Birding News & Events

28th Annual VINS BIRDATHON May 20, 2006

Source: Vermont Institure of Natural Science VINS

A birdathon is like a walkathon... participants collect pledges for every bird species they identify instead of every mile they walk. This is a fun way to raise funds for VINS' many efforts in bird care, research projects, and education programs.

eBird Surpasses 20,000 checklists in January 2006

Vermont Birders Submit Second-highest Number of eBird Submissions Year-to-Date
(6,296 as of March 31st, 2006)

Source: eBird

A total of 22,498 checklists were submitted into eBird during January 2006--more than triple the number of checklists submitted during January 2005. In fact, more checklists were submitted during January 2006, than for all previous Januarys combined. This total reflects observations submitted into eBird and over 2800 checklists entered into regional eBird Projects (see links to Regional Projects on right banner). What was reported? In January alone we received checklists with a total of 792 species! And that list is growing as people continue to submit additional checklists from January. The most commonly reported species for January 2006 as of the end of the month were Mourning Dove (3788), American Crow (3611), Northern Cardinal (3425), Dark-eyed Junco (3204) and Downy Woodpecker (3182). Of course, there were also rarities like the Ivory Gull at Point Pelee, Ontario and regional specialties such as the West Mexican endemic Citreoline Trogon (right image) reported from Jalisco.

Field Days & Blockbusting for Vermont Bird Breeding Atlas

Source: Vermont Breeding Bird Atlas web site

2006 Field Days
Some counties are leading field trips in unassigned blocks to pass on atlassing tips and birding skills. Dates and locations are postedon the Atlas Field Days web page in advance, as they are announced.

Blockbusting in Southern Vermont

Also known as "square-bashing", blockbusting is an intense, rapid assessment of a block. Unlike regular atlassing, blockbusting is all about getting as much data as quickly as possible. Blockbusters tend to be experienced birders who can rack up species lists fairly quickly and finish off a block in a weekend or two. Most of the time people blockbust in pairs. The Atlas is calling on experienced birders to join them in June 2006 for a weekend or two in southern Vermont. They'll provide the accommodations. Whether you prefer to stay near the roads or bushwack all day, your birding skills will help us document the breeding status of birds in this part fo the state. Dates TBA

Working for Wildlife

Source: Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department

On an early spring day, usually in April, volunteers across Vermont join with the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department staff to help improve habitat for Vermont's wildlife. This is a great opportunity to learn new skills and to understand the needs of our different wildlife species.

There is a wide variety of habitat improvement projects to choose from, such as planting trees, piling brush, cutting around apple trees to release them from competition, and building and placing wood duck and bluebird boxes. There's a place, too, for people to take pictures and hand out refreshments.

Northern Birds Are Fatter!

Source: ScienceDaily

"The further birds migrate north for the summer, the faster they put on weight", says Dr Williams (Simon Fraser University, Canada) who has been tracking migrating birds for several years. "This research may have implications for the designation of protected areas which will ensure birds can complete their spring and autumn migrations." Dr Williams will present his research on Tuesday 4th April at the Society for Experimental Biology's Annual Main Meeting in Canterbury [session A4].

"Our data can be used to assess habitat quality and the importance of specific sites for migratory birds, and this can contribute to decisions about whether migratory sites are protected and which sites are prioritised for protection", explains Williams. Read more.

Attractive Birds More Immune Against Bird Flu

Source: ScienceDaily

A research team at Uppsala University, Sweden has shown in a new study, published in the journal Acta Zoologica, that the size of the spot on a male collared flycatcher's forehead reflects how well the immune defence system combats viruses such as avian influenza. The white spot is also attractive to female birds searching for a mate.

Evolutionary biologists have long attempted to explain why individuals of a species differ in appearance and why the choice of a mate is influenced by behaviour and appearance features that cannot reasonably be thought to have any usefulness. Therefore, they have begun to look more and more at the genetics behind what are called secondary sexual characters, such as the tail of a peacock, the stripes of the female gulf pipefish, and the white spot on the forehead of the collared flycatcher. In many species both males and females prefer to mate with those who have the largest or most colourful of these ornaments or who have the most complex song, for instance. Read more.