[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
chance of a lifetime; Humane Society chastized
- To: carolinabirds@duke.edu
- Subject: chance of a lifetime; Humane Society chastized
- From: Joshua Stuart Rose <jsr6@duke.edu>
- Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2001 17:49:37 -0400 (EDT)
- Sender: carolinabirds-owner@acpub.duke.edu
Hi Carolinabirders,
Walked in again yesterday, and was rewarded with my first Gray Catbird of
the year. A few spend the winter in the Triangle, but their ratings on
the Triangle Bird Checklist go from "rare" in mid-March to "occasional",
to "uncommon" in mid-April, to "fairly common" at the end of April
through the summer. I also had a close-up look at a pair of Blue-gray
Gnatcatchers, and watched as a Red-tailed Hawk used a strong tailwind to
leave two would-be-mobbing American Crows eating his dust. No birds of
interest today, but did see an American Lady and two Tiger Swallowtails,
apparently none the worse for the cold snap. My fiance is taking my car
to Ohio for the weekend, but hopefully that won't stop me from getting
out and seeing some birds....
Pasted below, a volunteer opportunity that I'd take over most paid jobs.
The raptor migration past Veracruz is one of the last great wildlife
spectacles, maybe the best sight in North America now that the Passenger
Pigeons are gone and the Bison so greatly reduced. Trust me, if some
fluke were to relieve me of grad school duties in the fall, I'd be there!
Even better than those spots on the oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, which
I understand are in their last year of birding service (see
http://www.geocities.com/NapaValley/8596/ for details).
An amusing, if disappointing, news story at
http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A29831-2001Apr17.html
The Humane Society in Washington DC euthanized some mockingbird chicks
because their nest was near a sidewalk and the birds were attacking
pedestrians, then was busted by Fish and Wildlife for breaking the
Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The judge, in sentencing the Humane Society,
noted that the organization "has not made any attempt to duck the issue"
and did not pose any "risk of flight". Sick humour of the day.
Good birding,
Josh
Joshua S. Rose
Duke University
Department of Biology (Zoology, R.I.P.)
jsr6@acpub.duke.edu
http://www.duke.edu/~jsr6/
****************************************************
EXPERIENCED VOLUNTEER HAWKWATCHERS NEEDED (n=3) for season long counts of
diurnal raptors and wading birds in central Veracruz, Mexico. The
Veracruz River of Raptors project is a conservation initiative whose
mission is to promote the conservation of migratory raptors, wading birds
and their habitats. A team of nine hawkwatchers (6 Mexican, 3 American)
are responsible to monitor raptor and wading bird migration from two
sites located in the Gulf coastal plain. The seasonal total raptor count
is of over 4.3 million birds, plus >450,000 wading birds and assorted
land birds, butterflies, and dragonflies. Work duties include
standardized counts of migrants (from 8:00 am through 6:00 pm, daily from
August 20 through November 20, 2001). Desired qualifications include at
least two years of experience in raptor identification, ability to work
long hours under hot, humid, weather conditions, and as part of a team of
different cultures who live in primitive, basic, housing conditions in
the small city of Cardel (30km N of Veracruz City). Volunteers are
required to arrive in Veracruz, Mexico, at least 5 days before the
official beggining of the count for orientation and training workshop and
to stay for the entire season. Pronatura Veracruz will cover air
transportation, housing, and a stipend of $600/month to cover food and
local transportation for volunteers. To apply send cover letter, resume,
and the name, phone number, and e-mail of two references to Rafael
Rodríguez Mesa, field crew coordinator, Veracruz River of Raptors project
at ralpa_x@yahoo.com <mailto:ralpa_x@yahoo.com> or by fax at 011 52 (2)
818-6546.
****
Gracias,
Ernesto