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High rate of beak abnormalities in NorthWest Birds

Details: Category: News

According to a U.S. Geological Survey study on beak deformities, northwestern crows in Alaska, Washington and British Columbia follow a trend found earlier in Alaska's black-capped chickadees. Beak deformities are more than 10 times higher compared to the regular bird population and are called "avian keratin disorder". The cause hasn't been determined yet.

Go to this Oregonian website to read the full article. The study was published in the journal "The Auk" recently.

Tough truths about plastic pollution

Details: Category: Other Issues

Plastic bottles can harm our fauna and flora in many ways.

Artist Dianna Cohen shares some tough truths about plastic pollution in the ocean and in our lives -- and some thoughts on how to free ourselves from the plastic gyre. (Click here if the movie does not load in your browser).

November / December 2010 Whistler is online

Details: Category: Whistler

The November / December 2010 Whistler
is available now.

Some of its content:

New Movie Series, Live Bird Program
WHAS Bird Calendar for Sale
WHAS Five Year Plan;
Christmas Bird Count Overview
Status of Washington State Audubon;
Recent Fieldtrip Report (Woodland)
Book Review: The Owl Papers;
Backyard Birding Lists
WHAS Programs and Field Trips

Apps for Smartphone Users

Details: Category: News

Do you have an iPhone or Android based phone?

The Seattle Times has an article introducing different apps for outdoor use.

It includes reviews of

iBird Explorer (Western),
Audubon Wildflowers,
Scats and Tracks,
Starwalks (Nightsky),
M-Hikes and a
National Park Tour guide.

Check it out here.

Could Vaux's swifts migratory birds be next on endangered species list?

Details: Category: News

Vaux's swifts are considered an indicator species for the health of old growth forests, where they naturally roost. The dark-brown birds have nearly white throats and chests, and named for the 19th century scientist, William S. Vaux (pronounced vawks). Because of their foot structure, they can't perch. They spend daylight hours in flight, consuming insects. At night, they cling inside snags or chimneys that protect them from hawks, owls and other predators.

Some biologists fear they are in decline, says Mary Coolidge, assistant conservation director at the Portland Audubon Society. "But historical data have been too scant to say for sure." A group of volunteer bird counters are trying to fix that.

200 volunteers from Canada to Mexico gather information for an Audubon Society project started in 2008. Data is compiled at www.vauxhappening.org. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Progressive Animal Welfare Society, the Monroe School District and Washington Tweeters, a birding online list, contribute to the project.

Click here to read more about the project on The Oregonian website.

September / October 2010 Whistler is online

Details: Category: Whistler

The September / October 2010 Whistler
is available now.

Some of its content:

- Wahkiakum County Fair
- Impressions from the annually picnic
- Call for input to establish goals for next years
- Book Review
- Update on American Kestrel for WHAS wildlife collection

Friends of Fox Creek receives grant to improve fish habitat

Details: Category: News

Friends of Fox Creek, an all volunteer organization with whom WHAS has partnered on projects, has been awarded a $46,000 grant from Oregon Fish and Wildlife to improve Fox Creek fish habitat by adding large, woody debris. Read more here about the efforts in Rainier, OR.

Update on Cooper Island

Details: Category: Other Issues

We have received an update from George Divoky, our favorite arctic scientist. He writes from Cooper Island while conducting his continuing research on the Black Guillimot colony on Cooper Island. George invites you to go to his links to learn more about what is going on this summer.

"Yesterday brought the first major surprise of the summer when I found a recently hatched Glaucous Gull chick - a first for Cooper Island. Guillemot chicks are also hatching and I will be busy in the next week getting dates of hatching for the 146 active guillemot nests.

This has been a cooler and wetter summer than most recent ones and much ice is still visible from the island, unlike last year when there was only open water by this date. Check out our blog www.adventures-in-climate-change.com and/or website www.cooperisland.org for more information and check back during August to see how the ice retreat affects the guillemots and polar bears. Have a good rest of the summer and thanks much for your interest and support.

George"

If you like to know more about George Divoky and his research on Birds and what influence Climate Change has on the Guillimot watch this amazing video: