Report reveals decline in 178 bird species

Volunteers sought for Christmas Bird Count

By SANDY LONG

WHITE MILLS, PA — For the first time ever, National Audubon and the American Bird Conservatory have cooperated to produce a list of all the United States bird species of greatest conservation concern. One hundred and seventy-eight birds have made WatchList 2007, including six species found in Pennsylvania.

Based on data from the annual Breeding Bird Survey and Christmas Bird Counts, WatchList 2007 is the result of analysis of population trends, distribution and threats for 700 species of birds found in the United States.

The list is broken into two categories, a “Red List” denoting species at greatest risk and a “Yellow List” of seriously declining or rare species. It highlights those in greatest need of conservation measures and focuses on habitat loss, invasive species and global warming as the chief threats driving the declines.

In Pennsylvania, the golden-winged warbler and Henslow’s sparrow have made the red list. Species on the yellow list include the semipalmated sandpiper, short-eared owl, wood thrush and cerulean warbler.

WatchList 2007 is being referred to as a “call for action” by the Audubon bird conservation director and co-author of the new list, Greg Butcher. “Agreeing on which species are at the greatest risk is the first step in building the public policies, funding support, innovative conservation initiatives and public commitment needed to save them,” he said.

Local focus

The recent release of the report provides a timely reminder of the importance of annual volunteer efforts such as the Christmas Bird Count, now in its 108th year. Locally, the Northeast Pennsylvania Audubon Society will conduct its count this weekend on December 15 in White Mills, PA, and the organization is seeking volunteers to assist with the project.

Coordinator Barbara Leo is organizing teams of counters, combining novices and experts within each group. “No experience is necessary,” said Leo, who hopes to expand the group’s ability to cover more ground and count more birds. “This is truly a day for the citizen scientist, who with a spirit of optimism, battles the elements in search of birds within a 7.5 mile radius of White Mills, which includes parts of Pike and Wayne counties,” noted Leo. Those who live within the area to be covered are encouraged to count the birds at their backyard feeders and provide this information to Leo for compilation.

Subtle changes in distribution, habitat and environmental impacts on early-winter populations become available through the annual count. Leo, who is also the coordinator for the Upper Delaware Important Bird Area #60 and coordinator of Region 40 for the Breeding Bird Project, urged any interested parties to contact her at 570/253-2364 for additional information.

To see the results of previous White Mills Christmas Bird Counts, visit http://cbc.audubon.org/cbccurrent/current_table.html.