Loose Feathers #564

Northern Waterthrush / Photo by Jessica Bolser/USFWS

Birds and birding news

• Even though Chestnut-sided Warblers are currently among the most common warblers, John James Audubon saw very few in his lifetime. 
• The Coastal California Gnatcatcher shows that there are limits to using scientific disputes to advance moneyed interests.
• Pete Dunne has an account of the early years of the Cape May hawkwatch, which started 40 years ago this fall. 
• Six endangered Light-footed Ridgway's Rails were released into the marshes at San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
• A study last year found that it was not possible to separate hybrid and pure Saltmarsh and Nelson's Sparrows in the field. That study is now open-access for free reading.
• African Grey Parrots received full protection in the latest CITES update. 
• Comments are invited on the new kiwi recovery plan.
• Seawalls are among the best defenses against sea level rise, but a beach between a seawall and the ocean has little room for coastal bird habitat.
• Baltimore will become the 24th city to sign the Urban Conservation Treaty for Migratory Birds (aka Urban Bird Treaty).
• Seabirds have long enough memories to return to places where the species has not nested in years.
• The captive breeding program for the endangered Bush Thick-knee (aka Bush Stone-curlew) had a successful year.

Science and nature blogging

• Bourbon, Bastards, and Birds.: ID Challenges: The Worst of The West
• Not Exactly Rocket Science: Why Crested Penguins Always Lay Doomed Eggs
• The Artful Amoeba: Cliff-Dwelling Bees Carve Their Nests Out of Solid Rock
• Bird Ecology Study Group: Sultan Tit – feeding and songs/calls 
• ABA Blog: ABA Area Big Years: Early October Vagrant Chasing 
• On The Wing Photography: Great Egret With The Catch Of The Day That Didn’t Get Eaten
• robertscribbler: Dangerous Hurricane Matthew Strengthens in Record Hot Environment — May hit Florida Twice 

Environment and biodiversity

• Three-quarters of US national parks are having earlier springs due to climate change.
• A new species of pika was discovered in the Himalayas.
• Public lands belong to all Americans and should not be handed over to states or private interests. 
• Even iconic parks like Yosemite can be in danger of having their boundaries altered for the worse.
• The endangered Sierra Nevada Yellow-legged Frog has made a remarkable recovery at Yosemite National Park.
• Romania banned trophy hunting of large carnivores, which it claimed was happening under a loophole for predators that pose a danger to humans. 
• As the Earth continues to warm, we can expect more dangerous storms like Hurricane Matthew, partly because sea level rise will increase the danger of flooding. 
• Seven native Hawaiian bees in the genus Hylaeus have been given endangered protections.
• The Miami Tiger Beetle will be listed as endangered.
• PSE&G will close its last two coal-fired electric plants in New Jersey next year.