Latest news with #NationalAudubonSociety
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Piping plover pair Searocket and Imani lay first egg of the season at Montrose Beach
Chicago's piping plover population may grow after Searocket and Imani laid their first egg of the season on the Montrose Beach Dunes shoreline Sunday morning, a little over a week since their reunion for Mother's Day weekend. Volunteer monitors said they are waiting on Searocket, the female plover, to lay three more eggs in this nesting attempt. This marks the second breeding season for her and Imani — the son of local celebrities Monty and Rose, who in June 2019 became the first of the species to return to Chicago and the larger Cook County area in 71 years. Last year, four eggs hatched to Searocket and Imani, but only one survived. Necropsies performed by the Lincoln Park Zoo determined they had died from a 'failure to thrive' — essentially of natural causes — according to Tamima Itani, lead volunteer coordinator for Chicago Piping Plovers. On average, 1.5 piping plovers in a nest of four in the wild make it to fledge, according to Michigan State University's W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary. The surviving hatchling was named Nagamo, which means 'he/she sings' in Ojibwe, one of the languages spoken by the Anishinaabe people — whose traditional homeland the city of Chicago is located on. Nagamo hasn't returned yet, though this is not unusual for first-year returnees, which tend to come back in late May to early June. After migrating south for the winter, about a third of piping plovers hatched in the wild return to their birthplace during their first summer. Also at Montrose this year is 2-year-old Pippin, a returning male from Green Bay, Wisconsin, who is also looking for a female to nest with. The birds are known for pairing up to rear their young. The three-generation family at Montrose Beach is part of an ongoing effort to restore the Great Lakes piping plover population, a federally protected endangered species that reached an all-time low of 13 pairs in the 1980s after habitat loss due to beach development. Before the dramatic drop, 500 to 800 piping plover pairs nested in the Great Lakes, according to the National Audubon Society. Thanks to recent conservation efforts, their numbers have since rebounded to around 80 breeding pairs. adperez@
Chicago Tribune
18-05-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Piping plover pair Searocket and Imani lay first egg of the season at Montrose Beach
Chicago's piping plover population may grow after Searocket and Imani laid their first egg of the season on the Montrose Beach Dunes shoreline Sunday morning, a little over a week since their reunion for Mother's Day weekend. Volunteer monitors said they are waiting on Searocket, the female plover, to lay three more eggs in this nesting attempt. This marks the second breeding season for her and Imani — the son of local celebrities Monty and Rose, who in June 2019 became the first of the species to return to Chicago and the larger Cook County area in 71 years. Last year, four eggs hatched to Searocket and Imani, but only one survived. Necropsies performed by the Lincoln Park Zoo determined they had died from a 'failure to thrive' — essentially of natural causes — according to Tamima Itani, lead volunteer coordinator for Chicago Piping Plovers. On average, 1.5 piping plovers in a nest of four in the wild make it to fledge, according to Michigan State University's W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary. The surviving hatchling was named Nagamo, which means 'he/she sings' in Ojibwe, one of the languages spoken by the Anishinaabe people — whose traditional homeland the city of Chicago is located on. Nagamo hasn't returned yet, though this is not unusual for first-year returnees, which tend to come back in late May to early June. After migrating south for the winter, about a third of piping plovers hatched in the wild return to their birthplace during their first summer. Also at Montrose this year is 2-year-old Pippin, a returning male from Green Bay, Wisconsin, who is also looking for a female to nest with. The birds are known for pairing up to rear their young. The three-generation family at Montrose Beach is part of an ongoing effort to restore the Great Lakes piping plover population, a federally protected endangered species that reached an all-time low of 13 pairs in the 1980s after habitat loss due to beach development. Before the dramatic drop, 500 to 800 piping plover pairs nested in the Great Lakes, according to the National Audubon Society. Thanks to recent conservation efforts, their numbers have since rebounded to around 80 breeding pairs.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Weather Wednesday: Migrating birds and weather
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — Signs of spring have been popping up across the state for the past month or so. Flowers blooming, your car turning green from pollen, the length of daylight, and even hearing more birds chirping and flying in the sky. Native birds that flew south for the wintertime are at their peak migration traveling back to Michigan during the day however most travel at night. Bird migration happens in seasons with the spring season happening between March and June and the fall migration occurring from late August to late November. Peak spring migration for Michigan typically occurs within the first or second week of May. In fact, according to BirdCast, a website created by Cornell Lab of Ornithology, data from 2023 found that for the Lansing area peak spring migration started around May 7th with the end of peak being around May 25th. Scientists say that peak migration is defined by the seasonal window during which about 50% of nighttime bird migration traffic passes through an area. Scientists say that during peak migration there could be as many as 500 million birds flying at night across the country. According to the National Audubon Society, about 70% of bird species migrate and of those about 80% migrate at night. But why do birds fly at night? And how does the weather play into this? By flying at night, it allows birds that aren't strong fliers to avoid tricky and dangerous flight situations. During the day the sun warms the ground, which as the ground warms it warms the air directly above it. As the ground starts to heat, pockets of warm air begin to rise. As they rise, they spin around and bump into other pockets of warm air. Thermals rise cool and eventually reach the same temperature as the surrounding air and flatten out. This is what causes the turbulence we feel when flying in an airplane. This continues to happen throughout the day and typically starts to end as we head into the evening and overnight hours. At night we tend to see calm winds and cooler conditions which is perfect for birds so they can avoid exerting too much energy and stay away from daytime predators. Scientists also believe that some birds use the stars as a compass to guide their journey and to know their direction when traveling. How can you help migrating birds this spring and this fall? Since a lot of birds migrate at night, they can become disoriented by light pollution leading to collisions with larger buildings. To help limit these collisions, officials say to shut non-essential lights off between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m However if you do need lights on, consider changing the color from cool toned to warm toned and finally directing lights to the ground to prevent shining into the night sky. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists issue urgent warning after alarming collapse of bird populations across the US: 'We have a full-on emergency'
A report from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology shows that bird populations across every U.S. habitat are plummeting, with 229 species in urgent need of help. And the impacts go far beyond bird-watching, pointing to deeper risks for ecosystems, economies, and human health. The 2025 State of the Birds report, released in March by a coalition led by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and detailed in a university release on found that bird populations continue to decline. More than one-third of bird species are considered of high or moderate conservation concern, and 112 species are labeled "Tipping Point" birds, meaning they've lost more than half of their populations in the last 50 years. Birds such as Allen's hummingbird and the salt marsh sparrow are barely hanging on. Duck populations, a rare bright spot in past reports, are also beginning to decline. "Birds tell us that we have a full-on emergency across all habitats," said Marshall Johnson of the National Audubon Society. The data builds on the 2019 finding that North America has lost nearly 3 billion birds since 1970. Those losses aren't slowing down, and experts say the reasons are clear: habitat destruction, pollution, and extreme weather. Birds pollinate plants, spread seeds, and eat pests. Their decline points to deeper environmental issues that also threaten human health and well-being. "When we see declines like those outlined in the report, we need to remember that if conditions are not healthy for birds, they're unlikely to be healthy for us," said Amanda Rodewald from Cornell's Center for Avian Population Studies, per There's also an economic impact. According to the 2022 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, birding supports 1.4 million jobs and generates $279 billion annually. That's a huge loss if birds — and the people who travel to see them — disappear. And mental health research published in Scientific Reports shows that hearing or seeing birds can help lower anxiety and depression symptoms, especially in urban environments. Do you worry about air pollution in and around your home? Yes — always Yes — often Yes — sometimes No — never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Conservation efforts work if they're well funded and wide reaching. The State of the Birds report outlines successful strategies such as wetland restoration, forest renewal, seabird translocation, and coastal habitat protection, all of which have helped some species recover. Private land programs such as Audubon Conservation Ranching and Ducks Unlimited's wetland partnerships show how farmers, hunters, scientists, and communities can work together to rebuild habitats. One of the most effective things you can do is create a bird-friendly home and yard. That includes turning off outdoor lights during migration season, planting native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Apps such as Merlin Bird ID and eBird also help scientists track populations and can make birding more fun and accessible. "Birds unite us across the hemisphere and across the political spectrum — there should be no hesitation as we move to protect them today and in the future," said Johnson. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
As Trump administration looks to change Endangered Species Act, vulnerable animals in CT are at risk
Each spring on Falkner Island, which sits about three miles off the coast of Guilford, hundreds of roseate terns flock to the uninhabited five-acre island to breed and nest during the warm summer months before heading south again to migrate. The roseate tern, one of a handful of federally endangered and protected bird species in Connecticut, has about 95% of its population in the state on the island each summer. Conservationists estimate the island is home to around 2,500 pairs of common terns and about 35 pairs of roseate terns. Falkner provides the only regular nesting location for federally endangered roseate terns in Connecticut. As the home of the state's roseate tern colony, Falkner is designated by the National Audubon Society as an Important Bird Area and is protected as part of the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge. There is no public access to the island to protect its endangered bird habitat. A recent proposal by President Donald Trump's administration to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 has some conservationists in the state alarmed that rollbacks could endanger vulnerable species including the roseate tern. Connecticut, like most other states, has an abundance of wildlife, with a handful of federally protected animals calling the state home including the bog turtle, the Indiana bat, the northern long-eared bat, the piping plover and the dwarf wedgemussel. Altogether, just over a dozen endangered species live in Connecticut. Dozens more are considered threatened or of 'special concern' but are not federally recognized and granted protections under the ESA. Federal agencies have proposed the removal of habitat changes from the definition of 'harm' to endangered and threatened species. This move, conservation groups warn, could accelerate extinctions by allowing logging, mining, construction and other development to proceed in areas where endangered species reside. 'If they're not protected everywhere, they're not protected anywhere,' said Tom Anderson, a spokesperson with the Connecticut Audubon Society. 'Just because the terns are protected on Falkner's Island, a threat to the terns in another part of their range, that would threaten their population on the island because they migrate to other areas. This is true for many other types of animals.' Under the Trump administration, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service have issued a proposal that habitat loss should not count as 'harm' because it differs from the direct targeting of wildlife — referred to in the statute as 'take.' If that interpretation is finalized, private landowners and industry operators could no longer be held liable under the ESA for clearing forests, draining wetlands or reshaping shorelines so long as they claim no intention to injure protected animals. 'Right now we're not seeing any impacts to the roseate tern or piping plover, but there is concern about future impacts,' said Milan Bull, senior director of science and conservation for the Connecticut Audubon Society. 'Everything is so in flux right now, it's hard to see what is going to have an impact.' Chris Elphik, a professor of conservation biology at the University of Connecticut, said that since the ESA was passed over 50 years ago, it is thought to be responsible for saving hundreds of animals from the brink of extinction. 'It has been tremendously successful,' Elphik said. 'There's a couple different ways of looking at it. There have been a number of different studies looking at how these species would have gone extinct if we didn't have the ESA. They clearly show that we would have had many, many extinctions if not for the legislation. In Connecticut, you can go see bald eagles now because there are close to 100 nesting areas in the state. That's a bird that didn't occur in Connecticut as early as the 1980s. That recovery is entirely from protections. Peregrine falcons and ospreys have also made recoveries in the state.' While national wildlife refuge areas will most likely remain protected, lands that are not offered protection may become vulnerable, even if there are known endangered species to inhabit there, according to Elphik. The ESA doesn't protect all parts of a species' range equally. Rather, the Endangered Species Act provides more effective protection for habitats that happen to be on federal land as opposed to private land. But endangered species often depend on private lands for habitat, and the ESA has long sought to protect these species and their habitats, even on private property, Elphik said. The ESA prohibits 'take' of listed species, which includes harming or disturbing them, but also allows for permits for incidental take if a landowner's actions could impact a species. The proposed change would make it easier to develop private lands where endangered species are found because 'take' would be more narrowly defined to directly killing or harming them, not taking away their habitat. 'Many endangered species live on private lands in Connecticut,' Elphik said. 'What the ESA does is it provides protections even on privately held lands, which really distinguishes it from other state protections that preclude private lands. The federal ESA is seen as one of the strongest pieces of animal legislation anywhere in the world. It's unusually strong compared to other environmental protections.' In Connecticut, approximately 93.8% of land is privately owned, according to data. This means that a significant portion of the state's land is not owned by the government or other public entities, possibly making it easier to develop under the ESA. The amount of developed land in Connecticut has increased by approximately 20% over the last 30 years while the state's population has only grown by approximately 11%, data shows. 'The risk is large but not certain with this revision,' Elphik said. 'The majority of Connecticut is private land, which can open us up for more potential risks than other states. The main constraint in Connecticut is that the state's ESA only really applies to state land. So the federal ESA has been the gold standard for ensuring private land is protected for endangered species.' In 2019, during Trump's first term, the ESA underwent significant revisions, primarily focusing on how protections for threatened species are applied. A key change was the removal of a 'blanket' rule that automatically extended the same protections to threatened species as endangered species. In response to the rollbacks, Connecticut joined 16 other states, the District of Columbia and New York City in a federal lawsuit. Connecticut Attorney General William Tong told the Courant his office is 'reviewing legal options' to stop the proposed change to the ESA. 'This proposal will likely result in the permanent extinction of endangered species, all so that big businesses, including the fossil fuel industry, can have unfettered access to exploit their habitats,' Tong said. 'We sued and stopped this kind of action before, and we are reviewing all legal options with our multistate partners to protect our nation's most iconic and threatened species.' Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@
