Our Poor Bats.

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/792484--bat-killer-moves-into-ontario?bn=1

Bat killer moves into Ontario
Mysterious fungus decimated U.S. bat populations

Published On Thu Apr 08 2010 Brendan Kennedy Staff Reporter

The future looks bleak for Ontario’s bats.

A lethal fungus that decimated populations of the winged critters in the Northeastern U.S. was discovered in Ontario last month, and researchers fear it will have the same devastating effect here.

“Right now nobody has any way of stopping it,” says Brock Fenton, a biology professor at the University of Western Ontario and Canada’s leading bat expert. “It’s frightening.”

The fungus itself doesn’t kill bats, but scientists believe it’s linked to what they call white nose syndrome, named for the ring of white fungus — which can appear as a powdery substance — often found around the bats’ nostrils and muzzle.

The disease disturbs their hibernation patterns, causing them to wake earlier than they should. Once up, the bats can’t find the moths and mosquitoes that usually fill their bellies. After expending their limited stored energy, they starve to death.

Fenton said the fungus is like “the selfish caver from hell,” referring to recreational cave explorers who inadvertently disturb bats during hibernation.

White nose syndrome was first discovered in bats in Albany, N.Y., in the winter of 2006, and has since spread to 11 states, from New Hampshire to Tennessee. The disease typically kills between 80 and 99 per cent of bats within a single hibernacula, or place of hibernation.

More than a million bats have died of the disease in the U.S., leading a group of U.S. wildlife scientists to write that it “has caused the most precipitous decline of North American wildlife in recorded history.”

“If the spread of WNS is not slowed or halted, further losses could lead to the extinction of entire species,” reads the consensus statement from a white nose syndrome conference held last year in Texas.

There is no known health risk to humans, but as a natural pest controller — bats are a primary predator of night-flying insects and can eat up to three times their body weight nightly — the consequences for forestry and agriculture could be severe if their populations are significantly reduced, some researchers warn.

Canadian researchers knew for years the disease was coming, but the first case was confirmed only a few weeks ago at an abandoned mine in the Bancroft-Minden area, west of Ottawa. Since then the fungus has been discovered in Peterborough, Hastings, Grey and Renfrew counties, and in Kirkland Lake.

Only a small number have died of the disease in Ontario, but researchers are preparing for a widespread “die-off” in the next few years, particularly among the Little Brown Bat species.

U.S. researchers are working on ways to inoculate bats, but so far there is no treatment or cure.

Ontario’s natural resources ministry is monitoring the disease with the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre and trying to reduce its spread by asking people not to go into caves that could be inhabited by bats. Nobody’s sure how the fungus spreads, but there’s some concern humans may play a part, so the ministry has asked for a moratorium on recreational caving.

Fenton, who has been visiting the same bat cave near Renfrew every year since 1965, doesn’t want to think of what he might see there next year. “I don’t think I can cope with going in there and finding 20,000 dead bats on the floor.”

Natural resources is asking the public to report unusual bat behaviour, such as flying during the day, and any bat deaths by calling 1-866-673-4781. The ministry cautions against touching bats, living or dead, because they may carry rabies.

Project Feeder Watch for March 27/28 and April 3/4

March 27, 2010
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Mourning Dove 4
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 5
Hairy Woodpecker 2
Pileated Woodpecker 2
Blue Jay 7
American Crow 2
Black-capped Chickadee 3
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 3
American Robin 3
European Starling 3
Song Sparrow 1
Dark-eyed Junco 3
Northern Cardinal 3
Red-winged Blackbird 25
Common Grackle 7
Brown-headed Cowbird 13
House Finch 4
American Goldfinch 5
House Sparrow 3

And because we missed the Saturday and had a very short time for the count on Sunday, April 4th, we have a low number of species and sightings for this date:

Mourning Dove 4
Downy Woodpecker 2
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Black-capped Chickadee 3
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
American Robin 1
Chipping Sparrow 1
Dark-eyed Junco 2
Red-winged Blackbird 10
Common Grackle 14
Brown-headed Cowbird 24
American Goldfinch 6
House Sparrow 2

Condor News!

http://www.ksbw.com/news/23079681/detail.html

First Condor Egg Hatches At Park In 100 Years
Young Nestling Feeding At Pinnacles Monument

POSTED: 10:44 am PDT April 7, 2010 UPDATED: 11:46 am PDT April 7, 2010

PINNACLES NATIONAL MONUMENT, Calif. -- Biologists said an historic feat has taken place at the Pinnacles National Monument after confirming the first successful hatching of a condor egg in more than 100 years.

The young nestling is receiving regular feeding and incubating from its first-time parent condors.

The parent condors are 7-year-olds that were released at the monument in 2004 and were in courtship during the past winter and paired for their first breeding attempt.

"We are thrilled that after being involved with the Condor Recovery Program since 2003, the park has its first condor chick from the first nest in over 100 years," said Eric Brunnemann, park superintendent.

The areas directly around the nest cliff will be closed to public use for the duration of the nesting period, but public viewing is still possible.

A hike to the viewing area is about two miles from the closest east or west side parking areas.

Biologists will be monitoring the nest throughout the breeding cycle. Nestlings remain flightless for about five to six months, which means the young condor should take its first flight in early October.

In 1982, the last 22 California condors were placed in a captive breeding program. Today, there are nearly 350 in the world.

Easter Weekend Birding

At Bronte Creek again on Sunday night, we saw our first Tree Swallow of the season. He was staking out a nesting box. We are looking forward to seeing them here again and hope they return soon.




We also saw the American Woodcock again. He was very busy calling, calling, calling and then would fly up into the air, spiral down and land (more or less) in the same spot. This went on for quite some time. We had a good look at him through the binoculars. It was a very good sighting and we were glad they were still in Bronte. A better sound recording is posted at the bottom of the page.



On Sunday we saw our first Chipping Sparrow of the season. As of yesterday, there were two hanging around.










On Saturday we witnessed a large flock of Red Wings. They were quite active and drew a large crowd of on-lookers. Everyone was very excited to see them in their full colours. There seemed to be quite a bit of vying for position and claiming of territory.






http://www.blogger.com/video-play.mp4?contentId=3dda79affc372041&type=video%2Fmp4

Hummingbird Preparations

We put out three Hummingbird feeders on Saturday just in case this lovely weather sends some our way.

Update: Still no Hummingbirds here!

Here's a link to a site that tracks Hummingbird migration:

http://www.hummingbirds.net/map.html

And here is Dave's analysis of the information within the site:

"According to this, there have been two sightings in Ontario so far, one yesterday and one the day before. When we see our first one, we should report it to this site.

I especially like the Map FAQ section at the bottom of the page."

Thanks Dave!

An easy how-to guide on building a bird feeder

http://www.audubon.org/educate/educators/Stonyfield.html

Help Local Habitat ... Build a Bird Feeder from a Recycled Milk Carton

All over the world, people of all ages—people just like you—are helping wildlife. By turning an empty milk carton into a bird feeder, you can keep Planet Earth cleaner and greener, and help wild birds too! PLUS kids can show off their creations in Audubon Adventures’ Online Art Gallery!

The Homemade Milk Carton Birdfeeder Gallery will go live April 22nd. Send photos of your milk carton birdfeeder to Audubon between April 1 and August 31, 2010. Audubon will display photos of all qualified entries we receive. Five outstanding homemade birdfeeders will be selected by Audubon to be featured on Stonyfield’s website and Audubon’s website.


Help Local Habitat ... Build a Bird Feeder from a recycled milk carton



Putting up feeders attracts birds to a place where you can enjoy watching them, and makes sure they have enough food, especially in winter.

You will need:

* A used paper milk carton, any size
* Scissors
* Strong twine (jute or sisal twine is best…and natural!)
* Field guide to local birds (printed or online)
* Birdseed for wild birds
* Instruction sheet: “How to Make a Bird Feeder”

Suggested time:
About 30 minutes to make one bird feeder

Preparation:

* Ahead of time, wash out the milk carton.
* Download the “How to Make a Bird Feeder” duplicating master.
* Visit your nearest nature center or go online to research local birds that are likely to be attracted to feeders and learn what kinds of bird seed those birds prefer.
* Using the guidelines given on the downloaded page, choose where to place your feeder, either on your school grounds (consult the custodian first) or somewhere near home.
* To submit a photo of your child and their homemade feeder to be displayed on our online gallery, read the rules and accept the terms and conditions. Go to this link for more information. Go to this link for more information.

Monarch Butterflies

Plant milkweed this year!!!!!!


http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/788062--monarch-butterflies-may-face-one-of-worst-years-ever

Monarch butterflies may face one of worst years ever

Published On Wed Mar 31 2010 Debra Black Staff Reporter

Monarch butterflies seem to be facing yet another year of declining numbers as they battle against climate change and the loss of habitat. And this one could be one of the worst ever, a leading entomologist said.

The odds may be against monarch butterflies resurging to normal population levels this year, worries entomologist Chip Taylor and director of Monarch Watch at the University of Kansas-Lawrence.

The monarch butterfly population that went to Mexico this past winter was the smallest overwintering population ever, said Taylor. And then the butterflies were hit this past winter with three massive storms, including a hail storm followed by 15 inches of rain.

Taylor estimates that the population could have been reduced by at least 50 per cent and perhaps considerably more.

“I’m really concerned,” said Taylor. “This means the numbers going to Texas (the first reproductive stop on their long migration back to Ontario) are going to be down.”

And down in a big way. That translates into a smaller group of butterflies trying to lay eggs and rebuild the population base. “The problem is the numbers are so small the chance of a really strong recovery is not great.”

Last year monarch butterflies found themselves facing bad conditions in Texas because of hot temperatures. The egg-laying population died off really fast, and for those that survived the number of eggs laid was substantially down. This year, however, conditions in Texas are good: Vegetation is lush and the temperature is cool. Reproduction should be quite good, Taylor said.

But will it be good enough to return to healthy numbers? Highly debatable, said Taylor.

“We’ve been below the long-term average for six years,” he said.

It takes three or four generations of monarchs to reach Canada. Then in the fall, that final generation returns to Mexico where they overwinter before starting the whole reproduction process over again.

One of the biggest problems for the butterflies is the issue of climate change in Mexico as the loss of their habitat due to illegal logging and development.

“We’re talking about significant degradation at overwintering sites; the loss of habitat in the United States and Canada and climate change in Mexico. We’ve had three major killing winter storms in the last decade that have never been seen previously. We’re dealing with something new here, and that’s consistent with climate change.”

In the U.S., Taylor said, 890,000 hectares of habitat a year have been lost due to various forms of development. Over the 18 years he has been running Monarch Watch, he estimates 59 million hectares of monarch-butterfly habitat have been lost. That’s more than three times the size of the state of Illinois.

It will be mid-May or even later before groups like Monarch Watch can be definitive about the butterfly population that will be coming to Canada.

Nobody knows how it will play out, said Leslie Foster, manager of educational programming at the Niagara Parks’ Botanical Gardens and School of Agriculture and the former butterfly curator at the Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory. “It was definitely a tough year for the monarchs down in Mexico.”

They overwinter in a World Heritage designated forest, but it’s a difficult area to protect because of illegal logging activities and development, Foster said. Both have ruined the mountainous habitat just northwest of Mexico City. “It’s a complicated situation to understand fully.”

Also conspiring against the monarch butterflies are things like the use of herbicides specifically designed to allow crops like soybeans to live even though fields have been sprayed. Those herbicides kill off a necessary food for the monarchs: milkweed.