The top 20 ‘at-risk conservation indicator’ birds

Written by Sally Sanders
Thursday, 29 January 2009 12:52

About one-half of all bird species “native” to Connecticut — 130 kinds — are considered “at risk” under either the Federal or state Endangered Species Acts or by one of four key bird conservation organizations.

Connecticut Audubon Society picked the top 20 “at-risk conservation indicator” birds last week as it issued its fourth annual assessment of the health of the state’s bird life and habitats. It evaluated the effectiveness of current conservation strategies, and recommended what it calls “urgently needed conservation actions.”

 Connecticut Audubon said 23 species of songbirds breeding in the state suffered significant declines from 1996 to 2004. Only birds well adapted to suburban and fragmented forest or that are expanding their range northwards are increasing.

 “There are major inconsistencies between the bird conservation priorities resulting from Federal and state Endangered Species Acts and those developed by major conservation organizations,” Connecticut Audubon President Robert Martinez told a press conference. “Our new Connecticut State of the Birds 2009 report examines the importance of the different endangered species listings and analyzes their relevance to bird conservation specific to Connecticut.”

Mr.  Martinez said, “Birds are highly visible and good indicators of the health of a specific natural environment ... Connecticut Audubon Society is proposing a pro-active and comprehensive approach to conservation that builds on and includes the Connecticut Endangered Species Act and that provides a better chance of protecting the state’s biodiversity.”

The society said habitat loss is the chief threat to the state’s birds. “Most threatened species are endangered because their habitat has been degraded or drastically reduced in size,” it said.

Federal and state endangered species acts use species-focused approach. Connecticut Audubon is using “Biological Conservation Units” — defined as the “critical bird habitats in the state and the suite of species that depend on them” — as the best way to protect individual endangered birds as well as a wide range of flora and fauna that promotes biodiversity.

Key habitats include forest, shrubland, grassland, inland wetland, tidal marsh, and coastal.

Milan Bull, the society’s senior director of science and conservation, said,  Biological Conservation Units are “quality habitats that already support important bird life and other animals and plants or habitat that has the ability to do so if properly managed.”  The best way to identify these areas “is to choose specific birds that can be used as indicator species.”

The society developed a system to analyze 60 of the 130 problem bird species and came up with a “Top 20 Conservation Priority” list of species that are important indicators of key habitat and can benefit from conservation efforts.

They are: American Black Duck, American Woodcock, Blue-winged Warbler, Bobolink,  Brown Thrasher,  Cerulean Warbler,  Common Nighthawk,  Common Tern, Eastern Meadowlark, Golden-winged Warbler, Grasshopper Sparrow, Least Bittern, Least Tern,  Piping Plover, Prairie Warbler,  Roseate Tern,  Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow, Sanderling, Seaside Sparrow, and Wood Thrush.

“Connecticut Audubon Society’s goal of conserving and restoring Connecticut’s bird populations depends on habitat protection and maintenance,” said Mr. Bull. “Although enforcement of Endangered Species Acts helps identify at-risk species ... we need meaningful habitat protection to conserve birds. In other words: bird conservation equals land conservation.”

Connecticut Audubon recommends that Governor Rell create a task force to develop a “comprehensive, statewide policy for land acquisition that determines the amount and types of land needed to restore and maintain biological diversity”;  the Department of Environmental Protection should identify and prioritize land acquisitions for conservation use, employing a BCU concept;  the Legislature and the governor should secure funding for land acquisitions, following a timetable that allows for the projected goal of 21% protected land by 2023 (already a state goal); the DEP should identify existing state properties that can be designated as BCUs and reduce incompatible uses in those areas; and the DEP should identify the funds needed to actively manage existing properties for bird habitat and the Legislature should appropriate such funds.

You can read the complete report at ctaudubon.org.

Coming Up

The Second Atlas of Breeding Birds in New York State, presentation and book signing with Co-editor Kimberley Corwin, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 6:30 p.m.,  free,  Audubon Greenwich, 613 Riversville Road, Greenwich, reservations 203-869-5272 x221 or jcordulack @audubon.org

Owl Prowl, led by naturalist Lars Cherichetti of Wilton, Friday, Feb. 6, 7 p.m., $5, Discovery Center, at Ridgefield Recreation Center, 195 Danbury Road,  register at 203-438-1063 or email info @ ridgefielddiscovery.org.

EagleFest 2009 on the Hudson, eagle viewing, plus exhibits, shows, demonstrations in heated tents, Saturday, Feb. 7, 9 to 4, free admission (fees for eagle-viewing tour bus), sponsored by Teatown Reservation, at Croton Point Park, 914-762-2912, x110, www.teatown.org.

The Great Hudson River Excursion, with John Askildsen, favorite birding spots for eagles, ducks, more, Saturday, Feb. 7, 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.; starts at 9 at Croton station; Bedford Audubon Society; register with Joan E. Becker at jebecker @ bedfordaudubon.org,  (914) 232-4806,  bedfordaudubon.org.

12th Annual Great Backyard Bird Count, Feb. 13 to 16, (Presidents’ Day Weekend),  birdcount.org.

Field Trip to Edith Read Sanctuary (Playland) and Marshlands Conservancy, Rye, with naturalist Tait Johansson, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 8 to 3, Bedford Audubon Society, carpool from Bylane Farm, 35 Todd Road, Katonah, register with Joan E. Becker at jebecker @ bedfordaudubon.org,  (914) 232-4806,  bedfordaudubon.org.

Bald Eagle Survey Techniques with naturalist Tait Johansson at the Croton Dam and Black Rock Park, Croton-on-Hudson, Saturday, Feb. 28, 3:30 to 5 p.m.,  register with Joan E. Becker at jebecker @ bedfordaudubon.org,  (914) 232-4806,  bedfordaudubon.org.

Bird walks with Luke Tiller, mostly Saturdays at 8 a.m., $10 each; to register, www. sunrisebirding. com/ walks.htm;  203-981-9924, luke.tiller @ gmail.com.

First Sundays, birding at Greenwich Point with Meredith Sampson of Wild Wings, and other guides, Feb. 1, March 1, April 5, May 3, meet at the second concession stand, 203-637-9822.

Copyright (c) 2008 by Jack Sanders. Send sightings or comments to: jackfsanders [at sign] yahoo.com, or to Bird Notes, Box 1019, Ridgefield, CT 06877; or call 203-438-1183, extension BIRD (2473), and leave a message with your report, spelling your first and last names and telling us your town. If you need help identifying a bird, try your local nature center. If you find an injured bird, call wildlife rehabilitator Darlene Wimbrow of Redding, 203-438-0618, Wildlife in Crisis of Weston, 203-544-9913, or Wild Wings of Greenwich, 203-637-9822. The columnist’s website is www. sandersbooks. com.