Masked Bobwhite, Colinus virginianus ridgwayi, male
The Northern Bobwhite has a wonderful subspecies called the Masked Bobwhite, Colinus virginianus ridgwayi. It has been extinct or close to it in the wild primarily caused by loss of breeding habitat. A great deal of work has been done to try to re-establish wild populations using birds raised in captivity. One of the target locations for this has been the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge (BANWR) in southern Arizona. There has been no conclusive success to this point.
The Peregrine Falcon, Falco peregrinus, is one of the most exciting birds to watch in the world, especially when it chases its prey at speeds of 200 mph (320 kmph).
It breeds widely, in fact it can be found everywhere but the polar regions. It has suffered breeding failure due to DDT contamination but has made an excellent recovery after that chemical was banned.
This increased breeding success has happened here in Ontario with a good number of pairs raising young birds. They prefer tall manmade structures like buildings and bridges, especially if there is a supply of pigeons nearby.
Peregrine Falcon, Falco peregrinus
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A species of grasslands, the Grasshopper Sparrow, Ammodramus savannarum, has declined like many grassland species due to habitat losses, and early cutting of grass for hay.
It gets its name from it insect like buzz of a song. Once you learn its song, it can be easy to locate in breeding season as it likes to sing from an exposed perch.
Grasshopper Sparrow, Ammodramus savannarum
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The Steller’s Sea-eagle, Haliaeetus pelagicus, is on average, the largest member of the Hawk family, although individual Harpy Eagle and Phillipine Eagle may be larger. It breeds on the coast of northern Pacific Asia and winters to South Korea and Japan.
Like other members of its genus, the Bald Eagle and African Fish Eagle, it feeds primarily on fish.
Birdlife International classifies it as Vulnerable due to a small and declining population.
Steller's Sea-eagle Haliaeetus pelagicus
These images were taken of birds in captivity at the Cincinnati Zoo.
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Bird species are suffering around the world, but species confined to islands have been in particular peril. They often have small populations making them vulnerable to local dangers. Often predators are introduced for which they have developed no defences. Hawaii for example has lost at least 9 species in the last 200 years with more in great peril.
Guam has also suffered losses and the Guam Rail was extirpated on the island in the late 1980’s. It has survived in breeding programs at some zoos, where the above image was taken. There has also been an attempt at introducing on the island of Rota but this has not necessarily been successful.
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This lovely Red-winged Blackbird was perched along the Big Creek marsh trail at Long Point. She sits on a graceful plant called phragmites or Common Reed. It is a tall plant that is often used in gardens but it has invaded natural marsh area throughout North America and is difficult to control.
Ontario Parks have recognized the dangers of this plant and are studying possible controls. They include herbicide, cutting, burning, smothering and biological.
Red-winged Blackbird female
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Although grassland birds have done poorly in recent years due to habitat loss and changes in agricultural practices, the Savannah Sparrow, Passerculus sandwichensis, seems to be holding its own.
It is actually named after the City of Savannah, Georgia although the name is apt.
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There is an area a few kilometers from my house that has some large communication towers, and they leave the grass uncut till late summer. This makes it a haven for grassland birds who have suffered from recent agricultural practice of early grassland cutting and bailing.
It is always a treat to hear the bubbly songs of Bobolinks when they return to breed.
The male plumage is unusual because it is light above which would seem to make it an easier target for overhead birds of prey.
In the background, Savannah Sparrows and Eastern Meadowlarks are singing.
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The eastern race of Purple Martins, Progne subis, are completely dependent on humans for nesting sites, the large multi-celled nesting boxes. They often have to compete for these spaces with more aggressive species like House Sparrows and have suffered declines because of it.
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The Double-crested Cormorant was at one time an endangered species in North America, primarily because of DDT contamination. It has made dramatic recoveries and is common on the Great Lakes. Its recovery has brought about calls for reduction in its numbers. Culls have taken place in both Canada and the United States. Much of the impetus for these culls seems to have been created by sports fishing organizations.
Point Pelee National Park are planning to kill thousands of birds on Middle Island starting this week.
One of the main issues is the claim that Cormorants are a threat to the Yellow Perch population. A study commissioned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (and later ignored by them), found that Cormorants took about 1% of the legal size Yellow Perch and Sports fishing took about 2.5%, but that neither had an impact on the population.
Cormorants have been blamed for declines in the populations of other colonial nesting species like Black-crowned Night Heron, although I have found no studies that show this. In Hamilton bay, Ontario, I have seen a colony of Night Herons , who had shared nesting trees with cormorants, desert it as the trees dies and became bare. However, they merely relocated to a more favorable tree nearby.
The question of vegetation impact has also been put forth as a good reason for reducing the species’ numbers, and there is no doubt that the acidity of their guano kills off plants. Whether this is sufficent reason is questionable, and seems especially dubious considering the massive habitat loss caused by human populations.
Arguments against culling include the fact that it is not done in a humane manner, with many birds left injured who eventually starve. Proponents suggest oiling of eggs as a solution.
The process of culling is also a disturbance to other colonial breeders and probably does far more damage to them than the cormorants presence.
Double-crested Cormorant
Diana, J.S., S. Maruca, and Bobbi Low. 2006. “Do increasing cormorant populations threaten sportfishes in the great lakes? A case study in Lake Huron.” Journal of Great Lakes Research, 32 (2): 306-320 (Abstract)
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