Well this seems to be a historic year in bird conservation efforts paying off. For the first time in over 100 years Whooping Cranes have successfully nested and two chicks hatched at the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin. For more info on them, visit Amy Hooper's post on her blog, Wildbird on the Fly.
Osprey courtesy of Wikipedia. I haven't got a photo of them yet...
Back in beautiful Orange County another species of bird is making history. For the first time in 30 years Osprey's have made a successful nest at the gorgeous Upper Newport Bay. The Daily Pilot reported on the event, viewable here. These birds, like so many others, were horribly affected by the chemical pesticide DDT, which caused their egg shells to become brittle and thin and crack when the mother bird attempted to incubate them. Those of you who have read Rachel Carson's Silent Spring maybe already be well aware of the devastating effects of this chemical. DDT was banned in American and birds have made a slow and painful comeback. Though their numbers have been coming up, this is the first time a successful nest has been seen at the Back Bay =)
As for birding, I haven't been able to go out since owling but I have a feeling it might be hell right now anyway. Orange County is having a heat wave, 90+ degree weather and humidity, yes humidity, amazing huh?
2 comments:
Yeah, what is UP with the humidity? It needs to stop pronto.
BTW, if you bird with Sean Dooley in Australia (the author of The Big Twitch), I will be incredibly jealous ;)
agreed!
I think I need to pick that book up, I've never read it.
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