizen Scientists and Natural Resource Professionals Tracking and Managing Invasive Species.

iMapInvasives is an on-line, GIS-based mapping tool which provides different functionality for different types of users. Basic functionality is provided for the general public including on-line distribution maps by county or watershed. Citizen scientists can take training to obtain a log-in which enables them to view point data and enter observation data as well as produce reports and maps. Additional functionality is provided for natural resource managers, such as the ability to enter population assessment data. All users may sign up for early detection e-mail alerts for a county, a watershed, a quad or a managed area. Future development will provide data fields to track and assess different types of treatment and post-treatment monitoring. Find out how your state can participate with the iMapInvasives Project.

WebEx contact information coming soon.

19. 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

20. Field identification of invasives and demonstration of control techniques, Saturday, June 19, 9 a.m., meet at City Hall in Montpelier.

Washington County Forester Russ Barrett will join members of the Montpelier Conservation Commission, area residents and interested landowners for a field session to identify invasive plants and demonstrate control techniques. We'll visit several properties conserved by the Vermont Land Trust and/or City parks. Meet at City Hall (69 Main Street) at 9 AM, June 19th. Bring leather gloves. For more information contact Kristopher Hammer, Vermont Land Trust, (802) 262-1222, kris@vlt.org

21. 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.

22. 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

23. Save the Date: 37th Annual Natural Areas Conference, October 26-29, 2010, at Tan Tar A Resort in Osage Beach, Missouri, Presented by the National Association of Exotic Pest Plant Councils, the Midwest Invasive Plant Network and the Natural Areas Association (NAA).

The National Association of Exotic Pest Plant Councils and the Midwest Invasive Plant Network is teaming with the Natural Areas Association (NAA) to address invasive species issues at the 37th Annual Natural Areas Conference. The conference will be held October 26-29, 2010 at Tan Tar A Resort in Osage Beach, Missouri. If you would like to present some aspect of your invasive species work, the deadline for abstract submission is June 15, 2010. More information about the conference and abstract submission is available online at http://www.naturalarea.org

Earliest hatch date for loons?

Possible record early hatch date for loons in Vermont

On Thursday, 3 June, I received word from VLRP volunteers, Evelyn and Ray Richer, that their pair had a chick. This is the earliest hatch date I have recorded during my 13 tenure as VLRP coordinator. They live next to the nesting raft location and have a blind allowing them to watch their pair closely. I’ll share Evelyn’s email below:

Hi Eric!

As of 3:30 this afternoon, we were able to confirm 'at least' one loon
chick!

The adult is staying with the chick under the wing on the nest... I took
the video camera down to the blind and shot some footage... but it wasn't
until tonight when we played the video back on our TV that we saw the
motion of the chick... no doubt about it, but I couldn't see it on my
tiny monitor on the camera nor with my bare eyes from the blind... I just
knew the chick was under the wing by the behavior, but it didn't pop its
head out for the longest time... but at 3:30 this afternoon there was no
doubt... now we will see about that second egg... hopefully
tomorrow...(or tonight)...

Oh, I witnessed some different behavior of the 'waiting' adult in the
water... the loon would pull lilies up out of the water and 'throw' them
over its shoulder... in a nest building type of motion... but in the
water... I chalked it up to being nervous... it seemed to want to have
the chick in the water for feeding but the other loon was ignoring him...
Ray said he wondered if he was 'gardening'; clearing away some of the
lilies so the food below could be seen better when the chick is finally
fed...

Are there any other chicks out there???
All the best, Evelyn

In other loon news, we have documented 43 confirmed nest attempts with many lakes having yet to be surveyed or volunteers to check in. Volunteers should check their nest sites after the weekend heavy rains for possible flooding of nests. At least one of the Green River Res. nests flooded out. If the eggs are underwater, we will collect them for opportunistic mercury sampling. Hopefully the ground was still dry enough to soak up the inch plus rains we received. Our gardens needed it.


Eric Hanson

Molecular methods are not sufficient in systematics and evolution: A lesson from flashy Central American warblers

Modern evolutionary systematists often use molecular methods, such like mitochondrial DNA analysis, to differentiate between species and subspecies. These molecular methods are a flashy symbol of modern science cleverly exploited by media to draw interest of public and by laboratory scientists to draw attention of government funding agencies. However, current research indicates that the picture painted by these methods may be false, and only a creative combination of classical field-based ecology, museum-based systematics and DNA-based phylogenetics, can lead to right conclusions. In the last issue of the internationally acclaimed Ornithological Monographs (pages: 90-102), a team of biologists from the Universidad Central de Venezuela, Allegheny College in USA, Seoul National University in South Korea and Centre for Ecological Studies in Poland demonstrate how modern evolutionary biology needs the "old-style" biology in order to explain evolution and systematics of birds.

The team composed of Jorge Perez-Eman, Ronald Mumme, and Piotr Jablonski studied mitochondrial DNA, plumage coloration and behavior of 10 subspecies of a Central and South American warbler the Slate-throated redstart, an inhabitant of montane forests. Mitochondrial DNA analyses indicated that evolution of these birds started over 70 millions years ago, in the Pleistocene, in northern and central areas of modern Mexico. First, the birds rapidly expanded southwards to South America diversifying into several genetically and morphologically different subspecies. Second, about 40-70 million years ago, when today's montane forest types existed at lower elevations, a rapid expansion started producing several morphologically distinct subspecies that differ in the coloration of their bellies from yellow, orange, through red, and in the tail pattern from small to large white patches, but do not differ in the mitochondrial DNA. The researchers believe that during this rapid expansion of the populations, the genes responsible for these morphological traits have evolved rapidly due to adaptation to local habitats, while the mitochondrial genes often used in the phylogenetic research, remained unaffected by the evolutionary change.

Why would local conditions lead to rapid changes in the plumage pattern? The answer to this question can be found in the role of tail pattern in foraging of these warblers. The Slate-throated redstarts, as well as their relatives, the Painted Redstarts, use "flush-pursue foraging". The foraging birds look like butterflies when they spread their tails and wings in order to be conspicuously visible by the insects. Insects, such like treehoppers or flies, are scared by the sudden visual displays and are flushed away from their resting sites on leaves and branches. The birds only wait for this to happen, and in elegant pursuits they catch the escaping insects in the air. Field experiments conducted by the research team with birds of the Costa Rican subspecies Myioborus miniatus comptus and their key prey indicated that a contrasting black-and-white tail is critical to flush-pursuit foraging success, and that subspecific variation in the extent of white in the tail reflects evolutionary adaptation to regional prey or habitat characteristics that maximizes flush-pursuit foraging performance. Thus, even though the subspecies of the Central American clade are genetically homogeneous with respect to the mitochondrial genes, analysis of tail pattern and its effect on foraging performance suggests a recent adaptive evolutionary divergence, warranting the status of separate subspecies.

The researchers conclude: "Our findings serve as a reminder that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) gene trees will not always succeed in capturing all evolutionarily significant genetic change, and that manipulative field experiments can provide crucial information on the selective factors that lead to evolution of subspecies-specific morphological traits even in the absence of mtDNA diversification."

Trip Report: Mt. Mansfield, Vermont

Our 19th year studying high elevation birds on Mt. Mansfield

VCE's first foray of the season to our long-term study site on the Mt.
Mansfield ridgeline was productive, if wet. We arrived Thursday evening
to set up mist nets and worked through midday on Friday. Overall,
numbers of most montane forest species seem to be 'normal', though we
didn't conduct our annual counts, which will take place over the next
two weeks. Banding totals of our five target species included:

Bicknell's Thrush -- 12 (9 males, 3 females). Eight males and 1 female
were birds we had banded in previous years. We caught one male on which
we had placed a solar geolocator last summer
(http://www.vtecostudies.org/PDF/FieldNotesFall2009_web.pdf),
and it was still carrying the miniature backpack, which we removed to
retrieve its data. We placed new geolocators on that and 8 other
birds. We hope to recover a number of other geolocators on subsequent
visits this month and next. The dusk chorus on Thursday was impressive,
with several flight songs heard.
Swainson's Thrush -- 4 (2 males, 2 probable females). Numbers of
singing males were definitely higher on the ridgeline than in past
years, continuing a recent trend.
Hermit Thrush -- 1 female. Not a target species, but we decided to band
it, as we're interested in documenting whether this species may be
moving upslope over time, as it appears to be in the Catskills of NY.
Blackpoll Warbler -- 11 (6 males, 5 females)
Yellow-rumped Warbler -- 8 (7 males, 1 female)
White-throated Sparrow -- 7 (all males)

No real surprises, but Winter Wren numbers were higher than expected, as
that species seems in generally lower abundance elsewhere, perhaps
following the severe winter throughout its southeastern U.S. winter
range(?). We heard 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets singing. A few Purple
Finches were in evidence, but no siskins or crossbills. Not a single
red squirrel seen or heard.

Very few black flies either, thanks mainly to the cool, wet weather.
It's still early up there....


Photo courtesy of Jim Block