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Author Topic: Birds in the News  (Read 1056328 times)

T40cfr403

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Birds in the News
« on: April 25, 2015, 05:22:08 AM »
The purpose of this thread is to provide a place for us to share stories, videos, photos, etc., about birds, especially eagles and other raptors, we've run across in the news and social media but that don't really "fit" in the Forum's other threads.  Here's one, for starters.

This inaugural post is pretty rough, because it's about poaching and the black market in eagle parts.  Mercifully, there are no photos.  WARNING: If you're going to read the linked stories, you'll need a strong stomach, a box of tissues and your blood pressure meds.  It's all about the money.  It's always all about the money. 

In today's news, Willard Maldonado pleaded guilty to killing bald eagles and selling the feathers.  The story doesn't mention what the sentencing guidelines are, but the federal maximums include up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, per count.  http://www.justice.gov/usao-edwa/pr/willard-maldonado-pleads-guilty-five-violations-bald-eagle-protection-act-and-lacey-act

At the end of that news release are references to 2 other, similar cases: U.S. v. Hawk and U.S. v. Wahchumwah.  Maldonado, Hawk and Wahchumwah are all members of the federally recognized Yakama tribe.

Alfred Hawk was charged with conspiracy, and taking, transporting, offering and selling eagles, and transporting and selling wildlife with a market value in excess of $350.  He was sentenced to 6 months in prison and 2 years probation, which he violated.  In addition, Hawk was also mentioned in Wahchumwah's case.

Ricky Sam Wahchumwah was convicted of the same crimes as Hawk and sentenced to serve 1 month in jail and 3 months home confinement followed by 2 years of probation, and to pay a $425 penalty.  Here's a court document that lays out the case against Wahchumwah in the "Statement of Facts," beginning on Page 1.  https://www.eff.org/files/filenode/us_response_to_motion_to_suppress.pdf
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T40cfr403

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Re: Birds in the News
« Reply #1 on: April 26, 2015, 01:21:07 AM »
But, on another front, there's good news.  Really good news!  And the videos are great, too.

http://globalnews.ca/news/1961543/eagle-caught-in-power-line-months-ago-released-back-into-the-wild/
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T40cfr403

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Re: Birds in the News
« Reply #2 on: April 26, 2015, 01:28:37 AM »
What does an eaglet smell like?  Fish!  LOL  Nice article about banding 2 eaglets.  Would you get a load of that nest?!!!

http://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/2015/04/25/holding-baby-bald-eagle-wow-moment/26342523/
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T40cfr403

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Re: Birds in the News
« Reply #3 on: May 07, 2015, 04:55:07 PM »
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T40cfr403

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Re: Birds in the News
« Reply #4 on: May 16, 2015, 01:20:33 AM »
Eaglet falls 80 feet and is uninjured!!!  A happy ending.  :)

http://www.krcrtv.com/news/local/volunteers-unite-to-return-fallen-eaglet-to-nest/33045372
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T40cfr403

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Re: Birds in the News
« Reply #5 on: May 16, 2015, 01:24:41 AM »
Another great story - rock climbers find a peregrine falcon nest in Georgia, the first one in 80 years!!!  :)

http://onlineathens.com/sports/2015-05-15/falcons-nest-wild-first-time-nearly-80-years
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T40cfr403

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Re: Birds in the News
« Reply #6 on: May 16, 2015, 09:37:29 AM »
Found this viral video on Neil Rettig Productions' Facebook page. The description of how it was filmed and edited provides some insight into Neil's other work, including "American Eagle."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/an-inside-look-at-a-timeless-battle-squirrel-vs-hawk/2015/04/11/b6e58db8-ddf9-11e4-a1b8-2ed88bc190d2_story.html
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T40cfr403

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Re: Birds in the News
« Reply #7 on: May 17, 2015, 02:56:33 AM »
Takeaways:  recent reports of eagles living more than 30 years in the wild;  recent report of older nestlings surviving falls from their nests.

Bald eaglet banding in Kansas.  I was rooting for the eaglets the whole way!!!

http://www.kansas.com/news/local/article21191127.html

Interesting side note in the story is that the adult male eagle is at least 31 years old and still going strong.  Take that with a previous posting ( http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/3726929-raptors-banded-duluths-evans-set-longevity-record ) about a 33+ year old bald eagle, and we may have to raise the limit a bit on how long bald eagles can live in the wild.

Accompanying the Kansas banding story was another link that has captioned photos only. 

http://www.kansas.com/sports/outdoors/article21187545.html

As you arrow through the photos, there are a couple of shots of an 8-10 week old eaglet that jumped from its nest and lived to tell about it.  Again, take that with a previous posting ( http://www.krcrtv.com/news/local/volunteers-unite-to-return-fallen-eaglet-to-nest/33045372 ) about an 8 week old California eaglet that survived an 80 foot fall from its nest, and we might be comforted to know that eaglets who haven't fledged yet may instinctively know how to soar and make a soft landing!!!!  ;)
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Only within the moment of time represented by the present century has one species -- man -- acquired significant power to alter the nature of the world.
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T40cfr403

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Re: Birds in the News
« Reply #8 on: May 18, 2015, 03:55:54 AM »
We're not winning the war against eagle poachers.  :'(

http://kuow.org/post/fighting-eagle-poaching-when-single-feather-goes-500
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T40cfr403

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Re: Birds in the News
« Reply #9 on: May 25, 2015, 10:56:48 AM »
This could be huge!  Finally, other commercial arenas that "take" migratory birds will be regulated with permits that have "teeth" to punish and require mitigation.  Those sectors include the following:

    Oil, gas, and wastewater disposal pits can entrap birds that are attracted to a perceived source of water. Birds that land on or fall into the pit become covered with oil and may ultimately die from drowning, exhaustion, exposure, or effects of ingested oil. Closed containment systems or properly maintained netting prevents birds from entering these sites.

    Methane or other gas burner pipes at oil production sites and other locations provide a hazard to birds from burning, entrapment in pipes or vents, or direct mortality from flame flare. Removing perches, installing perch deterrents, and covering pipes and other small openings can minimize this take.

    Communication towers can have a significant impact on birds, especially birds migrating at night. Using recommended tower-siting practices and design features such as appropriate lighting, shorter tower heights, and eliminating or reducing the use of guy wires can minimize bird take caused by collisions with these structures.

    Electric transmission and distribution lines impact a variety of birds through electrocution and collision. To reduce electrocutions, poles can be made avian-safe through pole and equipment design or through post-construction retrofitting measures. Collisions are best minimized through appropriate siting considerations.

They may also reconsider the rules that are in place now, such as they are, for the wind energy generation sector.

Here's the link to the USFWS Notice of Intent:  https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/05/26/2015-12666/migratory-bird-permits-programmatic-environmental-impact-statement

It will be published in the Federal Register on May 26, 2015, with a 60-day comment period.  This is still a long ways from actually issuing permits to any of these sectors, but it's a start and deserves our attention now, in its earliest stages of development.  You can bet the affected industry sectors will be commenting.  Birds can't without our help.
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T40cfr403

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Re: Birds in the News
« Reply #10 on: May 26, 2015, 01:12:12 PM »
All Animals Have Rights: A Researcher's Perspective: http://www.wired.com/2015/05/animals-rights-researchers-perspective/
« Last Edit: May 30, 2015, 09:44:43 PM by T40cfr403 »
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T40cfr403

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Re: Birds in the News
« Reply #11 on: May 27, 2015, 04:40:09 AM »
LPC finds dead bald eagle on power pole: http://www.timescall.com/longmont-local-news/ci_28193617/lpc-finds-dead-bald-eagle-power-pole

I contacted Longmont (Colorado) Power & Communications at the email address below to ask them if they had an Avian Protection Plan, if not why not, and if so are they complying with its provisions to prevent this from happening again.

[email protected]

Update - Haven't heard back from LPC, but there's a new story today. An Open Space biologist identified the electrocuted bald eagle as female and then found the nest nearby where a male is tending to 2 chicks on his own. Chicks are estimated to be about the same age as Decorah's chicks. I'm just sick about this.  :'(

http://www.timescall.com/longmont-local-news/ci_28200765/male-bald-eagle-raising-chicks-his-own-near
« Last Edit: May 30, 2015, 09:45:36 PM by T40cfr403 »
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baziunc

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Re: Birds in the News
« Reply #12 on: May 28, 2015, 07:13:50 PM »
Quote from: T40cfr403 on May 27, 2015, 04:40:09 AM
LPC finds dead bald eagle on power pole: http://www.timescall.com/longmont-local-news/ci_28193617/lpc-finds-dead-bald-eagle-power-pole

I contacted Longmont (Colorado) Power & Communications at the email address below to ask them if they had an Avian Protection Plan, if not why not, and if so are they complying its provisions to prevent this from happening again.

[email protected]

Update - Haven't heard back from LPC, but there's a new story today. An Open Space biologist identified the electrocuted bald eagle as female and then found the nest nearby where a male is tending to 2 chicks on his own. Chicks are estimated to be about the same age as Decorah's chicks. I'm just sick about this.  :'(

http://www.timescall.com/longmont-local-news/ci_28200765/male-bald-eagle-raising-chicks-his-own-near

I am, too.   :(
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T40cfr403

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Re: Birds in the News
« Reply #13 on: May 29, 2015, 01:33:52 AM »
Ohio got creative to hopefully bring happy endings to two separate disasters.  A burned Canada goose who lost her eggs to fire is now fostering orphaned goslings and an eaglet who survived a storm-ravaged nest failure will be placed in foster care at another eagle nest.  :)

http://www.sanduskyregister.com/news/environment/8329911
« Last Edit: May 30, 2015, 09:46:54 PM by T40cfr403 »
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T40cfr403

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Re: Birds in the News
« Reply #14 on: May 29, 2015, 01:43:41 AM »
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Only within the moment of time represented by the present century has one species -- man -- acquired significant power to alter the nature of the world.
― Rachel Carson, Silent Spring