tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7552853693718893482024-03-05T21:07:35.487-05:00The Shorebird ProjectFollow an international team of biologists who monitor red knots and other shorebirds on non-breeding (Chile, SA), migration (Delaware Bay, US) and breeding areas (Nunavut, CAN).
The team is led by Dr. Larry Niles, former Chief of New Jersey DEP's Endangered and Nongame Species Program (ENSP), Dr. Amanda Dey, Sr. Biologist, ENSP, Dr. Humphrey Sitters, Editor, International Wader Study Group Bulletin.
Photos: Larry Niles, Mark Peck, Alice Ewing, Peter Fullagar, Dick Veitch, Philappa SittersShorebird Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15385844029270323237noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755285369371889348.post-8620163446786344272008-02-05T14:55:00.001-05:002008-02-16T14:58:34.039-05:00The Quality of This Land<p><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >After returning from Tierra del Fuego I am often asked the question is it a beautiful place? It’s not an easy question to answer; my response, at least in my head, is to ask what makes a place beautiful? I wonder: must a place have obviously awe-inspiring features like a mighty mountain, or plunging, pristine waterfall to earn our respect? Or can we appreciate land like we do most people, not with a glance but with a relationship? Are there as many scales of beauty for land as there are among people? </span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >The part of Tierra del Fuego in which we work shows beauty in a “normal” way. At times, golden sunlight on low, grassy hills, rolling down to the sea along the shore of Bahia Lomas or the Strait equals the beauty of any other seaside vista. That said, I believe the real beauty of this land lies in something not seen in a glance from the window of a car or airplane. It unfolds as you get to know it. For me, the beauty of this land lies buried within the very real organic connection of land, sea and sky.</span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" > </span></p> <p><a href="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/looking-north-at-the-strait-from-the-low-hills-that-give-bahia-lomas-its-name.jpg" mce_href="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/looking-north-at-the-strait-from-the-low-hills-that-give-bahia-lomas-its-name.jpg" title="Tierra del Fuego"><img style="width: 402px; height: 274px;" src="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/looking-north-at-the-strait-from-the-low-hills-that-give-bahia-lomas-its-name.jpg" mce_src="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/looking-north-at-the-strait-from-the-low-hills-that-give-bahia-lomas-its-name.jpg" alt="Tierra del Fuego" /></a></p> <p><i><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >Looking north at the Straits of Magellan from the low hills that give Bahia Lomas its name</span> </i></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >Imagine a wind that rises from nothing and in seconds turns into a monstrous force. It can rough-up the sea into white foam that rides on a rolling swell so deep that it even rocks a ferry carrying tanker trucks. Yet all around you are sunny skies with dreamy clouds, not a dark one in sight. </span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" > </span><a href="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/the-straits-of-magellan-whipped-by-a-60-mph-wind-on-a-sunny-day.jpg" mce_href="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/the-straits-of-magellan-whipped-by-a-60-mph-wind-on-a-sunny-day.jpg" title="Tierra del Fuego"><img style="width: 393px; height: 283px;" src="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/the-straits-of-magellan-whipped-by-a-60-mph-wind-on-a-sunny-day.jpg" mce_src="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/the-straits-of-magellan-whipped-by-a-60-mph-wind-on-a-sunny-day.jpg" alt="Tierra del Fuego" /></a></p> <p><i><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >The Straits of Magellan whipped by a 60 mph wind on a sunny day</span> </i></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >At such times you would think the sea could get no worse. Then the tide turns and the two gigantic forces, wind and tide, starting fighting each other. The tide here is awesome. At low tide you can stand on top of the cobble beach staring down a steep muddy slope to a trickle of a river and think it impossible that the sea could fill up such an immense space. Yet it does, relentlessly and with a rush. We’ve seen walls of water rushing from the open sea filling river channels 30 feet deep in a few hours, only to see them drain away again in an endless cycle. </span></p> <p><a href="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/the-tide-fills-a-river-on-the-eastern-edge-of-bahia-lomas.jpg" mce_href="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/the-tide-fills-a-river-on-the-eastern-edge-of-bahia-lomas.jpg" title="Tierra del Fuego"><img style="width: 402px; height: 555px;" src="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/the-tide-fills-a-river-on-the-eastern-edge-of-bahia-lomas.jpg" mce_src="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/the-tide-fills-a-river-on-the-eastern-edge-of-bahia-lomas.jpg" alt="Tierra del Fuego" /></a></p> <p><i><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >The tide fills a river on the edge of Bahia Lomas</span></i></p> <p><i> </i><br /><a href="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/jerry-walking-along-the-shore-of-the-strait-of-magellan-at-low-tide.jpg" mce_href="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/jerry-walking-along-the-shore-of-the-strait-of-magellan-at-low-tide.jpg" title="Tierra del Fuego"><img style="width: 386px; height: 291px;" src="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/jerry-walking-along-the-shore-of-the-strait-of-magellan-at-low-tide.jpg" mce_src="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/jerry-walking-along-the-shore-of-the-strait-of-magellan-at-low-tide.jpg" alt="Tierra del Fuego" /></a></p> <p><i><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >Jerry walking along the shore of the Strait of Magellan at low tide</span> </i></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >We have ridden our ATV to the outermost edge of the intertidal flats of Bahia Lomas at low tide, an amazing 6 km from the high tide line. Out there, the sea appears peaceful, in no way threatening. Then the tide starts moving. At first it comes slowly, crawling across the mudflat, filling in the minor contours that seem only to appear when the tide fills them. It keeps picking up speed, at times so fast you would have to walk briskly to keep up. Then it dawns on you that the flat that appears to be without relief is actually bisected by many small creeks which fill so fast that you may be cut off, trapped in a world of ever-deepening sea. Inches of water turn to feet in minutes, tens of feet in hours. </span></p> <p><a href="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/looking-at-the-shore-of-bahia-lomas-on-an-outgoing-tide.jpg" mce_href="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/looking-at-the-shore-of-bahia-lomas-on-an-outgoing-tide.jpg" title="Tierra del Fuego"><img style="width: 386px; height: 278px;" src="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/looking-at-the-shore-of-bahia-lomas-on-an-outgoing-tide.jpg" mce_src="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/looking-at-the-shore-of-bahia-lomas-on-an-outgoing-tide.jpg" alt="Tierra del Fuego" /></a></p> <p><i><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >Looking at the shore of Bahia Lomas on an outgoing tide</span> </i></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >Sometimes you will bask in warm sun, stripping off outer garments wondering why you ever even brought them in the first place. At the sea edge you can still see the Andes looming large in the distance and beneath them are tiny clouds. Within minutes those distant innocuous clouds fill the sky around you but are now dark and threatening. Without sun, the air turns as cold as a NJ winter day and although it never rains hard, wetness starts to drift in the winds and cuts you through. The sea grows choppy, the wind freshens. You feel the power of nature unleashed like few other places in the world.</span></p> <p><a href="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/a-storm-threatens-bahia-lomas-on-a-spring-tide.jpg" mce_href="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/a-storm-threatens-bahia-lomas-on-a-spring-tide.jpg" title="Tierra del Fuego"><img style="width: 378px; height: 271px;" src="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/a-storm-threatens-bahia-lomas-on-a-spring-tide.jpg" mce_src="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/a-storm-threatens-bahia-lomas-on-a-spring-tide.jpg" alt="Tierra del Fuego" /></a></p> <p><i><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >A storm threatens Bahia Lomas on a spring tide</span></i></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >At the same time, this land opens its arms with a mother’s love. Though not rich in bird species, many that do occur are very special. Only a few are globally rare, like the ruddy-headed goose or Magellanic plover. That must be because the land is vast and the habitat it has to offer changes little from place to place. Therefore whatever birds are present are common and widespread. This year was special because David and Jerry brought with them their indefatigable passion for birding that infected us all. Through their eyes one can understand this unique quality of the land, many species found here are unusual but have received little scientific scrutiny. This includes endemic species like the Fuegian snipe, the chocolate-vented tyrant, and even the ever-present least seedsnipe.</span></p> <p><a href="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/quanocos-in-evening.jpg" mce_href="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/quanocos-in-evening.jpg" title="Tierra del Fuego"><img style="width: 370px; height: 271px;" src="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/quanocos-in-evening.jpg" mce_src="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/quanocos-in-evening.jpg" alt="Tierra del Fuego" /></a></p> <p><i><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >Guanacos in evening </span></i></p> <p><i> </i><br /><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >For me the sea, wind, sky and animals are not separate features of the land but, along with the land, they are an entity, a life, a spirit within which lies a wondrous beauty that I cannot easily describe. But I feel it, as does our team. For the most part we are all conservationists; our main goal here is to help save a species that, oddly enough, barely survives because of unstoppable greed 8,000 miles away. We’ve done our best to fight that battle by provided vital information to help untangle the many threads of the red knot’s complicated plight. I can’t say we’ve had much success protecting the red knot but fortunately after seven years this land and its people have given us more than we expected: a land of beauty that springs from the transparent interaction of life and the naked power of wind and sea. </span><br /><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >This year, with the help of many Chileans, and supporters from the US we will begin construction of the Tierra del Fuego Bird Observatory on the shores of the Strait of Magellan. With luck we can help create a partnership between Chilean and US groups and add something to a growing conservation program in Bahia Lomas by native Chileans. I will write more about this in later blogs. </span></p>Shorebird Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15385844029270323237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755285369371889348.post-66201661111090305422008-01-20T17:28:00.002-05:002008-02-16T14:54:57.856-05:00Tierra del Fuego: 1/20/08<div class="entry"> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong>Our Seventh Expedition to Tierra del Fuego: 1/20/08 </strong></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Our Friday morning started by saying goodbye to Sergio and Gabriella, the veterinary students from University of Santo Thomas. Their major professor is Carmen Espoz. Carmen left the night before. We were sorry to see them go; they are hard working intelligent people who are always willing to lend a hand. Now we have a team of 7 people, small but adequate.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/carmen-with-her-daughter-antonia.JPG" title="Tierra del Fuego"><img style="width: 367px; height: 486px;" src="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/carmen-with-her-daughter-antonia.JPG" alt="Tierra del Fuego" /></a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em>(Carmen with her daughter Antonia.)</em></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br /></em></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">While working on the catch of Magellanic Oystercatchers, Ricardo found a new roost for red knot, the oddest one we had ever encountered. Shorebird roosting sites are usually straightforward. Night roosts are usually far away from land and isolated by water to provide a defensible perimeter from ground predators. During the day they choose areas with good visibility to provide reasonable forewarning of approaching birds of prey.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/daytime-roost-of-red-knots-along-bahia-lomas-r-matus.JPG" title="Tierra del Fuego"><img style="width: 393px; height: 207px;" src="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/daytime-roost-of-red-knots-along-bahia-lomas-r-matus.JPG" alt="Tierra del Fuego" /></a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em>(Daytime roost of red knots along Bahia Lomas (Photo by Ricardo Matus))</em></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br /></em></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">In Bahia Lomas knots and godwits often roost just at the waters edge and roll forward with the advancing tide, until it peaks. Afterwards they move back with the ebbing tide. At Bahia Azul on the Strait they roost on a spit of land between a small river and the sea, and move up and down the slope of the spit. It’s only at the spring tides, those high tides that flood all of the inter-tidal flats, that the shorebirds find the need to roost on the highest ground mostly dominated by two species of salicornia. It is dangerous to be on the salicornia, Patagonian fox patrol it regularly hunting roosting birds.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/daytime-roost-of-red-knots-on-the-edge-of-salicornia-on-bahia-lomas-on-a-spring-tide.JPG" title="Tierra del Fuego"><img style="width: 395px; height: 296px;" src="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/daytime-roost-of-red-knots-on-the-edge-of-salicornia-on-bahia-lomas-on-a-spring-tide.JPG" alt="Tierra del Fuego" /></a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em>(Daytime roost of red knots and Hudsonian Godwits on the edge of salicornia on Bahia Lomas during a spring tide.)</em></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br /></em></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Ricardo found the roost at least a kilometer from the high tide line which is amazing by itself. Even more amazing, nearly the entire population of the west side of Bahia Lomas roosted in one small isolated patch of salicornia. 3,000 red knots sat happily only 100 m from the high ground. The reason was the wind.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/daytime-roost-along-the-straits-of-magellan-at-bahia-azul-in-2007.JPG" title="Tierra del Fuego"><img style="width: 415px; height: 312px;" src="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/daytime-roost-along-the-straits-of-magellan-at-bahia-azul-in-2007.JPG" alt="Tierra del Fuego" /></a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em>(Knots roosting in salicornia along Bahia Lomas far from the waters edge)</em></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br /></em></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The previous three days a strong wind from the west blew towards the sea. On Wednesday it blew hurricane force. On Thursday the wind fell to a slightly more moderate 40 mph. On our first visit to the site we found small clusters of knot droppings on the lee side of the salicornia clumps. Such places afforded a little shelter and the proximity of the high ground cut the wind more. At the level of the birds there was virtually no wind.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Knowing all this still does not assure a catch. The wind had died down overnight and was now a more modest 20-30 mph which is high but not abnormal for Tierra del Fuego. More importantly we had attempted many catches on salicornia in the past, all failures because it was just too difficult to set the net in the right position and the birds were virtually impossible to move in the right direction. Could we set our net in the right place? Could they be moved without flying far away? Would the birds return now that the wind had slowed; they might prefer to roost along the waterline.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/daytime-roost-along-the-straits-of-magellan-at-bahia-azul-in-2007-1.JPG" title="Tierra del Fuego"><img style="width: 388px; height: 279px;" src="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/daytime-roost-along-the-straits-of-magellan-at-bahia-azul-in-2007-1.JPG" alt="Tierra del Fuego" /></a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em>(Daytime roost along the straits of Magellan at Bahia Azul in 2007)</em></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br /></em></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The team set the net in good time, but it was slow work because we had to hack out a trench for the net in rock hard ground. In the midst of net-setting a small group of godwits and knots flew over our heads swinging around and landing not 200 m from our net. After a chaotic rush to finish setting the net and move equipment, we were ready. In the meantime the 3,000 knot flock had arrived and we began the process of twinkling them into position.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">But they wouldn’t move into the catching area in front of the net. This is an area of about 10 x 23 m in to which birds must be induced to go if they are to be caught. Humphrey, Ricardo and I tried repeatedly but the birds would always move from one side of the net to the other, always avoiding the catching area.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Our problem was obvious. To be safe we used very obvious piles of rock to mark the catch area and the danger zone, a 2 meter strip in front of the net that must be clear to avoid hitting birds with the net. We also placed two wooden decoys to draw birds into the area. It was clear that the birds were being put off by the markers and decoys so we removed the decoys and reduced the size of the markers.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Within 20 minutes, we made a catch, a wonderful catch, onefor the records. We caught and processed 201 red knots, and probably caught another 20 or so that made their way out of the net before we could secure it. Although we worked until 11:00 pm processing the catch we went back to camp happy and satisfied because we had met our major objective. Anything else would be gravy.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/larry-steve-humphrey-ricardo-gerry-and-david-processing-catch-of-knots.JPG" title="Tierra del Fuego"><img style="width: 384px; height: 289px;" src="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/larry-steve-humphrey-ricardo-gerry-and-david-processing-catch-of-knots.JPG" alt="Tierra del Fuego" /></a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em>(Larry, Steve, Humphrey, Ricardo, Gerry and David processing catch of knots. processing catch of knots ( Photo by Mandy Dey))</em></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /><em></em></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br /></em></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> </div>Shorebird Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15385844029270323237noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755285369371889348.post-84911901681944090132008-01-18T21:53:00.001-05:002008-02-16T14:55:13.724-05:00Tierra del Fuego: 1/18/08<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold;">Our Seventh Expedition to Tierra del Fuego: 1/18/08</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Guy Morrison and Ken Ross carried out their recount but found no more knots than on their first aerial count of the bay. They plan to fly a third time to confirm the count but already it seems certain that the red knot population in Bahia Lomas has fallen by a further 30% over the past year. It’s premature to ask why, but along with declines in other wintering areas, it appears that the red knot population may be in greater danger than it was only a year ago.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />In 2004, a paper published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society in Britain projected that the rufa subspecies of the red knot could become extinct by 2010. Stable numbers over the past few years have suggested that this prediction was unduly pessimistic. In light of this year’s surveys, however, extinction within a very few years seems quite possible. We will know more by the end of the expedition.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <a href="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/walking-in-70-mph-winds-on-the-shore-of-bahia-azul.JPG" title="Tierra del Fuego"><img style="width: 383px; height: 275px;" src="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/walking-in-70-mph-winds-on-the-shore-of-bahia-azul.JPG" alt="Tierra del Fuego" /></a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Our work goes well. On Tuesday the 15<sup>th</sup> we set our net at a new site half way between our old camp along the extensive flats on the west side of the bay and Punta Espora where the Straits of Magellan become narrow. We named the site the Twin Hills minefield after the two small hills that bookend a fenced-off active minefield that borders the beach. The site had great promise (as long as we didn’t attempt to cross the fence!). Guy Morrison and Ken Ross saw knots and godwits there on their Sunday aerial survey flight and we found similar numbers on Monday, but on that occasion we arrived too late to set the cannon net so we decided to attempt a catch there on Tuesday.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/steve-walking-along-th-shore-of-bahia-azul.jpg" title="Tierra del Fuego"><img style="width: 365px; height: 485px;" src="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/steve-walking-along-th-shore-of-bahia-azul.jpg" alt="Tierra del Fuego" /></a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em>(Sign marking mine field behind beach at Twin Hills mine site)</em></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br /></em></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Four peninsulas of rock projecting into the sea make it a perfect roosting site for knots, Hudsonian godwits and Magellanic oystercatchers. A steep beach makes for easier cannon netting because the tide heights are much less difficult to predict than the almost imperceptible slope of the flats across the rest of Bahia Lomas. Using a technique developed by Clive Minton we established the likely level of the next high tide compared with the previous one. It requires two people, one at the old tide line, the other marking a point on their leg equal to the difference in the tides. In this case it was 6 inches. The person at the old tide line must lie down so that one eye is almost on the ground and direct the other person to move closer or further away until the mark on their leg aligns with the horizon beyond. At that point the person stands at the estimated new high tide line.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/magellanic-oystercatchers-and-behind-them-hudsonian-godwits-on-the-twin-hills-site.JPG" title="Tierra del Fuego"><img style="width: 403px; height: 290px;" src="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/magellanic-oystercatchers-and-behind-them-hudsonian-godwits-on-the-twin-hills-site.JPG" alt="Tierra del Fuego" /></a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em>(Magellanic Oystercatchers and behind them Hudsonian Godwits on the Twin Hills site.</em>)</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The team set the net and after some difficulty we caught 90 birds, of which 36 were knots. We caught 50 white-rumped sandpipers and four Hudsonian godwits. The SAG and USDA staff joined us and our processing went fast and well.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/mike-from-usda-and-julisa-from-sag-samping-a-white-rump-for-avian-flu.JPG" title="Tierra del Fuego"><img style="width: 390px; height: 294px;" src="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/mike-from-usda-and-julisa-from-sag-samping-a-white-rump-for-avian-flu.JPG" alt="Tierra del Fuego" /></a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em>(Mike from USDA and Julisa from SAG samping a white rump for Avian Flu)</em></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br /></em></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/claudio-from-wildlife-conservation-society-and-daniel-from-sag-sampling-birds-for-avian-flu1.JPG" title="Tierra del Fuego"><img style="width: 410px; height: 575px;" src="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/claudio-from-wildlife-conservation-society-and-daniel-from-sag-sampling-birds-for-avian-flu1.JPG" alt="Tierra del Fuego" /></a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em>(Claudio from Wildlife Conservation Society and Daniel from SAG sampling birds for Avian Flu)</em></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br /></em></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/antonia-daughter-of-carmne-espoz-holding-a-hudsonian-godwti.JPG" title="Tierra del Fuego"><img style="width: 402px; height: 534px;" src="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/antonia-daughter-of-carmne-espoz-holding-a-hudsonian-godwti.JPG" alt="Tierra del Fuego" /></a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em>(Antonia daughter of Carmne Espoz holding a hudsonian godwit)</em></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br /></em></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The next day a ferocious wind descended on the area. Gauges on the ferry at the narrows clocked hurricane force winds of over 70 miles/hour. Needless to say the wind narrowed our options considerably. In the end we decided to abandon an attempt to catch and spent time at base camp preparing for the following day.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <a href="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/mist-net-blown-by-wind-storm-on-bahia-lomas.JPG" title="Tierra del Fuego"><img style="width: 400px; height: 559px;" src="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/mist-net-blown-by-wind-storm-on-bahia-lomas.JPG" alt="Tierra del Fuego" /></a></p> <p><em>(Mist net blown by wind storm on Bahia Lomas.)</em></p><p><em><br /></em></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The next day, Thursday, the winds had fallen to a still considerable 30+ mph, a speed that would rule out netting in most places. We decided to go back to the Twin Hills minefield because the roost was in the lee of the hills and the winds, though gusty, would not be a problem. The knots did show up, but soon left, and we were forced to go on to plan B. A flock of over 500 Magellanic Oystercatchers roosted at the site and there was no better time to go after them. After a brilliant “twinkle” by Humphrey and Ricardo, we had 85 oystercatchers in the net. With their bright orange-red bills, yellow eyes and pied plumage, they are marvelous birds in the hand. We soon discovered that they must also be remarkably tough because several had old injuries or deformities that they had obviously learned to live with. One had a foot missing; another had elongated and crossed mandibles; another’s bill bent to the right. In the field, the Magellanic oystercatcher’s call seems high-pitched and thin, but when some of the birds objected to being handled, their calls were ear-splitting. We all enjoyed the experience of getting up-close and personal with such a striking and charismatic species.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/camoflage-net-on-at-the-twin-hills-site.JPG" title="Tierra del Fuego"><img style="width: 406px; height: 539px;" src="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/camoflage-net-on-at-the-twin-hills-site.JPG" alt="Tierra del Fuego" /></a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em>(Camouflage net on at the Twin Hills site)</em></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br /></em></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/humphrey-holding-a-magellanic-oystercatcher.JPG" title="Tierra del Fuego"><img style="width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/humphrey-holding-a-magellanic-oystercatcher.JPG" alt="Tierra del Fuego" /></a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em>(Humphrey holding a Magellanic Oystercatcher.)</em></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br /></em></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/ricardo-mandy-and-gabriella-processing-oystecatchers.JPG" title="Tierra del Fuego"><img style="width: 398px; height: 552px;" src="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/ricardo-mandy-and-gabriella-processing-oystecatchers.JPG" alt="Tierra del Fuego" /></a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em>(Ricardo, Mandy and Gabriella processing oystercatchers)</em></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br /></em></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/david-holding-a-magellanic-oystercatcher.JPG" title="Tierra del Fuego"><img style="width: 393px; height: 547px;" src="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/david-holding-a-magellanic-oystercatcher.JPG" alt="Tierra del Fuego" /></a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em>(David holding a Magellanic Oystercatcher.)</em></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br /></em></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Previous entries for this expedition: <a href="http://ljnilesassociates.com/2008/01/20/tierra-del-fuego-11408/" title="1/14/08" target="_blank">1/14/08 </a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <a href="http://ljnilesassociates.com/2008/01/20/tierra-del-fuego-expedition/" title="1/12/08" target="_blank">1/12/08</a></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://ljnilesassociates.com/2008/01/20/tierra-del-fuego-expedition/" title="1/12/08" target="_blank"><br /></a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>Shorebird Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15385844029270323237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755285369371889348.post-90485897150880343442008-01-14T21:49:00.001-05:002008-02-16T14:55:25.251-05:00Tierra del Fuego: 1/14/08<p style="font-weight: bold;">Our Seventh Expedition to Tierra del Fuego: 1/14/08</p><p><br /></p><p>Humphrey and I left Punta Arenas early to survey the area along the Strait of Magellan at high tide. We left our comfortable digs at the Hotel Noriega at 7.00 am, leaving the rest of the team to pull together all we would need for the first leg of our three week field trip. Fortunately Jorge Jordan and his staff lent us a hand, gathering equipment left since last year, helping to arrange hard-to-get supplies as well as organizing rooms at the hotel.</p><p><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/jorge-jordan-and-mandy-at-jorgegcos-hotel-noriega.jpg" title="Tierra del Fuego"><img style="width: 401px; height: 307px;" src="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/jorge-jordan-and-mandy-at-jorgegcos-hotel-noriega.jpg" title="Tierra del Fuego" alt="Tierra del Fuego" align="middle" /></a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em>(Jorge Jordan and Mandy at Jorge’s Hotel Noriega)</em></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br /></em></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">On arriving on the Strait, we found far fewer red knots than we had seen last year. This may not mean much; after 7 years of fieldwork, we have grown used to frequent shifts in their roosting sites and feeding habitats. Last year we documented a significant new roost along the narrows, which was particularly suitable for cannon netting because of the steeply sloping beach. The knots feed on mussels, and move up to the roost site at high tide. The gentle gradient of the wide flats of Bahia Lomas, 6 km from high tide to low tide in some places, makes it very difficult to predict where the 30 ft high tide will ebb. The bay’s 60 mile waterfront creates a second dimension allowing birds to roost anywhere they want making cannon netting virtually impossible.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/looking-out-over-the-flats-of-bahia-lomas.JPG" title="Tierra del Fuego"><img style="width: 407px; height: 306px;" src="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/looking-out-over-the-flats-of-bahia-lomas.JPG" alt="Tierra del Fuego" /></a></p> <address><em>(Looking out over the flats of Bahia Lomas)<br /><br /></em></address> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> With no birds at the Strait we had little choice but to forego cannon netting and use our mist nets; we did this reluctantly because just as the tide is extraordinarily unpredictable so is the weather. Mist netting works best on dark nights with the nets set over the high tide line. We try to set the nets so that the innermost net is just below high tide and the outmost net lies over water about 3 feet deep. True to their name, when their low tide feeding areas are covered, shorebirds tend to fly over the water parallel to the shoreline as they move to their nighttime roost sites. Mist nets set properly should cross their paths so that the birds are caught in the fine mesh. If the tide floods too far, there is a danger that birds caught on the outer nets will hang low into the water and possibly drown; if the tide stops short of the nets, few birds will be caught because they do not usually fly over dry mud.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/walking-in-70-mph-winds-on-the-shore-of-bahia-azul.JPG" title="Tierra del Fuego"><img style="width: 395px; height: 283px;" src="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/walking-in-70-mph-winds-on-the-shore-of-bahia-azul.JPG" alt="Tierra del Fuego" /></a><br /><em>(Walking in 70 mph winds on the shore of Bahia Azul)</em></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br /></em></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> Fortunately the SAG/USDA team assisted ours and the 12 nets were set in quick time. Unfortunately we caught few birds: 6 two-banded plovers and 5 white-rumped sandpipers. The tide fell short, leaving all but the outer four nets out of the water. But strangely we heard few birds, only the plaintiff whistles of the Magellanic oystercatchers. The raucous nighttime sounds of roosting godwits and knots were altogether missing.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/knot-feeding-on-a-mussels-on-the-bahia-azul-site.jpg" title="Tierra del Fuego"><img style="width: 393px; height: 271px;" src="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/knot-feeding-on-a-mussels-on-the-bahia-azul-site.jpg" alt="Tierra del Fuego" /></a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em>(A Knot feeding on a mussels on the Bahia Azul site)</em></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br /></em></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The next morning, Sunday, Guy Morrison gave us preliminary results of the first aerial survey, a disappointing 8000-10,000 knots which pointed to a possible 30% decline over last year’s count for the same area. With such a low figure, Guy and his counting partner, Ken Ross, decided to confirm the result by carrying out a second count the next day. Guy also told us of a new roost on a beach beside a fenced area with land mines in Bahia Lomas just south of the Strait. We decided to discontinue mist netting and attempt a cannon net catch at the new site.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/survey-plane-with-guy-and-ken-rounding-punta-espora.JPG" title="Tierra del Fuego"><img style="width: 398px; height: 285px;" src="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/survey-plane-with-guy-and-ken-rounding-punta-espora.JPG" alt="Tierra del Fuego" /></a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em>(Survey plane with Guy and Ken rounding Punta Espora)</em></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /><em></em></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br /></em></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p>Shorebird Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15385844029270323237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755285369371889348.post-61436697219363620882008-01-12T21:41:00.002-05:002008-02-16T14:55:50.662-05:00Tierra del Fuego: 1/12/08<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold;">Our Seventh Expedition to Tierra del Fuego: 1/12/08</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Our seventh expedition to Tierra del Fuego began with an early evening arrival at Punta Arenas Airport. This small city has either grown more attractive over the last 7 years or we have gradually awakened to its often subtle qualities. Chile has grown more integrated into the world economic system in the last seven years, even establishing a free trade agreement with the US. There are a few chain stores, but even those give a cosmopolitan feel as they are Chilean or European rather than US. I don’t remember coming across a McDonalds. Gone are the days we needed a satellite phone, cell phones are used widely and at least in Punta Arenas broadband internet access pops up everywhere. All of this has made the preparation for our expedition less difficult and our field work more comfortable.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/looking-out-over-the-shore-of-the-strait-of-magellan-towards-the-andes-on-our-approach-to-punta-arenas-airport.JPG" title="Strait of Magellan"><img style="width: 403px; height: 323px;" src="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/looking-out-over-the-shore-of-the-strait-of-magellan-towards-the-andes-on-our-approach-to-punta-arenas-airport.JPG" title="Strait of Magellan" alt="Strait of Magellan" align="middle" /></a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em>(Looking out over the shore of the Strait of Magellan towards the Andes on our approach to Punta Arenas Airport)</em></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br /></em></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">That said we are still about to face off with one of the most infamous bodies of water in the world. The Straits of Magellan still strikes fear in the heart of serious mariners with its often violent wind storms and fearsome 8-knot currents. This may not sound bad but if you are sailing a sailboat with hull speeds of 7 knots, it mean you go backwards. Even modern tankers with speeds of 15 knots must wait for favorable tides. On the ground we must always keep our eye on the barometer. A sudden plunge forecasts wind storms that can blow down tents or render mist nets useless. Last year a sudden storm at night created a truly harrowing experience as we dealt with a big catch in the mist nets over wind blown tide that threatened birds and biologist alike.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/70-mph-winds-sweeping-the-strait-in-2007.jpg" title="Tierra del Fuego"><img style="width: 404px; height: 324px;" src="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/70-mph-winds-sweeping-the-strait-in-2007.jpg" title="Tierra del Fuego" alt="Tierra del Fuego" align="middle" /></a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em>(70 mph winds sweeping the Strait in 2007)</em></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br /></em></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">What can be said about the improvements in Punta Arenas cannot, unfortunately be said about the red knot populations. Although last year’s count during northward migration on the Delaware Bay remained unchanged, recent counts on the wintering areas suggest much lower numbers. In November, Dr. Allan Baker, Patricia Gonzalez and Luis Benegas reported a big drop in numbers at Rio Grande in the Argentinian part of Tierra del Fuego with the count dropping from around 3,000 birds to 1,500. The count our team conducted over the New Year on the west coast of Florida proved equally disturbing. Where two years ago we counted over 2,000 knots, we found only 550. Therefore the count in Tierra del Fuego will be critical.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <address><a href="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/knot-flock-landing-on-the-shores-bahia-lomas-in-2007-photo-by-mark-peck.jpg" title="Knot flock"><img style="width: 398px; height: 238px;" src="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/knot-flock-landing-on-the-shores-bahia-lomas-in-2007-photo-by-mark-peck.jpg" title="Knot flock" alt="Knot flock" align="middle" /></a><em><br />(Knot flock landing on the shores Bahia Lomas in 2007 ( photo by Mark Peck))<br /><br /></em></address> <address> </address> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">So the first goal of our work this year is to continue our surveys of knots. Guy Morrison and Ken Ross from the Canadian Fish and Wildlife Service will carry out an aerial count of red knots in the entire area and we will conduct ground counts in our Bahia Lomas study area. We will also trap knots to top-up the proportion of the population carrying bands in order to support our re-sightings program which is designed to help develop estimates of population-size, survival, residency periods etc. All of this work is only possible because of financial help from the US Fish and Wildlife Service through Brad Andres. Third we will team up with the US Department of Agriculture and its Chilean counterpart Servicio Agricola Granadeiro to catch birds to for the surveillance of avian influenza. We will also train the Chilean biologists to catch birds.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/cannon-net-firing-0ver-red-knots-at-bahia-azul-with-camoflage-kelp-in-air.JPG" title="cannon net"><img style="width: 390px; height: 235px;" src="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/cannon-net-firing-0ver-red-knots-at-bahia-azul-with-camoflage-kelp-in-air.JPG" title="cannon net" alt="cannon net" align="middle" /></a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em>(Cannon net firing in 2007 over red knots at Bahia Azul with camouflage kelp in air.)</em></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br /></em></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">An interesting new goal of our trip this year will be to catch Magellanic oystercatchers and band them with color bands to distinguish individual birds at a distance. The “Magic Oystercatcher” aroused the interest of many of our colleagues after Dr. Allan Baker presented a paper on the “Definitive Phylogeny of the Oystercatchers” at the International Wader Study Group conference in France in October. He described three main ancestral groups: the old world oystercatchers, the new world oystercatchers and the Magellanic oystercatcher”. Biologists in both Chile and Argentina intend to focus on this most distinctive of the world’s oystercatchers, so our plan to catch and mark a sample is a contribution to this new study. Similar studies take place in the US on American oystercatchers.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/olivia-blanc-holding-a-magellanic-oystercatcher-caught-in-2002.JPG" title="Olivia"><img style="width: 358px; height: 498px;" src="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/olivia-blanc-holding-a-magellanic-oystercatcher-caught-in-2002.JPG" alt="Olivia" /></a></p> <address> </address> <address><em>(Olivia Blanc holding a Magellanic Oystercatcher caught in 2002)<br /><br /></em></address> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Finally and most importantly we will continue to pursue our plan to build “The Tierra del Fuego Bird Observatory”. Much has been accomplished in the last year. With the help of Charles Duncan of the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network at Manomet Center for Conservation Science, and the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ we now have sufficient funds to start building. Jorge Jordan in Puntas Arenas has used his business expertise to help develop a new non-profit foundation with a board of directors that will oversee the building of the new observatory. The mayor of the Primavera Municipality Senor Ricardo Olea and his deputy, Senor Herrera, will contribute by arranging to move an existing house to the Bay that will be renovated with the project funds. All the elements will soon be in place to start moving dirt, a dream soon to become reality.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/site-of-the-tierra-del-fuego-bird-observatory.JPG" title="Observatory"><img style="width: 389px; height: 312px;" src="http://ljnilesassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/site-of-the-tierra-del-fuego-bird-observatory.JPG" title="Observatory" alt="Observatory" align="middle" /></a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em>(Site of the Tierra del Fuego Bird Observatory)</em></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br /></em></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">To the same end, we have invited the participation of NJ Audubon Society to help create a meaningful link to the US. Dr. David Mizrahi will participate in this year’s expedition for the purpose of exploring a role for NJ Audubon in relation to the TdF Bird Observatory. He too is sending blogs to the NJ Audubon website</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">This year’s teams includes Dr. Amanda Dey, Senior biologist with NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife, Dr. Humphrey Sitters of the International Wader Study Group, Steve Gates a volunteer who has participated and supported our expeditions to the Arctic and TdF as well as our work in the Delaware Bay, and Jerry Binsfeld a retired railroad man from Canada and a volunteer on our Arctic and Delaware Bay expeditions.</p>Shorebird Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15385844029270323237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755285369371889348.post-38035699842714033322007-12-01T14:52:00.000-05:002008-12-11T16:25:14.914-05:00Australia - Large-mesh Cannon Nets - 80 Mile Beach, WA, November 20, 2007<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIp964CXxS83XWf-b9Zj8Kh8mNcXPLRKbmWHm-61VZ0NuAjN1bSFLnjC3GulJsKeUuNIlLl7t6XsL9QsiMwyscwNRmoQXVHSB8InS4TmRUKoCgKkqXZ7WhB7Nq3ADcPHqxa4rANs7HQ-u/s1600-r/IMG_0704.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139102897387492034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZaNVB3sSFEBDtbXJCn5pNBsnlfqC7N4tlE4-X760tE_prTR7c5lnm9Ngc6l8oU2VkUV_yOn8_B12UVPC2WxqOLFHZD47H_NTlAJ1sbF9quTc2fvfAecju8V53Fcf4DO9eZcyZTV33pI7m/s400/IMG_0704.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Ghost Crab holes, and the sandy remains of excavation, on 80 Mile Beach</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Our first catch at 80 Mile Beach, in the late afternoon, gave all of us a real sense of accomplishment.</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">After two days of experimenting with small-mesh nets (setting one high and one low), the team leaders, Clive, Roz and Chris decided to go back to the same method that has proved successful in the past -- two large-mesh nets set at the same level of the tide.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It was a tough call for several reasons . . . . .<br /><br />The small-mesh net, the standard on the </span><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 /><st1:place style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms" st="on">Delaware Bay,</st1:place><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> is made of small mesh that prevents birds from getting entangled so extraction is relatively simple.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">On direction, the team first secures the sides of the net with sand or rocks so birds cannot escape, then at the water's edge they lift the net so birds can walk up-beach to the back of the net.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Afterward they are covered with shade cloth.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHW1FLwDPQ1KYWGP4-7_5zAkPZpfQCLhLgsV3xJEWuqMJqD3PUzUk4i5uVTrJMP67yOOeCSB1zpc5_vWAcpNFf3SUhbU2EEJgtvOKEibdzzBz2YuNb3ZPEmXoT6_DnAo-CxvtsTdlQsQAZ/s1600-r/birds+in+large+mesh+net.jpg"><br /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO3dyRX0l_1C-mP69CbZI72XTB5NWE48fT8w56AZZllxoAN79gwXq4lq4kUZ_HnDSkuEk1SM4PgNjCvZ52jE8hse2Pi9gswtvODGcbfRMQAaFmkaDaWpZY5xJKDGsLzydfO0oYokUxfMWw/s1600-r/small+mesh+net+and+net+lifted+to+make+bird+go+to+back.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139096188648575490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvQnvv9pGsgmY3vGG1HL74GotD1de029yuZMnVxs14rGbAKkVYYXJYIrGZ4dq8g2EmSGXncJjp8WH4iQ_DgZlE-F-FN-bMEiTv8BuLxmbT-pMbgWlIqUILSQU_fTGL-fVCBtb0bIl20Vm/s400/small+mesh+net+and+net+lifted+to+make+bird+go+to+back.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms" face="trebuchet ms">At water's edge, the team begins to lift a small-mesh net to allow birds to walk up-beach to the back of the net after a capture on <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Roebuck</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Bay</st1:placetype></st1:place></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms" face="trebuchet ms"><st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on"><br /></st1:placetype></st1:place></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="trebuchet ms">Although small-mesh nets have always been around, lighter materials have allowed them to grow in size, now about 22 meters by 10 meters, without growing in weight. <span style="font-size:+0;"></span>Weight has two impacts.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>First, it causes the net to deploy poorly especially in an opposing wind. Second, if the birds are caught near the water line, the weight of the net could cause birds to drown, especially small birds.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>The small mesh exacerbates the problem because the birds can’t pop their heads through the mesh.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>Overall, however, lighter material has made small-mesh nets more versatile and the ease of extraction greatly reduces risk to the birds.</p><p class="MsoNormal" face="trebuchet ms"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="trebuchet ms"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="trebuchet ms"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyHfwybrcDK-Xl0b03Ka-biP9EmkAwrGr8eqjh4rDV-FE71UK62tugn6FFDvUzUUACV3auqVl4iWbt3SKxlfLrZcybr1FNz7W5vtxE14uXJwIlP66zEW5PjRu-WbknKOoI31keZTPX9E2J/s1600-r/net+in+Chiloe.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139096326087528978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwzqNZmXVr2XXQzdDHVma4zgk04TQ39gMWTM_i6xAXn9eS24njNZK44V0Zky_lgbKm_GrSxHoRkdiLXdymn-4iqigkG_laJqqO6cGc1QFNrZN9undvM8LiVxi1bMwx8yYcPURbZpjXJ9bN/s400/net+in+Chiloe.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms" face="trebuchet ms">A small-mesh net caught by an opposing wind in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Chiloe Island</st1:city>, <st1:country-region st="on">Chile</st1:country-region></st1:place>.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>The net ballooned and all birds escaped</p><p class="MsoNormal" face="trebuchet ms"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="trebuchet ms">The large-mesh net has two advantages: it is relatively light-weight and has less wind resistance.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>This has several effects.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>First, the net can deploy more efficiently and can be fired in most wind conditions.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>Second, the larger mesh and relative low weight allows the net to be much bigger and have a much larger catch area. Third, the birds have an easier time in water because the net is lighter and they can easily pop their heads up through the mesh.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="trebuchet ms"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="trebuchet ms"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="trebuchet ms"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHW1FLwDPQ1KYWGP4-7_5zAkPZpfQCLhLgsV3xJEWuqMJqD3PUzUk4i5uVTrJMP67yOOeCSB1zpc5_vWAcpNFf3SUhbU2EEJgtvOKEibdzzBz2YuNb3ZPEmXoT6_DnAo-CxvtsTdlQsQAZ/s1600-r/birds+in+large+mesh+net.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139095437029298658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9418JGDTLBEKCTnvY6lyoqM6gwuuAu6AN_2ONnKtE5Qzoux2-t5r2Cgq4R9KnsbUtMH9JzaZL4Je0X5KytDqvexGtbg71gZ94IfHh2k_dvJ4XTOTZgNvFAsgKtPZWmAwHu5XjCN6ys7t5/s400/birds+in+large+mesh+net.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms; TEXT-ALIGN: center" face="trebuchet ms">Birds caught in a large-mesh net on 80 Mile Beach</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms">As in all things, the problems with large-mesh nets is the consequence of its merits.<span style="font-family:courier new;"> </span>The birds get tangled in the large mesh, just as they might in a mist net, and so extraction requires the <span style="font-family:courier new;"></span>deft hand of experienced extractors. Many of the people from the Broome Banding Team, South Australia Wader Group and the Victoria Wader Study Group are experienced so we had plenty of good extractors when we made our first catch of 345 birds with the large-mesh net. The catch included good samples of Great Knot, Curlew Sandpiper, Grey-tailed Tattler and seven other species including Red Knot, Bar-tailed Godwit, Common Greenshank, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Greater Sand Plover and Marsh Sandpiper. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms" face="trebuchet ms"><o:p></o:p></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">The following three photographs, taken by Hugh Hanmer of the UK, are of two large-mesh nets being firing simultaneously on 80 Mile Beach</span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6eX27vwZ7Tru8Kw-wa2oU5MXruesIUhvLP8s09HZPQPKumTItdTOEV0x9GeEETyUuq2nx1aasfQxHQ1BHPXN-5oc8-MzJlTy2B5I4GpRNTSnkVKPAYEsC4I1IRTX_6Jp1-fgIwB7SPcEy/s1600-r/first+of+three+pictures+by+hugh+Hanmer+of+net+firing+1+.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139096725519487522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjyT9p-ageKQwYyJT6RvaC6sEnOnAc_PGf_MZ5YnRQeu4TsDKDm8jmOPnKN6LEMILH7hTuDCVQV1v1BLXCbm1XokWQ4j6-4Mf9liwQmTiTBQESp7kJDtpDjOk5enj1kputjvMIsYYRSbRg/s400/first+of+three+pictures+by+hugh+Hanmer+of+net+firing+1+.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >(Above) the "cloud" behind the nets is comprised of sand used to camouflage the net and some smoke from the black powder used to power the projectiles </span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDUhZArmZ7vuK3-l845oFN7bSWeM3I0zqF_uuYBkG43k0oIH5mMrO2dzJ0djLaALYiZ1Nyk3iBPbB6l2CgPMMfdbsHUlC49M_8UHzL_lSO3qTc3ttQhBZLV00pIThUUPZoiCSatvTnZ5_L/s1600-r/first+of+three+pictures+by+hugh+Hanmer+of+net+firing+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139096802828898866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsiNYdqUmCj7YdoM885SpdpNmGeAWK3d4qyFCySGlduq-sB4FpjtIO_sb7EJBVEuR3flk4lYW59HtRXS_Ky_pJVIFuJ_Td2S6M43XMqmX9ypBLHpGzX4Kdrti_peZdWebCp31cww5ABu7P/s400/first+of+three+pictures+by+hugh+Hanmer+of+net+firing+2.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">The net is deployed quickly, before birds can lift from the ground . . . . </span><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzREfeAcBLtYhZ5cUMAEq2iALFops3eBfDEvn68h0pUKycKnNeJjPXcECGkGGbzLUoKm7zI6CK-TMTRtQV-Ix5hz4XRTP4Sq_BLrG9tgJyL4GW-B5mGWvXchyphenhyphenAvEIpcTa39HU84KhVBDUM/s1600-r/first+of+three+pictures+by+hugh+Hanmer+of+net+firing3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139096854368506434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirXej7zYBnkQ7VC-eIe8mNZ5d-z6ubgWV2vfmcZ9XLlNNW-Xe1e-6XCWJuD5z04sUVrNV2SU5LxTbbN6KnrfwE1i4PzJNV4t4VojXSHAQC_-4Mghwtb-Zq8eQIEUOH8-ykjVtZlK74SbCc/s400/first+of+three+pictures+by+hugh+Hanmer+of+net+firing3.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">. . . . . and settles down over the birds like a blanket</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms" face="trebuchet ms"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The next day we made a another catch, smaller, 76 birds.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It was "high in quality" as Clive says because it included an adequate sample of Red Knot and Common Greenshank -- species that are harder to catch.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The second net caught White-winged Black Terns and Common Terns.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">After just two catches, the team performed with great coordination and skill, even with a much more complicated net.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh78bS6DYljVkuW69wRLeTK-6fIZKSyWp4CE4WfrLeixqRd8BxagUpojZoPQ3iOSK_ggmTxPwA5AS8oz5NZ8pUJ6Il3Ssyxg5LjPjQgLjf6br88y6QFsWIBCxLsJ1oJs8XqjlMds7JGbb56/s1600-r/Chris+with+white+winged+black+tern.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139097180786020946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZl0EoeJwbPmZ_BYGlyzWm0GtYoQxdMBr95XjoBKUAjk64_-o2b1JOV5MWZkHfgkPuCntQqI5tc9WCyFgGDEleoQBZHzHzadi-NjpkOcgIzXHvgv3LUIlNBcepqQar8-UraRL6dayv1xH/s400/Chris+with+white+winged+black+tern.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Chris Hassell holding a White-winged Black Tern with Frank O'Connor looking on.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="trebuchet ms"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="trebuchet ms"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">One of the main skills of securing a catch made with large-mesh is the preparation that takes place after the net fires over the birds and before extraction. This is most important if the tide is still rising and the net, with birds entangled, must be moved up the beach out of range of rising water. If the team lifts the net onto their forearms and pushes it up the beach (as is the procedure with small-mesh), folds will develop and the birds will become entangled in multiple layers of net. Extraction would be more complicated.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">A better way is to lift and push the net up away from the waterline while a second group pulls the back side of the net up-beach at the same time.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This requires great presence of mind because the birds are still caught in the net by wings, feet and head. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The process is not for the reluctant. The leaders must act quickly and decisively and the team must act with great coordination.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Done well, as it is by Clive, Chris and Roz, the birds come out in excellent condition and ready to be processed.</span><span style="font-size:+0;"> </span><span style="font-size:+0;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="trebuchet ms"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="trebuchet ms"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="trebuchet ms"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZXs-ulsaCHa40Xg_UhVscy5ivZofTnGFxCKYmjSorNbnpZjozIx6ZdAQHilKzYzzT1TgWLgtQ4bDJac7fsGfzelH-_ovnLDMV6BANl6vQHIpOG_QF7OI6cVvILuUiW6vtw2m57CbX_hij/s1600-r/the+team+pushing+and+pulling+the+net+from+the+tide.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139097399829353058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSKIrDMf9AJvENXlFBFJmCx1_cTCflkG3AT8ig2ohMo-9mg0bMQGrcszktf5axXHgUQ6g2GkEbAP8iG2nYB2ZNsV4I1q6flqlQMDO0qez4dfJJQJHFzsjH4Qg6ldeGWQgJqt2mzDEcHunT/s400/the+team+pushing+and+pulling+the+net+from+the+tide.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Roz Jessop<span style="font-size:+0;">, Clive Minton and Maureen </span>Christie direct the team to lift the net while they pull up the back end</p><p class="MsoNormal" face="trebuchet ms"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="trebuchet ms"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">After this procedure is complete, the birds are covered with shade cloth to calm them and keep them cool. Meanwhile, the teams work on setting up keeping cages. When cages are ready for birds, experienced extractors free the birds from the net and the rest of the team takes them to the keeping cages.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">After all birds are in the cages, shade cloth covers them to keep the birds calm and cool. On 80 Mile Beach, a 20-knot sea breeze is enough to keep the mesh-like cages well aerated and the birds cool.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">If there is no sea breeze, Chris directs the team to erect a shade tent built from poles and shade cloth.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Then the scientific work begins</span>. </p><p class="MsoNormal" face="trebuchet ms"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="trebuchet ms"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9eojwrwotKjfX0qRV5yF-blkDoZKj28wnrsLths1riH93CM1oBQeL432E3YwkZ7iEHU6IxHYNyYoSYzeSCd1PWFeGbf72k0gWu5D4mzLEUNI3puhpbYef9K7WfNFTcfXwHg_hRo0NUOJ/s1600-r/covering+the+net.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139097554448175730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilQg9uwDBCq7qL9lEnNf4vAXPsNW9KutXhQg6N3js9HGUboXjzi-I2WPqEdCoPku1TdgdiAHWEg80udqHPTlsHSUR7B74u7Z2mMzA-RboS87GNsArn3Af-KS51IQt__1LKjNfj8UZg4YhE/s400/covering+the+net.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms; TEXT-ALIGN: center">The team covers birds in a large-mesh net with shade cloth</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuG96Kscl_NnOuR-iRlRCUWLjDIgph23bUjZ2jn2slh5L8mcFO89khhyphenhyphen3ZiZ3EKCbdOGVFzoEvetbS8UI-9ka7ePyX-_asOGUzUOxasjJNV05Opv3J9tPKQA-JPH4_5as_vqJAorO6A0Rd/s1600-r/erecting+keeping+cages.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139097760606605954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU69YCLCE0YTbgicq58529hyphenhyphenYnU8dgRNTI_zy2Z6z8zpzkXqqQTrC7CFOxZ8XWZbh6Bar3ctOFdFfzF-y24i2bjVuBLhY8b-Npkrx9715TurAK0TZEMPJZShQeHCVHLChZdJWkvW55biiM/s400/erecting+keeping+cages.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" face="trebuchet ms"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Keeping cages being erected after the birds are covered</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhWJIIy7Kyt_pcJNxrcy5YeNKYlNx97Fz3kG5G_8l_uYoCLZAa2gzo2gOi0XPxrXsvuIHAgmhygKJtUTZBHiiCqDKn9oM76ccKRYEPdJisQ0ZGaniDc4vRs1KnyR9O5vTZTvfN-PzDmQXP/s1600-r/extracting+birds.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139097958175101586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6fN9z26mkTf-F5xf-cJQVSYSSHZVFyb0hWgpwscM18THaYlPPEKsvrrNoi1axj75OZA3XeoVzoH-bKK-kMg_SAP27dSUIgFkAEAPLS471d0VnXfew2UsJSAviGMKV5_RPWgL6vs_nAUfP/s400/extracting+birds.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms; TEXT-ALIGN: center">After the keeping cages are erected, birds are extracted by experienced banders and taken to the cages in holding boxes or by hand</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0m8hsCxtiX67CgIePAKroDMlNxE7dRey7bRWeH-I8J8mw_Tb3LLC7th_sEjIi-1y1yh02eA2zOECPtOr9LENKxeeddVUeqm1kre8LIVqSucrWqbijNI9dgXhCtmkaM_z3TlvYMsowIduG/s1600-r/covering+the+keeping+cages.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139098121383858850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIrU7NhUImj-J1xuOQrUqkqxgTMTcAyImClcTieVHHwiiMAyNofOqxlhPNZwEUQxQ1ZbOcv32kEIPRv8I1j0XKzVZF3ZUUwje2Gb0HXY1POhLzf3S93ZXLDFjSHfArPNjjfC52vLQ6gF1y/s400/covering+the+keeping+cages.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Finally, the keeping cages with birds are covered with shade clothe</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqBDOHTKltCvVRdadL-czN9mTr7K5-Rr36ZwF4H8fKMUR8Hgf5UFvdyrj0fIkFMqJCqUo4b00pyq_N9g4Y3U6prST-yAVb_qtdgN9ku8w5MQ6RaM3YKYXXfgPr3b-UUWlDFPkmZd9igIyz/s1600-r/nick+with+marsh+sandpiper.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139098254527845042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgRBczlg3hoeEQSGIhg8GhtBvViJzNiSNcZAToMnsSRqVQCCVKLn67Ood9eOv1MIu3nBnS0uLb0ZJw8GAYmSHdjvkl7BaXglL04J4BBwYyXpPsHLsmfY14rSuJla_udonvyOYFqI0U3soz/s400/nick+with+marsh+sandpiper.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Nick Ward holding a Marsh Sandpiper</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms"><o:p></o:p></p>Shorebird Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15385844029270323237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755285369371889348.post-16433529407454489332007-11-28T19:31:00.000-05:002008-12-11T16:25:16.348-05:00Australia - Feather Molt - 80 Mile Beach WA, November 15, 2007<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /></span><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1gBU-8WLQAMvX0UxfkWHBUYCl_9URCFcbkapOAJ1_28DZtSrSpeWXqmhgbmACjj74tvQpdn6xIhY_q2WPt4U7cB7GIw15OjnA-L4jNgzR73pMAXzCx7LLGKKB-YkfmObrA_0_BMnwlu1y/s1600-h/a+juevenile+red+knot-1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138054167736177730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1gBU-8WLQAMvX0UxfkWHBUYCl_9URCFcbkapOAJ1_28DZtSrSpeWXqmhgbmACjj74tvQpdn6xIhY_q2WPt4U7cB7GIw15OjnA-L4jNgzR73pMAXzCx7LLGKKB-YkfmObrA_0_BMnwlu1y/s400/a+juevenile+red+knot-1.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Red knot flight feathers. Primary flight feathers (or "primaries") are at the outer wing, secondary flight feathers (or "secondaries") are at the inner wing. The 10 primaries point more toward the wing tip while the secondaries point more toward the body (you can see this difference below the bend of the wing).</span></span><br /></div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">If dealing with the effect of heat on bird and team is the first major lesson of trapping in northwest Australia, the complicated wing molt of tropical non-breeding waders is the second. The heat, sun and wind wear down everything. For example the engraved leg flags on red knots and other shorebirds in the Delaware Bay have lasted for 5 years without significant fading of the unique alpha-numeric characters that indicate an individual bird. Here in Roebuck Bay, flags can fade within a year. What the elements do to flags, they also do to feathers. The impact is a highly evolved system of molt that allows birds to replace worn feathers and migrate when they need to with maximum aerodynamic efficiency.</p><p class="MsoNormal" face="trebuchet ms"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:0;"><br /></span></span></p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDOKZhRM8BwVo69ECQD5ryp5I-riURo1zg_8lF8DEGxE1CYaG7K7cOQoF3Ee78S17fVkjqRmDEOBlicHs_xKYNzglDY55yJ7rVAGP1k5BpgYJL0cQ3iRVyxZWZD1LqGnH_OXAE79Cb98yX/s1600-h/Alice+with+a+newly+flagged+Barred+Tailed+godwit.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138054176326112354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDOKZhRM8BwVo69ECQD5ryp5I-riURo1zg_8lF8DEGxE1CYaG7K7cOQoF3Ee78S17fVkjqRmDEOBlicHs_xKYNzglDY55yJ7rVAGP1k5BpgYJL0cQ3iRVyxZWZD1LqGnH_OXAE79Cb98yX/s400/Alice+with+a+newly+flagged+Barred+Tailed+godwit.jpg" border="0" /></a></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-STYLE: italic" align="center">Alice showing a newly-banded Bar-tailed Godwit</p><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:0;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><br /></p></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZbtMsbyxZECcd-edpjOOslhk50KRsgSKrePcoRkgmTLe9oHn8I7xA6gdwxistZcSpvsdbwxe4gPEPGpXn1mz_-8tLWQreOoliphuzV4IcPVrtgggb-JZCvHGy7-1lLCFkuGgN_Rl6YMky/s1600-h/an+adult+red+in+moult-1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138054653067482242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZbtMsbyxZECcd-edpjOOslhk50KRsgSKrePcoRkgmTLe9oHn8I7xA6gdwxistZcSpvsdbwxe4gPEPGpXn1mz_-8tLWQreOoliphuzV4IcPVrtgggb-JZCvHGy7-1lLCFkuGgN_Rl6YMky/s400/an+adult+red+in+moult-1.jpg" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">An adult Red Knot in the middle of primary molt</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms">An average shorebird (everything varies by species) gets its first set of flight and body feathers the month after it is hatched. In July and August, young birds fly south to wintering areas which, for Red Knots in the Western Hemisphere, could be all the way to Tierra del Fuego at the southern tip of South America. In this, the Australia-Asia Flyway, a young bird flies to Roebuck Bay or 80 Mile Beach from its arctic breeding habitat, arriving in October or November. Most may skip the next migration north and may stay near the wintering area or make a partial northward migration. Although some start putting on a new set of feathers shortly after arriving in Australia, most birds wait and molt their juvenile flight feathers through the next July-August after their feathers become worn. Interestingly these same birds (now two-year olds) may start a second molt in the fall, so that when they are in-the-hand you may see feather molt starting at the inner primaries (at mid-wing), while looking at relatively new, fully grown outer primaries (at wing tip). The adults coming to Roebuck in the fall begin their molt in the fall. In any case, all molt is completed by January at which time all the second-year birds and adults use their new flight feathers to take them back to the Siberian or Alaskan Arctic.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:0;"><br /></span></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCh_qkpU9eE-yo9wQLcZqB1MtW7frHuhMcyH9ZoBggkd4-XYS1qYqgmz_1NJtB_RXSvOchYBTm7s92dAb3xP_5CIGFJq5mTjZwZxeosgKgwODY7bCXJL7CE36pZoX9LF_JrWhEZSGnHWRL/s1600-h/Clive+presenting-1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138054657362449570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCh_qkpU9eE-yo9wQLcZqB1MtW7frHuhMcyH9ZoBggkd4-XYS1qYqgmz_1NJtB_RXSvOchYBTm7s92dAb3xP_5CIGFJq5mTjZwZxeosgKgwODY7bCXJL7CE36pZoX9LF_JrWhEZSGnHWRL/s400/Clive+presenting-1.jpg" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-STYLE: italic" align="center">Clive giving a lecture on molt in non-breeding shorebirds. Note graph of molt score on the easel</p><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:0;"><p class="MsoNormal" face="trebuchet ms"><br /></p></span></span><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjddXb45mHySbphoeKLAGJCuiPhi6q5Egvqv7tlf3lmkiD00XL-4uyV0HaLam5ftCHJ3DGi5HeR9qfKT0C2fANDNWWu4e3eZj_PQ3pbc4BEEAxNI1lhD9Zocbyk9LZUcbU-chkpgcf3pA-b/s1600-h/comparison+of+a+jevenil+and+adult+red+knot2-1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138054661657416882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjddXb45mHySbphoeKLAGJCuiPhi6q5Egvqv7tlf3lmkiD00XL-4uyV0HaLam5ftCHJ3DGi5HeR9qfKT0C2fANDNWWu4e3eZj_PQ3pbc4BEEAxNI1lhD9Zocbyk9LZUcbU-chkpgcf3pA-b/s400/comparison+of+a+jevenil+and+adult+red+knot2-1.jpg" border="0" /></a></div></div><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">An adult Red Knot at least 3 years old in active molt (below), and a second year bird (above). The second year bird would have stayed in Australia throughout the northern summer of 2007 and started its primary molt long before the adults returned. Therefore its molt is in advance of the adult's; 9 of its 10 primaries are fully-grown and the outer 10th primary is about three quarters grown.</span></p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6DnxfNdafzIIBpYFXtO0bP8MEBsZ130RZQttnM8LueP1EmFBunPqXODpw9pFjDWQ8sCXszppz83R7iBpzEsEuk8IWVKulbCsWgGHBYiwHVvWgr58bWUpWGX4lQ-D6cZSqgxQJ_bIKQKnu/s1600-h/a+second+year+red+knot-1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138054172031145042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6DnxfNdafzIIBpYFXtO0bP8MEBsZ130RZQttnM8LueP1EmFBunPqXODpw9pFjDWQ8sCXszppz83R7iBpzEsEuk8IWVKulbCsWgGHBYiwHVvWgr58bWUpWGX4lQ-D6cZSqgxQJ_bIKQKnu/s400/a+second+year+red+knot-1.jpg" border="0" /></a></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-STYLE: italic" align="center">Another second year Red Knot in the midst of a second (or "replacement") molt -- unlike the adult the outer-most primaries (P9 and P10) are dark and relatively fresh while P8 is not yet completely grown. Note the primaries and secondaries look uniformly dark and fresh.</p><p class="MsoNormal" face="trebuchet ms"><span style="font-size:100%;">A science has blossomed around molt, not just for primary flight feathers (at the outer end of the wing called “primaries”), but including secondary flight feathers (at the inside of the wing called “secondaries”), flight feather coverts, body feathers, and tail feathers. They all contribute to a story that can reveal the bird’s recent history. There are suspended molts (a stressed bird may stop molting and is left with some new, completely grown feathers and the remainder are old feathers). There is a complicated naming system for primary molt ( P1 to P10 – inner primaries to outer primaries). There is a nomenclature describing the number of feathers in one of five growth categories that is bizarre but elegantly simple. It is written as one of the five growth categories raised to the power equal to the number of feathers in that category: 5<sup>5</sup>, 4<sup>2</sup>, 1<sup>1</sup>, O<sup>2 </sup>= a bird with 5 feathers fully grown (category 5), 2 feathers that are more than 2/3 grown (category 4), 1 feather that is in "pin" (no feather has erupted), 2 feathers that are old (category "O" for old). Add the superscripts together and it equals the total number of primaries (10); multiply the superscripts by the growth stage, add all the products and you get a molt score.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>The molt scores can be plotted to describe the overall molt stage of birds at any time during the non-breeding period.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="trebuchet ms">I admit I find all this hard to explain, but believe me it is truly hard to understand. Nearly everything I’ve just written varies by species, year, conditions, etc. But some people know molt sufficiently to be comfortable with any new combination of feather wear, color and growth stage to tell a story -- Clive, Chris, Roz and David Melville to name a few. In fact, it’s a bit like chess or a good murder mystery, a kind of game for intelligent people to describe a bird's past. Most of the veterans of these expeditions, like Humphrey Sitters, know molt well. <?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-TOP: 12pt" face="trebuchet ms">Molt is not usually an issue in the Delaware Bay because most of the birds are O<sup>10</sup> (feathers are all fully grown and old after having molted the previous fall). However, molt has become key to unraveling the southbound flight of Red Knots on the east coast of the US. This August we trapped Red Knots in Stone Harbor, New Jersey, and they were in the midst of primary molt (5<sup>5</sup>, 4<sup>1</sup> 1<sup>1</sup> O<sup>3 </sup>for example). Additionally, most of the recaptured birds were from the catches we made in Florida in the last two years. One week later, we were trapping in Mingan, Quebec, a major southbound stopover for red knot, located on the north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence about 800 miles north of Stone Harbor. This stopover was recently discovered by Yves Aubry of the Canadian Wildlife Service. With Yves, we trapped a small group of knots that were all 0<sup>10</sup> -- they had not yet started their molt. In other words, they were on a completely different molt schedule than the Stone Harbor Birds. Also, those bird carrying leg flags in Mingan were from South America or Delaware Bay and none from Florida. Thus, molt and resightings suggest that the birds in Mingan and Stone Harbor represent different non-breeding populations – those in Mingan go to South America, those in Stone Harbor go to Florida. In this way, molt can often unravel complicated bird life histories.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-TOP: 12pt" face="trebuchet ms"><br /></p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5vhTcR69tfQRTl5rMrHTFq0RAmFTcLCALnakBMG03WpiNaBzUSHAzzc1qxZ-_xFw08TgJROokfEnBQa_sG1Icx-51vZ0JXC-sd8MalwHqgR_z-LymWl-3nNbmj1C27Y2CGF5QpJharQ4/s1600-h/stone+Harbor+to+mingan.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138069092747531458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5vhTcR69tfQRTl5rMrHTFq0RAmFTcLCALnakBMG03WpiNaBzUSHAzzc1qxZ-_xFw08TgJROokfEnBQa_sG1Icx-51vZ0JXC-sd8MalwHqgR_z-LymWl-3nNbmj1C27Y2CGF5QpJharQ4/s400/stone+Harbor+to+mingan.jpg" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-TOP: 12pt"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Google Earth map of US East coast showing Stone Harbor, New Jersey, US and Mingan, Quebec, Canada</span><o:p></o:p></p>Shorebird Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15385844029270323237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755285369371889348.post-81308772497190578512007-11-26T21:59:00.000-05:002008-12-11T16:25:18.555-05:00Australia - 80 Mile Beach, WA, November 17, 2007<div style="text-align: center;" face="trebuchet ms"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2d9ddEDlhTros0ZgeMfEp8WPwnC34OKUcOxg_CVEAT5ZQBic8HAQQqquwZJ6Nro0xWSCSor1_n-NA0Mv2hfTGxMvbbFIDvLftZeUbs6iIESTOJ03A89IVp8kKWe_2zw2qEq8ZDf_zlg_h/s1600-h/oriental+plover.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137350699337732994" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2d9ddEDlhTros0ZgeMfEp8WPwnC34OKUcOxg_CVEAT5ZQBic8HAQQqquwZJ6Nro0xWSCSor1_n-NA0Mv2hfTGxMvbbFIDvLftZeUbs6iIESTOJ03A89IVp8kKWe_2zw2qEq8ZDf_zlg_h/s400/oriental+plover.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Oriental Plovers (foreground) and Grey-tailed Tattlers on 80 Mile Beach</span><br /></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We left Broome, successful to the extent that we had caught over a 1,000 birds, with sufficient samples of a number of species and few mortalities.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It was a remarkable feat considering the heat.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Clive, Chris and Roz along with Pru and Maureen helped the team members increase their skills while also making bold and decisive actions to catch then and care for all the birds.</span></span></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">As usual, success depends on persistence.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>One could look upon the thousands of shorebirds at Roebuck Bay and conclude that dropping a net anywhere will yield<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>thousands of birds.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Unfortunately, it was not that easy, and our last catch at Broome was a case in point.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Several times we were close to firing only to have the flock fly off under the threat of a roving avian predator, a Brahminy Kite, a White-bellied Sea-eagle, harriers, Brown Falcons.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>If new to the experience of trapping birds, you would conclude it was impossible.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>But persistence paid off and we ended with a significant catch of Godwits.</span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-2wi5ZIIuP-AgNl0xUBeAP7B-Qd5filRKNRF_H6fSp3H1rLvGB4dtqskkSnBFZglgQraJFG1ZJLQM0QEpEhRB0_-nVwKnE7Y6B40ycduXbDolFuHYYM1Lz06pDjne17nWEHu5Evv9tfy/s1600-h/a+jevenile+barred+tailed+godwit1-1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137350381510152962" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-2wi5ZIIuP-AgNl0xUBeAP7B-Qd5filRKNRF_H6fSp3H1rLvGB4dtqskkSnBFZglgQraJFG1ZJLQM0QEpEhRB0_-nVwKnE7Y6B40ycduXbDolFuHYYM1Lz06pDjne17nWEHu5Evv9tfy/s400/a+jevenile+barred+tailed+godwit1-1.jpg" border="0" /> </a><p style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" align="center"><span style="font-size:100%;">Clive Holding a juvenile Bar-tailed Godwit showing distinctive wear pattern of juvenile plumage (scalloped tertials)</span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><p class="MsoNormal" face="trebuchet ms"><br /></p></span><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">The following day was spent packing and moving off to 80 Mile Beach.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>It is the second study site of the expedition, a site that is virtually unimaginable to a person used to summers at the Jersey shore.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Clive, Mandy, Brian and I went off early to do reconnaissance for the next day’s catch.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>After arriving at Anna Plains Station, we quickly established our rooms and set off for the beach.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>A “station” is the Australian term for ranch –<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Anna Plains has 18,000 head of cattle.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>We snaked our way through the grazed, but otherwise untouched, flat eucalyptus forest (<i><span style="font-style: italic;">Pindan</span></i> forest) and grass plain through the extensive dunes (about 1km in depth) then out to the most remarkable beach I have ever seen.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Winding away in both directions out to the horizon and out of sight was a wide sandy shore that would put to shame any New Jersey beach.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Standing on the dunes one could look out over a shell filled sandy beach of about 100 to 800 m or more and in the distance a turquoise sea blending into a brilliant blue sky unaffected by humidity.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Why it is called 80 Mile Beach is anybody’s guess -- it is actually nearly 155 miles long, more than the New Jersey shore from Sandy Hook to Cape May (exit 130 to exit 0 on the Garden State Parkway).<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>And along that entire length stands not one house!</span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhdQBsfPYxGE09TsLIdNKJeEmdYRtZ7nrg5yZWjTtf_oNMhDlNvOi2Vu7inZLHeuU1QnkaPuYQZFYfjgLNbZZcLhgqHLg0NK6Gg3LCQ16ubBrBHHbSq41GOSfW5z4DVIujRv2XwfOxeux/s1600-h/comparing+80+miles+and+nj.jpg"><br /></a><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzJvUArTUJzZTusqvqD-vCGoixADJNa07sxOmA6gFKC1aPK3KJHKfdeFtxD1E-sAgaogO9_CAEWpOGbHVeXQuRYpkXbEzChLV0oVIgSasPmWlRAh0aa__PjVd-7J26Lcgyo8dnRZYAmdsU/s1600-h/Slide1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137352477454193650" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzJvUArTUJzZTusqvqD-vCGoixADJNa07sxOmA6gFKC1aPK3KJHKfdeFtxD1E-sAgaogO9_CAEWpOGbHVeXQuRYpkXbEzChLV0oVIgSasPmWlRAh0aa__PjVd-7J26Lcgyo8dnRZYAmdsU/s400/Slide1.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><span style="font-size:100%;">A map comparing NJ beachfront with 80 Mile Beach.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>NJ beach is 124 miles long, 80 Mile Beach, despite its name, is 155 miles</span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></p></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_vEn507Sxf0JBBWijywUcajV5PyJ61PYBHAKbrVJx2laUCMT7vhoRY-mLOvnnkVfOTEkkIGF1sjNQuwZRUHJWy_SIf5hBL7kOpQ2KxBJnNwg1Jth7dPXIdPPB6POkA4KRpXYYKvOEq-T0/s1600-h/car+on+beach.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137350398690022178" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_vEn507Sxf0JBBWijywUcajV5PyJ61PYBHAKbrVJx2laUCMT7vhoRY-mLOvnnkVfOTEkkIGF1sjNQuwZRUHJWy_SIf5hBL7kOpQ2KxBJnNwg1Jth7dPXIdPPB6POkA4KRpXYYKvOEq-T0/s400/car+on+beach.jpg" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: italic; text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Our Landcruiser driving onto the beach</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJIf4AtZgP00WGtd6AYzxGwJzX00r3MukuKYCBi-WYJAWmUaQMkeyNqWuIk6SUh0FfBxeqKc2Sxuae4lnrOOg37VYNzf2esHE7yMa-DZvk4ERHJY5O5YHwsCcCE_GftvrDIl_3-JobzOE/s1600-h/stints+along+side+car.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137351197553939394" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJIf4AtZgP00WGtd6AYzxGwJzX00r3MukuKYCBi-WYJAWmUaQMkeyNqWuIk6SUh0FfBxeqKc2Sxuae4lnrOOg37VYNzf2esHE7yMa-DZvk4ERHJY5O5YHwsCcCE_GftvrDIl_3-JobzOE/s400/stints+along+side+car.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><span style="font-size:100%;">Red-necked Stints flying along side our moving vehicle</span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><p class="MsoNormal"></p></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >However, one would not want to lounge in this Indian Ocean surf.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Predators lurk in the in the water between the turquoise sea and the sand beach.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Chris Hassell said that you don’t have to worry about salt water crocodiles at 80 Mile Beach because the sharks ate them all. We did see small sharks lazily patrolling the water close to the shore, although they were actually non-threatening shark skates. Then there are the jelly fish that can leave you in pain for days, or sea snakes, or sting rays and, despite Chris’s assertion, the occasional crocodile. Fortunately, a powerful sea breeze develops in the late morning that counters the mild prevailing easterly winds and cools the beach down to a languid 100 degrees F -- on some days the easterly desert winds prevail and the temperature easily reaches 43 degrees C (about 110 Farenheit) accompanied by a plague of flies blown in from the interior</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >.</span> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"></p><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUoQPRsH7RM7kXlKexdFEOa8ksot9PW-IkTAOalQVM4EjLulePoQU2An5PeRfLAw4RJNoCxkw7Lzpeq9JYJlXDpPAMM2QRmvS83LjCtQLNtpSjTy52cuxmLU72QfMDX_uuvKt2bqp8PuG6/s1600-h/IMG_0010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137354805326468098" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUoQPRsH7RM7kXlKexdFEOa8ksot9PW-IkTAOalQVM4EjLulePoQU2An5PeRfLAw4RJNoCxkw7Lzpeq9JYJlXDpPAMM2QRmvS83LjCtQLNtpSjTy52cuxmLU72QfMDX_uuvKt2bqp8PuG6/s400/IMG_0010.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Larry sitting in the hide with gobs of flies on his back</span><br /></div><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal" face="trebuchet ms"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqHHGt7sOeXM6DA6znT7McRWlk1l03dpSIk0kUzpJhlLZ5J2QEnsp_NLUj9zKG5j3CfmvqRCCsNhKpUf2SVS5e-kwfkT-mgGhghD1zJj5DceTM2EIeo3Gqyr0KmxnmzDyBLcB19g0FqzQv/s1600-h/IMG_0261.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137350686452831058" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqHHGt7sOeXM6DA6znT7McRWlk1l03dpSIk0kUzpJhlLZ5J2QEnsp_NLUj9zKG5j3CfmvqRCCsNhKpUf2SVS5e-kwfkT-mgGhghD1zJj5DceTM2EIeo3Gqyr0KmxnmzDyBLcB19g0FqzQv/s400/IMG_0261.jpg" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Ghost Crab on 80 Mile Beach</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB_-mN52zbhYsqG3-UH1_267qiPQd1599Bmk-BHDuhSHeekqo0YFGxc6-Og0BzreBSO6iMS1JSODz_6NnjK4zypDAvxuLFOoOguKKVBDtBkEG1zad5_5rNlwEp7Qu-09ARp_98JNl7f391/s1600-h/sea+eagle+siting.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137351193258972082" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB_-mN52zbhYsqG3-UH1_267qiPQd1599Bmk-BHDuhSHeekqo0YFGxc6-Og0BzreBSO6iMS1JSODz_6NnjK4zypDAvxuLFOoOguKKVBDtBkEG1zad5_5rNlwEp7Qu-09ARp_98JNl7f391/s400/sea+eagle+siting.jpg" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">White-bellied Sea-eagle on 80 Mile Beach </span><br /></span></p><br /><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">We started our surveillance at about high tide (1:30 p.m.).<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Bar-tailed Godwits, Great Knots, Grey-tailed Tattlers, Greenshanks, Terek Sandpipers, Red-necked Stints, Grey Plovers, Red-capped Plovers and more extending as far as the eye could see even after we had driven for more than 40 km along the shore.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Chris, working with Allan Baker and Theunis Piersma, conducts surveys on the beach and regularly counts 490,000 shorebirds.</span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm0FY3NoT_WouV32P-8_7qg74Pdy1FO-sPzsCeYXrkQho19HCp3y417s1ceTZE-nIuXFjgJWm-oCHr-IXpcp5UWSEgeYSZLVOf-sWFnGuXqih5vF0YRQVxERgM2-cG6scqvaqsHaToCT0E/s1600-h/long+view+of+80+mile.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137350690747798370" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm0FY3NoT_WouV32P-8_7qg74Pdy1FO-sPzsCeYXrkQho19HCp3y417s1ceTZE-nIuXFjgJWm-oCHr-IXpcp5UWSEgeYSZLVOf-sWFnGuXqih5vF0YRQVxERgM2-cG6scqvaqsHaToCT0E/s400/long+view+of+80+mile.jpg" border="0" /></a> <p style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><span style="font-size:100%;">A foreshortened picture of shorebirds on 80 Mile Beach</span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></p></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyWmd0wXTw9ARhm8bhy-NMCZqZyECeqEVhBxfbU_gjnj0XK9PxSq9PBUMqh57GY19A8RdKqQHILAGA-GyVrNIi_p-gEv7iCq4zohGGvdMpjOVVQuyvLUzyQpfscAhvrfzudecWDAXaC65C/s1600-h/mix+flock.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137350695042765682" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyWmd0wXTw9ARhm8bhy-NMCZqZyECeqEVhBxfbU_gjnj0XK9PxSq9PBUMqh57GY19A8RdKqQHILAGA-GyVrNIi_p-gEv7iCq4zohGGvdMpjOVVQuyvLUzyQpfscAhvrfzudecWDAXaC65C/s400/mix+flock.jpg" border="0" /> </a><p style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" align="center"><span style="font-size:100%;">A flight of Bar-tailed Godwits and Great Knots on 80 Mile Beach</span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><p class="MsoNormal"></p></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >After our survey, we went back to the station. Run by John Stoate and his son, the station is a picture of efficiency and function and at the same time a wonderfully elegant oasis of water, shade, and green in the otherwise austere Outback surrounding it. The Station nearly a 1,000,000 acres, 100 km along the beach and 40 km inland, supports only 18,000 head of cattle and small group of horses. The Stoate family operation raises cattle from birth, keeps them until one or two years old and then sells them to buyers in Malaysia for fattening and ultimately slaughter. The family runs the operation from beginning to end and by all appearances it is a profitable operation. Sitting on the veranda of our house, one of about 10 on the station, I can actually see the heat building in the grassy fields and Pindan forests surrounding us. Yet I am cool. We begin trapping today.<br /></span><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT9U9noV8z4mRjuF2-txlXiUcp87vQwRogxOHdofFO4MLonataMLqZnRDMaxNMDAXnei-0ENf9kwryI9Mc4XW5T195_PVxOB7047-SYO1ic8MU7Xd9OYCibGymnOcfByuV76LpqLMB0HBQ/s1600-h/anna+plains+station.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137350394395054866" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT9U9noV8z4mRjuF2-txlXiUcp87vQwRogxOHdofFO4MLonataMLqZnRDMaxNMDAXnei-0ENf9kwryI9Mc4XW5T195_PVxOB7047-SYO1ic8MU7Xd9OYCibGymnOcfByuV76LpqLMB0HBQ/s400/anna+plains+station.jpg" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: italic; text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Anna Plains Station</span></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal" face="lucida grande"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiamukfb3yeNtoN1enyU3UrSyOcSp-0l2FOMlxsqNJFYnqwSxnyNzIl4vMQ4qAi9ZC77Ov9Kp524DqnPkWkQmdUqpv3yLFTNYcYs_6_6pHRYXLJJcgayHRnUNMJBiMos7muzSSm3R4WAycZ/s1600-h/cattle+and+brolga+at+Anna+Plains.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137350411574924082" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiamukfb3yeNtoN1enyU3UrSyOcSp-0l2FOMlxsqNJFYnqwSxnyNzIl4vMQ4qAi9ZC77Ov9Kp524DqnPkWkQmdUqpv3yLFTNYcYs_6_6pHRYXLJJcgayHRnUNMJBiMos7muzSSm3R4WAycZ/s400/cattle+and+brolga+at+Anna+Plains.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><span style="font-size:100%;">Cattle and Brolgas on a wetland created and maintained by the Station for waterbirds</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:11;"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><span style="font-size:0;"></span></span></span></p>Shorebird Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15385844029270323237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755285369371889348.post-67431758764055774032007-11-26T21:24:00.000-05:002008-12-11T16:25:20.924-05:00Australia - Roebuck Bay and Broome Bird Observatory, WA, January 14, 2007<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOlDI5GzKHXl9a_OfLysqJEDfI_x-8I2-979aioHYiS2uisR7wtd3Z4xd_81OHVAndLCaaQtcmiBiAIBobtLJS1CJI2Xo-v7bwQl18gNYGyQvA6YtxIR8sVpL0IGuV-Rh7t7qzMeSey-la/s1600-h/hermit+crab.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137341138740531778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOlDI5GzKHXl9a_OfLysqJEDfI_x-8I2-979aioHYiS2uisR7wtd3Z4xd_81OHVAndLCaaQtcmiBiAIBobtLJS1CJI2Xo-v7bwQl18gNYGyQvA6YtxIR8sVpL0IGuV-Rh7t7qzMeSey-la/s400/hermit+crab.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Hermit crabs are plentiful on Roebuck Bay</span><br /></div><p align="left"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;">Over the last two days we made two catches of over 300 birds each.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>On each catch the skill of both Chris and Clive, and the growing capability of the team, helped to make well executed and safe catches.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Yesterday we made a catch of 378 birds including Red-necked Stint, Great Knot, Red Knot, Oriental Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit, Greater and Lesser Sand Plovers, Curlew Sandpiper, Terek Sandpiper, and Broad-billed Sandpiper.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>I was especially grateful to work with Frank O’Connor on Terek Sandpipers, a species I had never seen let alone handled and banded.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>The technique was similar to the first day, a net set high just above the high tide line and a second several meters down-beach meant to catch birds two hours before high tide.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>In this, our second catch at Roebuck Bay we caught on the low net; on the third catch we caught on the high net.<br /><br /></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihfyx_q6sTvj8hHyXt03hqpGDn71837Ut0oxY_BkMcEf0Hm7hWjp06IiFBswk3yTMYARFPdOcV7UTlO85ogAVAVkYnMBHvq4NBXbmN3Bkjnc2B6P8FrBlMo__dZPeUgG_hKA4azV-b18gI/s1600-h/net+set.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137341396438569602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihfyx_q6sTvj8hHyXt03hqpGDn71837Ut0oxY_BkMcEf0Hm7hWjp06IiFBswk3yTMYARFPdOcV7UTlO85ogAVAVkYnMBHvq4NBXbmN3Bkjnc2B6P8FrBlMo__dZPeUgG_hKA4azV-b18gI/s400/net+set.jpg" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;" align="left" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">A net set on Roebuck Bay beach (the three cannons and net are just visible on the beach as three sandy "lumps" and a mildly-disturbed area just right of the lumps in the foreground)</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;" align="left" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;" align="left" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">The latter catch (our third) was thwarted by all that could go wrong.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>At first, we had a nice potential catch of Grey-tailed Tattlers and Ruddy Turnstones, a rarity that would improve species coverage.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Frank O’Connor, Nik Ward, and Naoko Takeuchi, operating on beaches as far as 2 km away, slowly moved (or “twinkled”) the birds to the net position; when close to firing, an Osprey flew low over the beach and landed right in the catch area flushing birds in all directions.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>The advancing tide forced us to rescue the low net necessitating a switch to the high net.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>After some quick-but-judicious twinkling we soon had birds in front of the net only to see a young aboriginal boy, fishing with his father, walk over to the flock chasing it away.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Still we persisted and, after a short problem with Brahminy Kites, we once again had about 400 birds in front of the net.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>This time Pete Collins occupied the young boy, we fired and made a good catch of Bar-tailed Godwits, Great Knots, Red Kots, Red-necked Stints, Greater and Lesser Sand Plovers, Red-capped Plover and Curlew Sandpiper.</span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho474awwyilXHSEWgvOGIdWUN7sNXH3n5jNAYum0I2JBQ4p6WWJolzeIUMbiLBQbKALgAOcz45XcAxVtmPbA486p9PDa2Io3zXkVNnwl4Ns9BO9OXKPiy3z743-zotxKHKBb2yJBcHOscc/s1600-h/bromadie+kites.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137341130150597138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho474awwyilXHSEWgvOGIdWUN7sNXH3n5jNAYum0I2JBQ4p6WWJolzeIUMbiLBQbKALgAOcz45XcAxVtmPbA486p9PDa2Io3zXkVNnwl4Ns9BO9OXKPiy3z743-zotxKHKBb2yJBcHOscc/s400/bromadie+kites.jpg" border="0" /> </a><p style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" align="center" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Two Brahminy Kites looking over the birds in front of the net</span></p><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;">Although one would have to be impressed by the skill of the leaders and the group during the entire process, the real expertise comes after the catch.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Envisage a heat so great that you could actually fry eggs on a rock, a soft wind that feels cooling actually drains you of all your liquids so much so that you don’t pee all day despite drinking gallons of water.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Now imagine hundreds of birds struggling under the net under the searing tropical sun.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>On any catch one must be concerned with the usual problems: safety of the birds from the powerful leading edge of the net, a “wet catch” where birds are captured at the tide edge and could drown if not quickly secured, birds escaping from an improperly secured net, birds suffering stress because of slow post-catch handling or covering.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Here at Broome, you still have those difficulties, but the greatest threat for human and bird is the heat.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span>Over the last 30 years Clive, and more recently Chris, have developed strategies and methods to prevent problems, many of which we have copied on Delaware Bay.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>With experience, it looks like a well-choreographed dance.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>As soon as the net is fired, the team races to the front (or seaward side) of the net.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>With the leaders at the back (or beach side) of the net barking instructions, the team – shoulder-to-shoulder -- uses their arms like a long, linear fork lift to swiftly move the net up and away from the tide.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>With a small-mesh net, birds do not become entangled, and the team lifts (or “tents”) the net so the birds can run up-beach toward the back of the net.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Then a large shade cloth, like that used to shade greenhouses, is spread over the birds and net -- the immediate effect is to first calm the birds and then shade them from the sun.<br /><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQ36YGVxwiEC0USW65aIWL9wyyt5FYKNzULh5K9Bo9F_cOs-Re5MtwIqVO-ZaIpb_1ayBevixQC9c6BmSTwb4hbWuOyhmVdcibdSztrl0ekXNFVkETuIPKhyY2Dnqghw_bd5AXPKreNFy/s1600-h/holly.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138028900443575314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQ36YGVxwiEC0USW65aIWL9wyyt5FYKNzULh5K9Bo9F_cOs-Re5MtwIqVO-ZaIpb_1ayBevixQC9c6BmSTwb4hbWuOyhmVdcibdSztrl0ekXNFVkETuIPKhyY2Dnqghw_bd5AXPKreNFy/s400/holly.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Holly Sitters, Assistant Warden at the Broome Bird Observatory, transporting Red-necked Stints to keeping cages</span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><span style="font-size:0;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">While this is happening, a smaller group erects keeping cages of coarse cloth that are high enough to allow easy movement of taller birds, like godwits or curlews, and are well-ventilated to allow the body heat of the birds inside to be dissipated.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>The team then extracts all birds and places them in separate compartments according to species.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Within minutes of securing the catch in keeping cages, Chris directs the team to cover all the cages with shade cloth.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Immediately afterward, the team erects shade tents that will shade both the keeping cages and the team during processing.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>This whole procedure is usually complete in 30 to 40 minutes.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>By the time processing (banding, weighing, measuring) occurs the birds have preened and are cooler than if they were roosting on the beach.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Processing can then take place without hurry and with the care and precision necessary for good science to occur.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXGFU-9tA1dG889BWJjBfCpVjrfx1olL9WH_ay1DZ_ep6Iig4paL3W0uztg6Z_vpln4b9Bxuw6p_M0qmCIlt_4aQH5MsiP_iDXt_Se14eQTTt8UAqmp-osFQevULXKyrR9xS7i5c25ZL-O/s1600-h/setting+keeping+cages.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137341735740986050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXGFU-9tA1dG889BWJjBfCpVjrfx1olL9WH_ay1DZ_ep6Iig4paL3W0uztg6Z_vpln4b9Bxuw6p_M0qmCIlt_4aQH5MsiP_iDXt_Se14eQTTt8UAqmp-osFQevULXKyrR9xS7i5c25ZL-O/s400/setting+keeping+cages.jpg" border="0" /> </a><p style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" align="center" ><span style="font-size:100%;">The keeping cages are first covered with shade cloth . . . . </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-STYLE: italic; TEXT-ALIGN: center" face="trebuchet ms"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiblAcBGtuEr50LKeFKmVXNEles1C_cua9vaR4lVE83_wrS1EQYYdpXLAgL_wDNjObgq1e-XDtcpE0-iKWrl0OjlmvwG3Rc08qXfXWqsQDKQ84PP9YD3-Zce3E5wubReIR3Dv4xXYZIxtzA/s1600-h/set+shelter.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137341731446018738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiblAcBGtuEr50LKeFKmVXNEles1C_cua9vaR4lVE83_wrS1EQYYdpXLAgL_wDNjObgq1e-XDtcpE0-iKWrl0OjlmvwG3Rc08qXfXWqsQDKQ84PP9YD3-Zce3E5wubReIR3Dv4xXYZIxtzA/s400/set+shelter.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">.<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> . . .then a shelter of shade cloth is erected to cover the keeping cages and crew</span><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="trebuchet ms"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"></span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO1juodWfXS8LiG5Bj4JA8yk6Xa4bnrHn6WEbOkKMFmYUw1r14k49xSCgwY3lujmmfA5olSCrfiCVzGdRqXvfH7AXozVbgSiG0LxtL6Prq1PETNtd6DCNEHAGwmz1iG8mA3KeYU6kRu5Hw/s1600-h/chris+on+godwit.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137341134445564450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO1juodWfXS8LiG5Bj4JA8yk6Xa4bnrHn6WEbOkKMFmYUw1r14k49xSCgwY3lujmmfA5olSCrfiCVzGdRqXvfH7AXozVbgSiG0LxtL6Prq1PETNtd6DCNEHAGwmz1iG8mA3KeYU6kRu5Hw/s400/chris+on+godwit.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Chris Hassell measures head and bill of an individually color-marked Bar-tailed Godwit -- a new bird for his ongoing research</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"></span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="trebuchet ms"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGguFQJcFoXT_4Is0c7fsarxAECqNqVoISq_4WkePLct0WNzmM8-uyeipw5Zyh7hPTdiMJ_VhDNNydoujP7fcotJ5wG47HEnPQM2KznFJGxU7AWU3gPomqR4XKKaAUqXrRhRYq-rO32xP5/s1600-h/yakat+and+david.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137341740035953378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGguFQJcFoXT_4Is0c7fsarxAECqNqVoISq_4WkePLct0WNzmM8-uyeipw5Zyh7hPTdiMJ_VhDNNydoujP7fcotJ5wG47HEnPQM2KznFJGxU7AWU3gPomqR4XKKaAUqXrRhRYq-rO32xP5/s400/yakat+and+david.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" align="center" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Yahkat Barshep from Nigeria, a Ph.D. Student at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, and David Melville of New Zealand processing Great Knots</span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-STYLE: italic; TEXT-ALIGN: center" face="trebuchet ms"><br /></p></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaeus30xCcVOEuZIBQGyqzb3zBERWraxlRJbFxqeHOsmQBgjGU0h-7gj6yffH_y0qqSNI5TQaxag375hhwWjp8SJvkSmKH2pd8T1dKqAlYvnIbZc3cjbmktoChButh228mQmtP9h9FQQXK/s1600-h/peter+with+bird.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137341727151051426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaeus30xCcVOEuZIBQGyqzb3zBERWraxlRJbFxqeHOsmQBgjGU0h-7gj6yffH_y0qqSNI5TQaxag375hhwWjp8SJvkSmKH2pd8T1dKqAlYvnIbZc3cjbmktoChButh228mQmtP9h9FQQXK/s400/peter+with+bird.jpg" border="0" /> </a><p style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" align="center" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Peter Jenkins weighing a Red Knot</span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><p class="MsoNormal" face="trebuchet ms"></p></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><br /><br />We were grateful to Chris and Maylee for taking us to Lake Eda for an early-morning field trip.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>The lake is one of few freshwater habitats and so attracts thousands of shorebirds, waterbirds, waterfowl, and raptors.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>We were also grateful to both Clive for his lecture on on Australia-Asia migration range mapping and to Dick Holmes for a talk on shorebird breeding ecology.</span> <p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ1caH4UcLF-Kd9Ds9Ks9ioNML4cCxmAIA9eTPEYinDR8M3bw4MBfe304LnU4lSgmCji_7lAW_vuL6pEzmLp_cMaSQa_90g2cFFades42hndFpOnzUurcYfeWyYdTqXXMm_Q0wQ1IhLju5/s1600-h/tailed+wallaby.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137341735740986066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ1caH4UcLF-Kd9Ds9Ks9ioNML4cCxmAIA9eTPEYinDR8M3bw4MBfe304LnU4lSgmCji_7lAW_vuL6pEzmLp_cMaSQa_90g2cFFades42hndFpOnzUurcYfeWyYdTqXXMm_Q0wQ1IhLju5/s400/tailed+wallaby.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Nailed-tailed Wallaby near Lake Eda</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"></span><br /></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKeVcsdXc7w1rhsAZLSO-Uj_smuFOwRVH7aKFFCSdvch5sXFv4_LsumWczsRRgoPzybEhf3vEhOOaf384J-EaEQe-TMK7DMMxNP7QhhyphenhyphenJcuq9v_vI9fYh6tjXjeMGHgO8PbdQPFmLSQzH/s1600-h/oriental+plover.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137341400733536914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKeVcsdXc7w1rhsAZLSO-Uj_smuFOwRVH7aKFFCSdvch5sXFv4_LsumWczsRRgoPzybEhf3vEhOOaf384J-EaEQe-TMK7DMMxNP7QhhyphenhyphenJcuq9v_vI9fYh6tjXjeMGHgO8PbdQPFmLSQzH/s400/oriental+plover.jpg" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Australian Pratincole at Lake Eda </span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIV3tYan63ntzonhUuv-24mJQqZVSlkooW4XdF6Ki4_uArAx_QunJ6auSkA4OYA94YWdvwKEIIH2RFhhmqw703vKTD3eybryvtsT53RX0M8yjfL4HatCFN9v_pnAe_tO_rTc0YsatxT1gB/s1600-h/dick+holmes.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137341134445564466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIV3tYan63ntzonhUuv-24mJQqZVSlkooW4XdF6Ki4_uArAx_QunJ6auSkA4OYA94YWdvwKEIIH2RFhhmqw703vKTD3eybryvtsT53RX0M8yjfL4HatCFN9v_pnAe_tO_rTc0YsatxT1gB/s400/dick+holmes.jpg" border="0" /> </a><p style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" align="center" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Dick Holmes presenting an evening lecture on the evolution of shorebird breeding behavior</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p>Shorebird Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15385844029270323237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755285369371889348.post-28446289698799249482007-11-26T20:24:00.000-05:002008-12-11T16:25:23.480-05:00Australia - Broome and Roebuck Bay, WA, November 12, 2007<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2KoxK69KhadhBF34EZbQSslB_tFdNYqCtJvg2GTsl9uQ0bHi2z6ldjjbDNiAqDRqcpuGLwDJjnzsCbDomMzlr9vHz_0FNVov8XFCPL_S20dqi26G-Zy2CBK0ftzng_A5Z4IIIO-i2h4mB/s1600-h/IMG_0119.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137337389234082290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2KoxK69KhadhBF34EZbQSslB_tFdNYqCtJvg2GTsl9uQ0bHi2z6ldjjbDNiAqDRqcpuGLwDJjnzsCbDomMzlr9vHz_0FNVov8XFCPL_S20dqi26G-Zy2CBK0ftzng_A5Z4IIIO-i2h4mB/s400/IMG_0119.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Red "Pindan" soils and limestone formations surrounding Roebuck Bay, near Broome in Western Australia<br /></span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Within an hour of our arrival in Broome, we met most of the 30-member team -- our colleagues for the next ten days.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Clive Minton leads the group as he has done for the last 28 -- years ever since he drove the dirt road that led from Alice Springs to Broome and discovered one of the largest populations of wintering (nonbreeding) shorebirds in the world.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Clive began catching shorebirds at Roebuck Bay and 80 Mile Beach in 1980.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">By 1988, he and other members of the team created the Broome Bird Observatory (the “BBO”), our home for the next five days </span><a style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms" href="http://www.broomebirdobservatory.com/">http://www.broomebirdobservatory.com/</a><span style="font-size:+0;"> </span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span class="a" style="font-size:100%;"><i><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">For a complete list of wintering shorebird species and detailed descriptions of the marine and terrestrial ecology of Roebuck Bay and 80 Mile Beach, see the RAMSAR descriptions for these sites: <a href="http://www.naturebase.net/content/view/814/870/">http://www.naturebase.net/content/view/814/870/</a></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQtIfdvVd71TFL-uPTn_Po1QaxIxbk7_tNujwWm8UJVrEI1GLIgDcGTUxf1_6_box4aGdX9W8nFPOZePcXgLKu6H3QmPtOlTbXGlNg8wiUvgFw5dy20ECHt-prqX-RIZEAxCq1iYUTcfJ4/s1600-h/Clive.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137326999708193170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQtIfdvVd71TFL-uPTn_Po1QaxIxbk7_tNujwWm8UJVrEI1GLIgDcGTUxf1_6_box4aGdX9W8nFPOZePcXgLKu6H3QmPtOlTbXGlNg8wiUvgFw5dy20ECHt-prqX-RIZEAxCq1iYUTcfJ4/s400/Clive.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Clive Minton (left) and Ji Qui with a Bar-tailed Godwit</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"></span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">We were all to meet in the 'shade-house' of the BBO, which has a tin roof and fly-wire walls. BBO consists of about 10 buildings spread amongst the <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Pindan </span>forest on the edge of Roebuck Bay -- a turquoise sea ringed with mangroves and red sand beaches. <i><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Pindan</span></i> is the name of the red soils of the region. Throughout the year, but especially in the dry season (roughly April to November), the BBO hosts tourists, birders and campers, all hoping to get intimate with the gorgeous subtropical wildlife, especially the birds.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>The BBO follows the pattern of bird observatories in the UK and Europe; managed by a committee, and run by a warden,<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>Pete Collins. Holly Sitters, Maylee and Naoko Takeuchi are deputy wardens.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>The compound can house and feed our entire crew in comfortable conditions that include showers, refrigeration, good drinking water, and there is even air-conditioning in some of the chalets. The showers are indispensable.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvsGkJQQRth0W0RG0C-QaubM3eHdbzTGmO9PWc9lH3LlfnAWBJLe_Y6xz30WIjDRktvYh24fEN_TsJqgZSF9rMaJrVPoQvSVOI595Pv8uOnca2ARGDvETO6hMKl7ip1zY2nTTsgUnmw5DC/s1600-h/roebuck+bay+and+mangroves.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137326359758066002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvsGkJQQRth0W0RG0C-QaubM3eHdbzTGmO9PWc9lH3LlfnAWBJLe_Y6xz30WIjDRktvYh24fEN_TsJqgZSF9rMaJrVPoQvSVOI595Pv8uOnca2ARGDvETO6hMKl7ip1zY2nTTsgUnmw5DC/s400/roebuck+bay+and+mangroves.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Northern end of Roebuck Bay with Mangroves</span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-STYLE: italic; TEXT-ALIGN: centerfont-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /></p></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcoSC_dl6YZ6IZa-Ml7dzeCdeStij8j280l1elmc93VMhQlJfiURDrNZfVRLE8RZW8-9IIJVizIKx0MqwUXIH-ZXMiRb5RYihTTohyb3efbeasg3iJ285LfbhFtTbWJnKiwshpUnbQg6N7/s1600-h/birds+on+roebuck+bay.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137325857246892258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcoSC_dl6YZ6IZa-Ml7dzeCdeStij8j280l1elmc93VMhQlJfiURDrNZfVRLE8RZW8-9IIJVizIKx0MqwUXIH-ZXMiRb5RYihTTohyb3efbeasg3iJ285LfbhFtTbWJnKiwshpUnbQg6N7/s400/birds+on+roebuck+bay.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a> <span style="font-size:100%;">Bar-tailed Godwits and Great Knots on the shore of Roebuck Bay</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Chris Hassell, who came to the Delaware Bay in 2006, once ran the BBO and now runs the cannon-netting operation of the expedition (under the eye of the always-watchful Clive).<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>Chris conducts research on shorebirds in Broome in collaboration with Theunis Piersma of the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, and Allan Baker of the Royal Ontario Museum, Canda.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>Chris leads a team that cannon nets shorebirds throughout the year.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>His partner Andrea, a business consultant, volunteers her time to serve on the BBO Committee and the cannon-netting team.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2UzZZX08PZ2gVmdYJy47qByOnVs1agdBNDRBjjcVgmEqtn-rNuqxqTP9JglPqYZeUNbG-WLX7qTjYw5ZiVXOwrF8K5zl7itq9EylwThm46HrTpcgYhvCXUPRd5mh8eGK3xEn6BpOyiVjc/s1600-h/chris+and+adrian.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137326149304668418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2UzZZX08PZ2gVmdYJy47qByOnVs1agdBNDRBjjcVgmEqtn-rNuqxqTP9JglPqYZeUNbG-WLX7qTjYw5ZiVXOwrF8K5zl7itq9EylwThm46HrTpcgYhvCXUPRd5mh8eGK3xEn6BpOyiVjc/s400/chris+and+adrian.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Chris Hassell and his partner, Andrea Spencer, at their home in Broome</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">A group of Aussies from around the continent anchor the expedition.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>Roz Jessop, Maureen Christie and Pru Wright are senior members of the 15 Australians on the expedition.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>They are supported by volunteers from around the world including New Zealand (2) China (4), England (3), US (4), Nigeria (1), and Japan (1).<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>A number of these people have come to the Delaware Bay to help with our shorebird research including Roz, Peter Fullagar, and Alice Ewing. <span style="font-size:+0;"></span>Dick Holmes of Dartmouth College in New Hampshire joined the team for a week, Sue Rice from US Fish and Wildlife Service in Virginia is also here.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>Seems that most people working on shorebirds throughout the world -- for any length of time -- come to Broome at one time or another, many repeatedly.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="trebuchet ms"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyhx8a15nIHhYUuzxfuYp3oA07p-qtSRZwxOxkJ2eWOm90rWJjVGmGamkEXiIB2IO3D2mmH-b-Eb2vwsVFHBXtr0c32oeJGL3HqtfGvFs2i2xwX8vRLTQ3uK1FyFEFaaGcQc20crWATsc_/s1600-h/Jing+with+a+bird+banded+in+china.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137326157894603042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyhx8a15nIHhYUuzxfuYp3oA07p-qtSRZwxOxkJ2eWOm90rWJjVGmGamkEXiIB2IO3D2mmH-b-Eb2vwsVFHBXtr0c32oeJGL3HqtfGvFs2i2xwX8vRLTQ3uK1FyFEFaaGcQc20crWATsc_/s400/Jing+with+a+bird+banded+in+china.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-STYLE: italic; TEXT-ALIGN: centerfont-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Jing Li holding a bird caught in Roebuck Bay, originally banded in China</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="trebuchet ms"><span style="font-size:100%;">After a luscious dinner of lamb, Clive and Chris hosted a two-hour program that provided the team with the basics, food issues, trapping schedule, camp care, etc.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>We were in bed by 10:00 p.m.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="trebuchet ms"><span style="font-size:100%;">At 6:30 a.m. the next morning we were out at Richards Point on Roebuck Bay just north of BBO and south of Broome.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>We set two nets, one below the high tide line, which was expected to flood at about 12:00 noon, and a second just above the high tide line.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>The low tide set is unusual and a result of experimentation by Chris in the time before the team arrived.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>The morning air was unusually cool for this time of year, according to the veteran team members.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>To me, it felt hot and getting hotter by the minute.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>The 7.6-meter tide rushed in too fast to use the low net, and everyone moved into rescue the cannons and net from flooding.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>But within an hour we had a catch of 296 birds in the high-tide net.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="trebuchet ms"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLBxyWPmiq0l-ZlKca6QHhisixOTj26gtmTeKp6ILzeeNb2mhVrcRG5MLdqbWCnE3eoRbI5kaHYou56zhDSacH7tcIKrmDxpN4nEU9IH5kqtyGZM2Loxe1HcebTJiU7D-pswM9o3ZyhoRq/s1600-h/Clive+and+Chris.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137328245248709026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLBxyWPmiq0l-ZlKca6QHhisixOTj26gtmTeKp6ILzeeNb2mhVrcRG5MLdqbWCnE3eoRbI5kaHYou56zhDSacH7tcIKrmDxpN4nEU9IH5kqtyGZM2Loxe1HcebTJiU7D-pswM9o3ZyhoRq/s400/Clive+and+Chris.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-STYLE: italic; TEXT-ALIGN: centerfont-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Chris and Clive working on out a position for the net in early morning at Roebuck Bay</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-STYLE: italic; TEXT-ALIGN: centerfont-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt3zRhUDIR5Yibjb65CbpKnVqGRPjiDqwS1OWC7vw9Ww-bIfW7sqnKFK60c1uA_3Cuj-srCkmf5SpGmb-xOEPlQSADnRaLSjTn3rc05BaULzC-NboFrn6xvruoCFb0Pqnmdf9f9ok2Mryc/s1600-h/Mandy+doing+a+twinkle.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137328614615896498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt3zRhUDIR5Yibjb65CbpKnVqGRPjiDqwS1OWC7vw9Ww-bIfW7sqnKFK60c1uA_3Cuj-srCkmf5SpGmb-xOEPlQSADnRaLSjTn3rc05BaULzC-NboFrn6xvruoCFb0Pqnmdf9f9ok2Mryc/s400/Mandy+doing+a+twinkle.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Mandy twinkling birds from the back of the net to move them out of the danger zone – the two-meter zone in front of the net necessary for the leading edge to clear a standing flock<br /><br /><br /><br /></span></span><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3n_g8c6MzSb9xsqtoOZfDJsIf8BEpKcv6LUEyAOKZcLrOYUR_W0iOOcBT5ZGugD-e9eD6lwu53VFcTAxWwgfoTH9VKg6fz1ZxfrWrQ4ch8EHJs9_A0hpQHRtbTOZ7pU4Ieu2ocySZVXy/s1600-h/cannons+firing.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137326140714733810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3n_g8c6MzSb9xsqtoOZfDJsIf8BEpKcv6LUEyAOKZcLrOYUR_W0iOOcBT5ZGugD-e9eD6lwu53VFcTAxWwgfoTH9VKg6fz1ZxfrWrQ4ch8EHJs9_A0hpQHRtbTOZ7pU4Ieu2ocySZVXy/s400/cannons+firing.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">The cannons being fired and . . . . .</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMB7RNjzvLs_qKgz-MjRqAAZYMOgBlpm3KFg3A-svexC1h3YfcdRhjnSGFihONSAS709xcvh83sbe8bGdxmQ3RfP6XCgv5HS-ZTYyWcBAxadACRgyNoFxYr2nAEtLGBEi3rG9xid-0X-2Y/s1600-h/net+out.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137329890221183426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMB7RNjzvLs_qKgz-MjRqAAZYMOgBlpm3KFg3A-svexC1h3YfcdRhjnSGFihONSAS709xcvh83sbe8bGdxmQ3RfP6XCgv5HS-ZTYyWcBAxadACRgyNoFxYr2nAEtLGBEi3rG9xid-0X-2Y/s400/net+out.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:100%;" >. . . . .</span><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:100%;" >the net going out over the birds</span></div><p class="MsoNormal" face="trebuchet ms"><span style="font-size:100%;">We had already erected keeping cages so retrieving the birds from the nets and placing them into the cages took about 20 minutes.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>The next 30 minutes was spent protecting the birds and the crew from the hot sun.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>When Clive asked us to come Broome, he said I needed to do this to “complete my cannon-netting training”.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>Although one can spend a lifetime catching birds and not complete a cannon-netting degree, I soon learned what Clive meant.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>Our next catch would provide a more graphic example.</span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikM7kTP4KHtkFnXlqwLIOry-d7HzeoLCa6yB4WstHuHa0_UjoyYjViIB-Yhqm4Ai1rh3WhlcrDEALYKlu5QcUNGK3h12iQc00Gptg6Vnu3DK5xfZiU2tbDjd8fTgQgrQ9vfkqzQGCqQUvo/s1600-h/birds+in+the+net.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137325852951924946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikM7kTP4KHtkFnXlqwLIOry-d7HzeoLCa6yB4WstHuHa0_UjoyYjViIB-Yhqm4Ai1rh3WhlcrDEALYKlu5QcUNGK3h12iQc00Gptg6Vnu3DK5xfZiU2tbDjd8fTgQgrQ9vfkqzQGCqQUvo/s400/birds+in+the+net.jpg" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-STYLE: italic; TEXT-ALIGN: centerfont-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">The team at the net ready to secure the edges, concentrate the birds at the top of the net, then lay shade clothe on to calm the birds and keep them cool.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-STYLE: italic; TEXT-ALIGN: centerfont-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-q5TMHtApHFsAOsPXebdaZmofRCkJ3icCIkGw1sJiqUWX32d-M4x7_h9vDKOONHrPyOf1PRnntZg34YZLrNVGG4yngp5uf8aCsKGHUQKM6yeW4YX9F7jkSv6ZnRam6dENYatSmdwKw_U/s1600-h/the+team+escape+the+heat.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137326364053033314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-q5TMHtApHFsAOsPXebdaZmofRCkJ3icCIkGw1sJiqUWX32d-M4x7_h9vDKOONHrPyOf1PRnntZg34YZLrNVGG4yngp5uf8aCsKGHUQKM6yeW4YX9F7jkSv6ZnRam6dENYatSmdwKw_U/s400/the+team+escape+the+heat.jpg" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-STYLE: italic; TEXT-ALIGN: centerfont-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">The team processing birds under a secure tent to shade both humans and birds from the relentless heat</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-STYLE: italic; TEXT-ALIGN: centerfont-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQtunfmnHmqK-o54PZs4ZZyv7tGo43dznBx0WlJYRfg0_XGWoNPeJuqISwHx2uT8w5qZJGrxE26NMij82C55H4bUGajyLFusXwpmRWEC35bcfSKMFNeYPHZDExou7M_oYYZgN9COjfoanm/s1600-h/a+greater+and+lesser+sand+plover.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137325844361990306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQtunfmnHmqK-o54PZs4ZZyv7tGo43dznBx0WlJYRfg0_XGWoNPeJuqISwHx2uT8w5qZJGrxE26NMij82C55H4bUGajyLFusXwpmRWEC35bcfSKMFNeYPHZDExou7M_oYYZgN9COjfoanm/s400/a+greater+and+lesser+sand+plover.jpg" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-STYLE: italic; TEXT-ALIGN: centerfont-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Peter Fullagar holding a Greater and Lesser Sand Plover</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-STYLE: italic; TEXT-ALIGN: centerfont-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntOKRY9EwDze6U1SMqtNg3gE4sSaK13Ya8vTNtYL4imMgSSmMEUrOYB71AVsFvvYzcZlE4d8kq9ESIAOvyj9jT3ORHzJtUbkNwCcmqTu83KijsvcKgEQhab7dgtJP-3spqjuGcAV22az-/s1600-h/IMG_0125.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137326729125253490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntOKRY9EwDze6U1SMqtNg3gE4sSaK13Ya8vTNtYL4imMgSSmMEUrOYB71AVsFvvYzcZlE4d8kq9ESIAOvyj9jT3ORHzJtUbkNwCcmqTu83KijsvcKgEQhab7dgtJP-3spqjuGcAV22az-/s400/IMG_0125.jpg" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-STYLE: italic; TEXT-ALIGN: centerfont-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">A Terek Sandpiper</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-STYLE: italic; TEXT-ALIGN: center" face="trebuchet ms"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:+0;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms"><span style="font-size:100%;">As is the custom, one of the team presents a lecture on either something relevant to the expedition or on results of personal research.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>Adrian (“Addie”) Boyle presented a collection of his photographs of birds of the area.</span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrAp_eYAlqB9uPfHpQ7h5c-lf68gLNz2W6YEOWEE2fYZl-xw_pogA6r6cP_PXxMhB48AYSh86aUbJkIE9c94144t28Tk69AWWMaRGhZcqnlAk8kocMJRqX_mp-M2xalKHxyFaEE2OGl3gQ/s1600-h/addie+giving+a+talk.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137325852951924930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrAp_eYAlqB9uPfHpQ7h5c-lf68gLNz2W6YEOWEE2fYZl-xw_pogA6r6cP_PXxMhB48AYSh86aUbJkIE9c94144t28Tk69AWWMaRGhZcqnlAk8kocMJRqX_mp-M2xalKHxyFaEE2OGl3gQ/s400/addie+giving+a+talk.jpg" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">The team is treated to an outdoor presentation of Addie's bird photos</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:11;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Additional References:</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:11;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><i><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-STYLE: italic">Life Along Land’s Edge:<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>Wildlife on the shores of Roebuck Bay, Broome.</span></i></b></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">By</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">D. I. Rogers, T. Piersma, M. Lavaleye, G. B. Pearson and P. de Goeij.</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Published by the Department of Conservation and Land Management, Western Australia.</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">162 pgs.</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:11;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Available through the Broome Bird Observatory website (see above), select the link <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">"life along land's edge".</span> </span></span></span></span></p>Shorebird Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15385844029270323237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755285369371889348.post-1558478520037483032007-11-24T17:09:00.000-05:002008-12-11T16:25:26.470-05:00Australia - Kakadu National Park , NT, to Fitzroy Crossing, WA, November 10, 2007<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGV9KAc0MSuJgErkkfepJzCy2h2_BOxMAYZxiJ4LTe7Q73UNoxzpWxBNPHA6fx4dCNKG1Eh7N4MCCBzcFseui4qGxt00AVDlRBMFSNh7FOLdT8UmSS8k9uqplpmV4s8Iw6vW-XHWd3dCr/s1600-h/red+hil.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136537159517425762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGV9KAc0MSuJgErkkfepJzCy2h2_BOxMAYZxiJ4LTe7Q73UNoxzpWxBNPHA6fx4dCNKG1Eh7N4MCCBzcFseui4qGxt00AVDlRBMFSNh7FOLdT8UmSS8k9uqplpmV4s8Iw6vW-XHWd3dCr/s400/red+hil.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Nourlangie, a outlier of the Arnhem Land escarpment of red sandstone, in Kakadu National Park, NT</span><br /></div><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">After a short ride from Kakadu National Park, we pulled into the town of Katherine and, after a quick re-supply, took the paved road to Katherine Gorge National Park.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>The Northern Territory (an Australian state) manages the park even though it is the province of the national government. In the US, it would be like the State of NJ running Gateway National Park, or Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>Although a consequence of the relatively recent confederation of Australian States into a national federation in the early 20<sup>th</sup> century, the arrangement has some merit.</span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJxR99ecPdBJs0DjIADw69fvvzKerKgQi8KfUNlcOrOkFwgUzBHCOhrXU4u-fGWXZe8WRbbwO8_ej6bD4plrZIM4CZTWelemeU-9BcUreZtgKnGXTxQvdj7QNh5uwFTqdVnMC_o5XGKZv/s1600-h/first+gorge.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136536025646059490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJxR99ecPdBJs0DjIADw69fvvzKerKgQi8KfUNlcOrOkFwgUzBHCOhrXU4u-fGWXZe8WRbbwO8_ej6bD4plrZIM4CZTWelemeU-9BcUreZtgKnGXTxQvdj7QNh5uwFTqdVnMC_o5XGKZv/s400/first+gorge.jpg" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-STYLE: italic; TEXT-ALIGN: centerfont-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">First gorge at Katherine Gorge National Park</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-STYLE: italic; TEXT-ALIGN: centerfont-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha16NF0rMof2YNwmB8Ne_0j6oA5VVKcl8w4mJLNP8Q_w1frkuA_nE4MQvY8xGKE3ZiRFEJAlaNOyjiMCshm7ARQD86zGHET1QKp9cyiFJVTJVY1WHIj_FM1Cn3B1ixHEt4-zWWq-BxbIRB/s1600-h/blue+faced+honeyeater+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136534732860903346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha16NF0rMof2YNwmB8Ne_0j6oA5VVKcl8w4mJLNP8Q_w1frkuA_nE4MQvY8xGKE3ZiRFEJAlaNOyjiMCshm7ARQD86zGHET1QKp9cyiFJVTJVY1WHIj_FM1Cn3B1ixHEt4-zWWq-BxbIRB/s400/blue+faced+honeyeater+2.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-STYLE: italic; TEXT-ALIGN: centerfont-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">A Blue-faced Honeyeater and . . . . . . .<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha16NF0rMof2YNwmB8Ne_0j6oA5VVKcl8w4mJLNP8Q_w1frkuA_nE4MQvY8xGKE3ZiRFEJAlaNOyjiMCshm7ARQD86zGHET1QKp9cyiFJVTJVY1WHIj_FM1Cn3B1ixHEt4-zWWq-BxbIRB/s1600-h/blue+faced+honeyeater+2.jpg"><br /></a></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8Z-ADrthwUymH6dvI6XarBOsfsbm938uuv37xX7CHKf9O_9vR1xnlvE1Y2tdijZ9x5FSoRF9r9Jv1npk7yC2COffKjt9IfF_SlWdS7ehyphenhyphen21omN9ym7bSwRSnOPhelkR2NGDOvg_4GsJS/s1600-h/larakeet+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136537138042589234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8Z-ADrthwUymH6dvI6XarBOsfsbm938uuv37xX7CHKf9O_9vR1xnlvE1Y2tdijZ9x5FSoRF9r9Jv1npk7yC2COffKjt9IfF_SlWdS7ehyphenhyphen21omN9ym7bSwRSnOPhelkR2NGDOvg_4GsJS/s400/larakeet+1.jpg" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-STYLE: italic; TEXT-ALIGN: centerfont-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Rainbow Lorikeets in Katherine Gorge National Park</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqXHeK7F_m44Jx1u2PQx98iK4h4VriWdKFuvu_s5XnmKpadGIap93NG9qF_PG6WSF560baw8uHMge2vd7qNOpZTfhJskv-_hOnozYyLFM-JdIop5xtsRCZm3rPGEjeCmNBc1HkFFHfX2MH/s1600-h/giant+termite+mounds.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136536055710830594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqXHeK7F_m44Jx1u2PQx98iK4h4VriWdKFuvu_s5XnmKpadGIap93NG9qF_PG6WSF560baw8uHMge2vd7qNOpZTfhJskv-_hOnozYyLFM-JdIop5xtsRCZm3rPGEjeCmNBc1HkFFHfX2MH/s400/giant+termite+mounds.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-STYLE: italic; TEXT-ALIGN: centerfont-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Giant termite mounds along roadside between Kakadu National Park to Katherine Gorge National Park</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="trebuchet ms"><span style="font-size:100%;">In the US all national parks, refuges and forest lands are managed to a nationwide standard by the federal government.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>The consistently high standard of our national parks and refuges results from this uniform federal management.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>It also leads to the<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>imposition of a style of management or governance that sometimes conflicts with local custom often leading to confrontation.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>An alternative, presented in Australia, is the creation of a national standard that is implemented by state governments but monitored by federal authorities. After a quick tour of the park we set up camp in the well-kept campground run by a concession in the park. </span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtx01mSkDm1CkA3frtk_iF2fnHm_tXmbQb_F8BT-9vENTnkR6RjUBC2537yYTgSulPWohv51MHJZ6rPpKauw_D0Hb7Dyb1LfQI8gw7JAZtrTU-P6daMntKzTa0nB-JdHblLFW9i3Uwhzn/s1600-h/mandy+and+wallaby.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136537142337556546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtx01mSkDm1CkA3frtk_iF2fnHm_tXmbQb_F8BT-9vENTnkR6RjUBC2537yYTgSulPWohv51MHJZ6rPpKauw_D0Hb7Dyb1LfQI8gw7JAZtrTU-P6daMntKzTa0nB-JdHblLFW9i3Uwhzn/s400/mandy+and+wallaby.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:100%;" >Mandy shooing a Wallaby, a bit too habituated to humans, out of our campsite in Katherine Gorge National Park </span></div><p class="MsoNormal" face="trebuchet ms"><span style="font-size:100%;">We intended to take the river cruise but chose instead to rent kayaks (at a lower fare and for a longer period).<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>We spent most of the day wandering the gorge, rich with birds like the Rainbow Lorikeet and the Blue-faced Honeyeater,<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>At the end of the first Gorge (there are 13) we came to a cliff with aboriginal paintings over a thousand years old.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="trebuchet ms"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeC55fNukx9A6vnpYh1URxBKNTIUF8_n9Z_WJc2dlKQKBCAB8VfFtXJY5ysLgIsQzolaunr9LseiSDTEhKEsJEVm3My_wLop5WWbecqEjssrLNg0KlXgfhSRdYj8h7IMzZ4KjEfn2xE1WG/s1600-h/mandy+kayaking.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136537146632523858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeC55fNukx9A6vnpYh1URxBKNTIUF8_n9Z_WJc2dlKQKBCAB8VfFtXJY5ysLgIsQzolaunr9LseiSDTEhKEsJEVm3My_wLop5WWbecqEjssrLNg0KlXgfhSRdYj8h7IMzZ4KjEfn2xE1WG/s400/mandy+kayaking.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-STYLE: italic; TEXT-ALIGN: centerfont-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Kayaking in Katherine Gorge</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-STYLE: italic; TEXT-ALIGN: centerfont-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA9cgtiXh7odqMLPw-e8I_2Up0MDV3DtEtg8QCnqYzYqLDOGeQLmXwl0mAkOqZGrxEkoHtoY73uGXA0nq3BVNe8YWsDSNVomL0nPjKos6KGdj_CUsZLzf_0uD_ILDWVb1Iz4LqdHYXBqLg/s1600-h/aboringaln+painting.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136534715681034130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA9cgtiXh7odqMLPw-e8I_2Up0MDV3DtEtg8QCnqYzYqLDOGeQLmXwl0mAkOqZGrxEkoHtoY73uGXA0nq3BVNe8YWsDSNVomL0nPjKos6KGdj_CUsZLzf_0uD_ILDWVb1Iz4LqdHYXBqLg/s400/aboringaln+painting.jpg" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-STYLE: italic; TEXT-ALIGN: centerfont-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Cliff paintings by an Aboriginal artist made over a thousand years ago</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-STYLE: italic; TEXT-ALIGN: centerfont-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijeQNFtpTT6-_ifH5DpDmVYOx1FcZtcBu280Q3_gsxpDbWU_3kP0Gyo40UkB_JVpDqpf4imol_kRj5uXvR-cc2RF5_di653X2JHjvN8o5t09No-x3nO-tmVnZRTFQoRzdx9jQ8jSSd1nbM/s1600-h/dragonfly.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136534754335739858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijeQNFtpTT6-_ifH5DpDmVYOx1FcZtcBu280Q3_gsxpDbWU_3kP0Gyo40UkB_JVpDqpf4imol_kRj5uXvR-cc2RF5_di653X2JHjvN8o5t09No-x3nO-tmVnZRTFQoRzdx9jQ8jSSd1nbM/s400/dragonfly.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Dragonfly in Katherine Gorge<br /><br /></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" face="trebuchet ms"><span style="font-size:100%;">We stayed the last night of our journey across Australia at Fitzroy Crossing in Western Australia.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>Coming in late, we decided to have a celebratory dinner; the next day we would be in Broome after traveling 6,600 km from the southeast corner of the continent to the northwest.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>Fitzroy Crossing Lodge is the first thing you will see coming in to the town and it’s beautiful buildings and lush grounds would make you wonder what more lies in this very isolated town.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>The next day we found the town offered little else than the normal road house towns that dot the bush landscape.</span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFhxmGHuYFWhgwQZRbqC60Pjs1HqGTqzc1XQF7XWDZnECl_GBHZEyif_L1SHtc9XWhFP6X2ei6-10Rr9_cToMwCCmnWDm1uojKWkV8gVc-Xxpi0PoK2lAxDldJdnQhKH1tg37Rs27rz5t/s1600-h/giant+boab.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136536038530961394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFhxmGHuYFWhgwQZRbqC60Pjs1HqGTqzc1XQF7XWDZnECl_GBHZEyif_L1SHtc9XWhFP6X2ei6-10Rr9_cToMwCCmnWDm1uojKWkV8gVc-Xxpi0PoK2lAxDldJdnQhKH1tg37Rs27rz5t/s400/giant+boab.jpg" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-STYLE: italic; TEXT-ALIGN: centerfont-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Two large Boab trees on the road to Fitzroy Crossing</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms"><span style="font-size:100%;">After a brief late morning visit to Gieke Gorge under a sun that made the sand unbearably hot, we jumped into the river vigilant for freshwater crocodiles (although they are not dangerous to humans). The final leg to Broome was through one of the most remote sections of our trip -- through the Western Australia Kimberley Region.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>It was ravaged by fires and as hot as an oven.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>Over one stretch of 400 km (more than the length of NJ) we came across just one road house (= glorified gas station!).<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5a3EvOR1MNcXlDyY9f5MTswkTbCAmlwGl62maUQewGFpDoPqJNu-a7GDD1o76KG3KwGX0vq9dhAwNjFEropE-LE1v6pwJPF_9eStFDJ-RBHV0TKFxa20ejHgUZri-gyFToINQEuiP0JOm/s1600-h/storm+and+smoke.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136537670618534018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5a3EvOR1MNcXlDyY9f5MTswkTbCAmlwGl62maUQewGFpDoPqJNu-a7GDD1o76KG3KwGX0vq9dhAwNjFEropE-LE1v6pwJPF_9eStFDJ-RBHV0TKFxa20ejHgUZri-gyFToINQEuiP0JOm/s400/storm+and+smoke.jpg" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-STYLE: italic; TEXT-ALIGN: centerfont-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">A threatening rainstorm over a smoldering fire.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>The rains marked the beginning of the wet season in northern Australia</span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3vy2wIvKkCIdA_DQ5cXL8o8QbdKasTJMyADelLjRqRDquEIC26Ex0GS4Bc9gbC2mkEwRG9mQLi0P-G1kR243XpcVLnRoBpOR_xAxat6FHMqQlBmq2_8ozzBQUmojEKF_04tpznYr4dGq/s1600-h/gieke+gorg.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136536094365536290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3vy2wIvKkCIdA_DQ5cXL8o8QbdKasTJMyADelLjRqRDquEIC26Ex0GS4Bc9gbC2mkEwRG9mQLi0P-G1kR243XpcVLnRoBpOR_xAxat6FHMqQlBmq2_8ozzBQUmojEKF_04tpznYr4dGq/s400/gieke+gorg.jpg" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-STYLE: italic; TEXT-ALIGN: centerfont-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Gieke Gorge National Park</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-STYLE: italic; TEXT-ALIGN: centerfont-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0kDQ_-DxclW35ATOlUdMvoilbt9Ymp_O314cu_ODTt1iZ_NA2_IDJsvPQtJ3HZSIOIkBfcKVJviLt9oDmu6cujdvTu3A8UNJKGJ1JAo7lEiH2uE4ZNcv-tsnyztcFnH_o4lLzP8raEBe/s1600-h/smoke+woodland.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136537172402327666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0kDQ_-DxclW35ATOlUdMvoilbt9Ymp_O314cu_ODTt1iZ_NA2_IDJsvPQtJ3HZSIOIkBfcKVJviLt9oDmu6cujdvTu3A8UNJKGJ1JAo7lEiH2uE4ZNcv-tsnyztcFnH_o4lLzP8raEBe/s400/smoke+woodland.jpg" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-STYLE: italic; TEXT-ALIGN: centerfont-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Smoky woodland on the road to Broome</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:11;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;">We first saw the turquoise waters of Roebuck Bay near the Broome Bird Observatory</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;">at about 5:00 p.m. -- we promised Clive we would be at there at 4:00 -- after a 6,600 km journey of ten days, we were only 1 hour late!</span><span style="font-size:+0;"> </span></span></span></p>Shorebird Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15385844029270323237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755285369371889348.post-79833331802579491692007-11-11T03:26:00.000-05:002008-12-11T16:25:29.348-05:00Australia - Edith Falls to Kakadu National Park, NT, November 6, 2007<div align="center"><br /></div><div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6gjoAxn8RjhUIC_obKOWG8PzWyyruqY6k-S0-jAnFyWeb-0Dv4g6UYPpdf7YmZ9Nw3aV4kUBIdv1R6pBUTt4VZt-m-xLwY4qn56lQ-I3niLQjefN9MNdpUJGnk2R8KmEP5LurWJfj6sxx/s1600-h/croc+sign.jpg"><em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5131498684057043170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6gjoAxn8RjhUIC_obKOWG8PzWyyruqY6k-S0-jAnFyWeb-0Dv4g6UYPpdf7YmZ9Nw3aV4kUBIdv1R6pBUTt4VZt-m-xLwY4qn56lQ-I3niLQjefN9MNdpUJGnk2R8KmEP5LurWJfj6sxx/s400/croc+sign.jpg" border="0" /></em></a><em> Roadside warnings about swimming near Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, Australia</em><br /><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We stayed Sunday night at Edith Falls National Park, just north of Katherine, and got a quick lesson in Australian ants. Our first acquaintance was at Devils Marbles. While Mandy raised the tent, I started dinner on the portable gas grill. Beneath us roamed the occasional ant. I sautéed the vegetables and grilled some meat, looked down at my feet and was surprised to see ants crossing in all directions in an area about 10 square feet. They posed no problem, so I attended to the food. In a short time, I looked down again to see the squad of ants turn into a small army that covered much of our camp. Still they seemed to pose no problem; they had no interest in food (although we tentatively identified them as “Meat Ants”). We went into our tent that night with some trepidation. </span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><div align="left"><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5131499435676320050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6LQQ7UdetYgpIz577jASdc3gvzVMuXCXnu4f-0F9spij5l2EiWaeeHDuOgbyWcRCOki8JHc7Nj94tTgvaLo8m8SGwHvfOyvlJ2wa_iP_aazPIeLCJn1MKRl541kkeps3yBXr9vTwr4guV/s400/our+camp+at+devils+marbles.jpg" border="0" /><em> Our camp site at Devils Marbles</em><br /><br />The next night at Edith Falls National Park we went through the same process and soon found the ants were out again -- this time tiny red ants smaller than a small flax seed. These, however, were interested in the food, the greasy pans, and us. The next morning we found them into nearly everything including a trash bag inside the truck. The fact that they were smaller than the mesh of the tent screen gave us an even greater fright than the night before. Fortunately our fear was unfounded although, sadly, they found Mandy’s chocolate also stashed in the truck. We learned the next day that Northern Australia has over 200 species of ants. </span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><div align="center"><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5131497820768616610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4u37jzbG9v8jJz9emX_T7VWb2Ya2JNz6Zn1lbAtjwkcKgryqvMDPRHwEygBhMPhMevmKsgd0ZmooJvSrkhfH3kTQjrxLG6PrB_TAQcZDzp1ZwBvOWsoVULY4nO4e-IfoKpZoIFzdddBPS/s400/ants+on+cup.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><em>Nasty little black ants invading our food . . . so small they can (and did) slip through the mesh screening of our tent.</em></p><p align="center"><em></em></p></span><p></p><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5131497807883714706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6W-d2I6KEUI1uzEap5TnxNG1hyAjkDT3yQWo0QSxsaThuiPQ_fZpfyOTS9Zpv6SaD3aUCkCD4yav3zS9QfAX7Rp4lSdYYCPLZxCGHCUMAg2aHwC8LWo_jMnCuWLY_vfSAfJCadsB4q5XL/s400/ants.jpg" border="0" /><em>The ants are an amazing variety of sizes and colors -- these ants were gold and green.</em></span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5131498718416781586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNPOtGKVICzyRTuUYXguEFirjvLfrsbpqZh0buYn5vDQfVZQX3-AzcFC_xsWUEJkdez_FFgk52CiKFeT9rVm93T8ixuremaRIXCTGJRCmVW8b0fBUXKya0R0nQ8M-sCc0SnSK2djDC0n4a/s400/land+waders.jpg" border="0" /> <em>Bush Stone-Curlews at Edith Falls National Park with chick in the leaves on the lower right.</em><br /></p><p>The ants were a fright, but the heat hit us like a hammer when we stepped out of the air-conditioning of the Land Cruiser in Katherine. Imperceptibly we slid from cool to burning hot in about a five-hour ride nonstop through Tennant Creek to Katherine (we found out later that the cool morning at Devils Marbles was a fluke). By the time we set camp in Edith Falls it was steamy.<br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5131499444266254658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIWVsl-U3A5Lofj6uw2ioOurfvxr8BK7HmMh_6xbNcBOSJ9I5bJiTQRPCuDXaRfCECqbYvKP6GRw6wFJvPiTd3MUOEQvhKJPPtS53rwJPlTFR05RDYAoOKGNOoGtF3gPiN0nztyEzmTfVn/s400/rain+over+monsoon+forest.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="left"><em>Thunder storm moving over the Monsoon Forest at Kakadu National Park</em><br /><br />So the next night, we decided to luxuriate at Kakadu National Park and stayed at the Park’s Cooinda Lodge. It was cool, ant free, with two swimming pools, a bar and crowded with happy tourists. It was well-run by the Aboringinal owners of the land -- the lodge and all the concessions.<br /></p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5131499701964292482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jYbd4NqyCnkMzWxRjcJfdg8YynEeHGWBIi-AbXUnJNPLozsljkLGfNLwq79aCKwcsZ0EnjnA5vOpQTHAn8bqp8LQdzkFUN4wK-Kih0pb59tGeYzQdjb435vD_nNKkvtivOrBbU5ycZLD/s400/white+parrot.jpg" border="0" /> <em>Little Corella near the Cooinda Lodge, Kakadu NP </em></p><p><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5131500878785331602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjupI8Ymj8iE5cRd07fKgiTKGftgqP5yIy4ue5ddX9twudnmFHhQ9KVpqp593aVgH-bUflmjcnajMTno5UylFJFYUR3Ub8Fw9YpHKsRaZt8gET-YS-CfW6GoK3biIMyCrrhj4W3kkBsi5mj/s400/IMG_0409.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><em>Australian White Ibis feeding outside our room at Cooinda</em> Lodge<br /></p><p align="left">Early next morning we met Buck Salau, a field supervisor of Feral Species Team in the Department of Environment and Water Resources Service. Buck agreed to show us around Kakadu National Park and discuss his work and the operation of the park. It’s an odd arrangement. In the US a park is either federal, state or local and, at least in my experience, has no dual authority; a federal land is run by federal staff and likewise for state and county lands. In Kakadu the Australian National Government granted the aboringinal people a land claim that included the park in 1982. The Government then leased it back from them. The Aboriginal groups essentially run the park to the extent that it is they who greet visitors to what is their park and it is they who earn the income. Buck explained that the profits go to businesses run by aboringinal groups or their proxies. Yet for all intents and purposes, the employees one sees are government staff or employees of the concessionaires. While explaining all of this, Buck guided us through billabongs (rivers isolated by dry lands) and spring-tide flooded wetlands full of wildlife.<br /><br /></p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5131497855128354994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQiYhhgcGB3AopIVEtclEroPjT6I4gyDYaLuvDrJBYpo3xfMApKmPPRNObN9GR8UEKUt2ZjnDGf6bgY01UvyX_teP1g2YcntSpfWoJAjEuFEbWe7SKwLbPGWyX7NoTVsiV66zcauya9sz/s400/Buck+in+water+lilies.jpg" border="0" /><em>Buck Salau showing us a wetland at Kakadu National Park </em></p><p><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5131499461446123890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi14ircSbdmWOCzN6tUWsSQGSgvUiCNgxAur8AwRh5AJMXMbEBwZb70NyqPg4Bx4pbM5tflG0Ls9P8Gzj0hdapCL4Tx0ZKmjaP0s-qZ7FKaLAaPuVlqjpJrZi-EavSblttpWEwbPyW9HZj4/s400/waterlily.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><em>Closeup of the waterlillies</em></p></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5131498692646977778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1jK22uQghqO_0J-5zxN0Wx-Tc9FKh1ZtvfyOVzfGixQ6OnWaDsduv03pMz9HufR9vodnkQqDq0W9QfA_N0g3wbYFOd84NuTxwl3dClx5MFCdiFUCulnbYbscEwKKQ1TGobFv8TdbPp9MR/s400/dancing+cranses.jpg" border="0" /> </span><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><em>Dancing Brolgas on a tidal flat shown to us by Buck Salau</em><br /><em></em></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><p align="left"><br /><br />The relationship of private enterprise and the government is another interesting aspect of these lands; there appears to be a near seamless coexistence of both employees of the government and employees of the concessions. By all appearances it works well, the park appears to be carefully managed to protect both the ecological and cultural resources and the lodge is clean and I assume profitable, being full in this the off-season. As a former employee of state government, and knowing how difficult it is to run parks in the US, there is a lesson to be learned from this effective linkage of private enterprise and government lands.<br /><br />As if to make the point we finished the day on a boat tour of the South Alligator River, run by an aboriginal concessionaire. The operator provided the 40 or so tourist with an intimate experience with White-Bellied Sea-Eagles, Azure Kingfishers, Darters, Whistling Ducks and thousands of Magpie Geese without creating any apparent disturbance or impact. But the star of the tour were the salt-water crocodiles, which gave everyone a memorable experience despite the trip being cut short by a violent thunderstorm. </p></span><p></p><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5131499457151156578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtJIWb9MAVDLlCgmqIM7JMdPbX9v5RHBEb0fePposZ2Am4TthxK6UygF-zv766_dzwW6Q4myUvDZ5c9hpuSA-7OH-30wE241B-ShHmGlZzZKdn5IjZqHLtnGumJ3t_V1Y1tavp3paum_2/s400/snake+bird.jpg" border="0" /><em>A Darter at Yellow Waters in Kakadu NP.</em></span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5131497885193126098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH_BXbOg25S6Z50NnQFok9fI9LaxQBJb0Dbb1gLBggM3Eo0gajq3dfITzmA2_bDe31qWMXTTpMLwdZ1vmM2xN7r31ZvMkAN25NvrvspESJerk5OHVSBogvGUrW_zrUdOP8cqL0S5bp4Qxj/s400/croc+on+ground.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><em>Crocodile resting along a bank of the South Alligator River</em> </p></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><p></p><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5131499448561221970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNmXhCsZMwMqaa-F-80Wwvo3ascRTIye3a-9ZfJRdZYdATgc0-D56SIi7txsK4nqq9iyrgqxWjQCw4gpONSP3nEX-soCfSO08FGQwx2ZnAumKNYX8nO2h6xgiuextuWGfFjS5gGWzQ2Sbw/s400/sea+eagle.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><em>A White-Bellied Sea-Eagle nesting along the South Alligator river, the tour boat loaded with 40 people never flushed one of the 6 individuals seen on the tour.</em> </p></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><p></p><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5131498696941945090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF70M1Cwy0DWvvsjrKRiGrLlVfSHa-5Xn5wVcjsNwk3WFE9_mWxPhVla07dxk7GxDeOnSXb8vpWJFyj7hZHMv4EDIvo94UbntyGjcLMr0SXgaRmzX_UzCOLnTmqHoieh3dT2eB_nPiz1Ie/s400/jacana.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><em>A Comb-crested Jacana walking on the lily pads of the South Alligator R.</em></p></span><p></p>Shorebird Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15385844029270323237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755285369371889348.post-49327216733438997012007-11-09T18:51:00.000-05:002008-12-11T16:25:30.860-05:00Australia - Port Augusta, SA, to Alice Springs, NT, November 4, 2007<div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">By day three we flew through fertile southeast Australia and pushed into the barren deserts in the center of the continent. The contrast couldn’t have been greater. In both places, phrases like “up the road apiece” mean nothing. For the most part nothing lies up the road and the distance between places keeps getting longer. In the south there are vast grain fields sprinkled with vineyards producing the wines we all enjoy in the US. Traveling north farmed fields give way to desert used to graze cattle and sheep. Where a drive from Port Augusta to Alice Springs seemed a short leg of our journey, it was in reality equivalent to the trip from New Jersey to northern Florida (~740 miles). In all that distance spanned an immense dry land dabbled with shades of gold, green and red. Our greatest hazard was plowing into a stray ranch animal or a hopping kangaroo. We could tell the tourists from the locals by the iron-work that guards the front end of their vehicles from these otherwise lethal hazards. </span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130993952385319026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIkeHcCVo38Cpwli-D7Ud1zgVFtmFOpEWcSCQENmEJ89sx9Hh8RDu2DNcdkMlge7DfxpieSb9F5NZU3SScdm5r5Ssw3JLyVwj5XWgQSWT-kemoxZbNZdW3OvLLNDQdFiD97N6i216x2i5q/s400/Salt+lake+north+of+Port+Augusta.jpg" border="0" /><em>Larry on a dry salt lake north of Port Augusta.</em> </div><div align="center"><br /></div><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130993948090351714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbkqrRc4pScdheCVu2_K_LbF_jbAG91VeAYovxOaWWLLe14sxK_9DxjJgiHu6eISxp6T2Ic458TyGnRPoxosRwFvlutvQB8BTn7Lj5nCBvb86Kj5fSuPOVuvFUBblfYk61mlYCcDX19H-Z/s400/Road+Train+of+three+trailers.jpg" border="0" /><em>A “Road Train” or group of up to four trailers behind one diesel tractor. </em></p><p align="left">After Port Augusta the desert stretched on for 1,000 miles. In between are a few small towns like Coober Pedy, a dusty, opal-mining town and the subject of at least a couple of Outback movies. But mostly the vast wilderness is broken by small settlements surrounding roadhouses – places to gas up, have a pee, or sleep. </p><p align="left"><br /></p></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130993583018131522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQDdktrQAOOYeDPdC9PaoalreisDQGiWLBBbNUmqA5B_VwsrXGttP827Rors2ZJ3kOPnfFHqkKMaL27Y3pHmJ_3pAnGCZJZJ_L6pP5QvlHxSsmIQeSJzbaay4JeX89C0negV0uc9KrR0wZ/s400/Opal+Store+in+Coober+Pedy.jpg" border="0" /><em>An opal store in Coober Pedy<br /></em></div><div align="center"><br /></div><p align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130993574428196866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrjeyLw9cAhY77ePOvH4cUJvOsZnEYisHN4_nMywu_rUy_INtf4HfP3gmeFppVRTUdswOp1xkCabQJMTw4OA2niEdgRgX9M1Yel__YzXjBBW6ZG0Wsz5tQipJBjXSSAIiQtqwfTCPakH3K/s400/Camel+Car+north+of+Tenant+Creek.jpg" border="0" /><em> Camel/car on its way to Alice Springs</em><br /><br /><br />We had hoped to cover this section of our journey quickly to get on to Alice Springs and areas north but found ourselves engulfed in unprecedented drenching rain and violent thunderstorms. All of our Australian hosts warned us it would be dry and hot, but we found it cool with so much rain that the road at times was a sheet of water that dragged us down to a crawl. By late afternoon, it was clear that we were not going to make it to Alice Springs before dark, something we were warned against. Or we could camp, in what promised to be a torrential rain, rapid-fire lightening and thunder. We choose to press on.<br /><br />The sky was electric with lightening in nearly every direction. The rains flooded the land, drained into the waterways that in turn flooded the roadway. Prominent “Floodway” signs marked low places where water crosses the roads, some with upright guages marking the depth up to 1.4 m above the road surface. While slowly ploughing through the flooded road we could here frogs or toads singing loudly, surprising in such a normally dry place. For much of the distance to Alice Springs, small toads sat on the pavement obviously expecting us to avoid hitting them. We inched our way over the last 200 km to Alice Springs driving slowly, with high-beams, on a constant vigil for kangaroos that never appeared. If it weren’t for all the road kills you would have thought they didn't exist. </p><p align="center"><br /></p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130993943795384402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7mNMa-kq8wqINB1574wURjNjLVYmi7Iy5NCV1bfj__WZCh2EPu2d_ubpC1c_YO8TtaH_ypBTdPtVR3gIqMjXW4ZaQhPP33DkNIlBW4hjjlc3LdmrCB0_zU_8mOxpW6JjGqDA2boTOU1iX/s400/Rain+in+the+desert+south+of+Alice+Springs.jpg" border="0" /><em>A thunderstorm bearing down on us from the north, darkness falling and Alice Spring still 200 km away. </em></p><em><p><br /></p></em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130993578723164210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDu0gZdSKQARd4_IqZailrGEbIhbZztd9G-xgA9eZy02JfyaOu2HYhMmAd9epjWryqCz9GnY_xPNgzsIiIr2-7SgrilQXvz3h1TuRSm5JeGahMZZbZCc1bQ6ccCpbIcZWar-4VKYvNfWju/s400/Flooded+road+to+Alice+Springs.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="left"><em>Flooded “floodway” on the road to Alice Springs after a downpour that last for nearly two hours<br /></em><br />After a night’s stay in an Alice Springs motel, restocking supplies, gas and a “flat white” (coffee made with milk), we moved on toward Katherine. The land around Alice Springs and north is dramatically different from the more southern desert. A number of mountain ranges wind their way across the desert. The Davenport and McDonnell ranges practically glow in the sunny sky broken by dark clouds – the remnants of the previous day’s storm. In this area of scattered aboriginal lands we saw our first groups of native people. Not unlike the Inuit of Canada they seemed deprived, almost displaced in this land of white people. Only a few hours north of Alice Springs, we came to the Red Sands Art Gallery located in the small settlement of Ti Tree. The gallery features work by many local aboriginal artists from the Central Desert and Utopia Homelands.<br /><br />We spent our first night camping at Devil’s Marbles Conservation Reserve. Clouds gathered then dispersed through the night and by the next morning the sky shone bright and warm. All-in-all we felt fortunate to experience this land after a cooling rain.<br /><br /></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130993578723164194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiziRa2IahI39zLTKZPIZHnxOp92ew2RVNVC6CZsVLpidfx7OJyeRnlMmaZ4OXQqgTL-qtqTcz0J9XpmBp8ro66jnDekNZZSyyZtoy9XdZo12-fMyvFAFswDcY9ayMBM_HhI-y5aLWZP9b2/s400/Devil+Marbles+National+Conservation+Site.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="center"><em>One of the the many rock formations at Devil's Marbels Conservation Reserve</em></p><p><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130993574428196882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4z4MLfCt36gdoGQJzcoNReuM0MHZC7-7kn_WzIBtEkzIGcz0lUKAmjEYO6H1K4Nh4JR-AT2XaEU7BO128soM3Sqeg3o9mBgsxokMzIp4PO-6BGj9ABXyAaXoqFblycUUvJfbof0ECw5eZ/s400/Desert+near+Tenant+Creek.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><em>On the road to Tennant Creek</em><br /><br /><br /><br /></p></span>Shorebird Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15385844029270323237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755285369371889348.post-80118772416268497242007-11-09T18:30:00.000-05:002008-12-11T16:25:32.544-05:00Australia - Melbourne, VIC, to Port Pirie, SA, November 2, 2007<div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">For the last seven years, our shorebird blogs have focused on our work in North and South America, from the tundra of the Canadian Arctic to the pampas of Tierra del Fuego. This blog will be different. Although eventually it will describe a shorebird expedition, this time to northwest Australia, it will also describe our journey from Melbourne in southeast Australia, to the expedition site in Broome. Broome is about as far as one can get from Melbourne so our trip will lead us through some of the most remote areas of Australia. When we arrive we will join a group led by Dr. Clive Minton. Each year he assembles a team of volunteers (including amateurs and professionals) from around the world to cannon-net shorebirds at Roebuck Bay and 80-mile Beach. These expeditions can last as long as three months, this expedition will last about 3 weeks. We, however, will join the expedition for just the first ten days. </span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><div align="left"><br />Clive, who taught us everything we know about catching and banding shorebirds, has been working on shorebirds since his childhood in England, more than 50 years ago. Although expert in most forms of shorebird study, he invented and refined the modern techniques for capturing shorebirds using cannon-nets. Clive started this work in England and brought it with him when he migrated to Australia where his shorebird studies and conservation efforts are so widely recognized, he was bestowed with the Order of Australia, an honor equivalent to being knighted in England.</div><div align="left"><br />Our journey began at JFK airport in NY on October 28 with a flight to Los Angeles, an unscheduled stop in Brisbane caused by a plane malfunction, then to Sydney and finally to Melbourne where Clive lives. After our 32 hour journey and a long nights sleep, we began packing for our 10-day trip across the heart of Australia covering 5,000 km. Clive graciously offered us the use of his Toyota Land Cruiser, a mighty vehicle up to the task.<br />But before our start, the co-leader the Broome expedition, Ros Jessop, invited us to Phillip Island Penguin Conservation Center where she studies and protects the Little Penguin.<br /></div></span><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130988046805286802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh82jcP5H3gnT0JKndCf-PEA4Qx_X6ypObamLR-IQ2pErOZL5dZE_-0v7kCaTN4sPYIvZGsHV_Hp4XgrEoNrlR78Uc1pIggltH0cSqb_2fUF7kFutHAQUWcmFQclnDIAIWP25IT_fYW0LgD/s400/Island+offshore+of+Phillips+Island,+Victoria.jpg" border="0" /> <em>Coastal islands called the "Nobbies" off Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia<br /></em></span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><div align="center"><br /></div></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b5MwU6zlyjY/RzFgXq42WuI/AAAAAAAABMg/eWQghyvImM0/s1600-h/Wallaby+on+Phillips+Island.jpg"></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130988304503324578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_rGCnOlc6u4s9wDZBJY-L_fDVsI6oHNewr0lY817UggWB-JZ_6wb-Utz_gCAnqRf3NUOfXCx9qzJyqI444UkzK7tpkQP7tcM2XrHFZ2oSU-NUN_dQq0Wm31Zb_E-PVuSdWGNBiw-0LI5o/s400/Wallaby+on+Phillips+Island.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>A Wallaby on the grassy bluffs of Phillip Island </em></span></p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><p align="left"><br />The Little Penguin spends most of its time out at sea feeding, but when breeding the foot-high birds come ashore at dusk at the edge of the sea, cluster into groups and courageously march across the open beach to burrows hidden in the dunes. Since 1923, the Australian National Government and Victoria State Government have nurtured this remarkable natural event into one of the most unusual and successful wildlife tourism opportunities in the world. Each evening, up to 4,000 people populate stands built into the dunes and watch the march of the penguins while park staff describe their life-history and answer questions in at least a half dozen different languages. Boardwalks lace the dunes providing adults and children rare access to intimate courting behaviors without impact to the birds.<br /></p></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b5MwU6zlyjY/RzFgNa42WtI/AAAAAAAABMY/57NncZj-OPI/s1600-h/Stands+filling+for+nightime+penquin+parade.jpg"></a><br /><p></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130988691050381250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLOwNB4PIEhPXex_gkBjG3xJ2CR3fXlExbEc4F7-3-w9_CqWMicWTXuHKilCg3kukDYpnlvg_r74GEVt5W5zPoXf1I1QyEwtVDGHwrnhXffbw072-_icH0_6MpWG72M_dYd3-0l-uBzJQY/s400/Stands+filling+for+nightime+penquin+parade.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>The stands fill for the evening "Penguin Parade" </em></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130988527841623986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9sN6kYcZs6opBbLliXSzw3NA9fkG39eYjwmWqV82AvjmqC1M59P-aiN93gep7A7nZJiLLPv8MwLWeBQXNuJtnjrQQcdTeSjbwtEqKWYvNuJ4VbWUu2M-bfimtYCJl8PmR_QwZSZlN_-q/s400/Roz+Jessop+next+to+display+for+Penquin+Foundation.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>Roz Jessop near the Penguin Foundation display </em></span></p><p align="center"><em><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></em></p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><p align="left">What impressed us the most about this operation was its scale – the Foundation not only educates but entertains thousands of visitors nightly. There are exhibits, games, food, even a green screen studio that allows visitors to be photographed surrounded by virtual penguins. This more than makes up for the prohibition on flash photography. Wisely the Victorian government allows the Foundation to keep the funds raised providing the basis for their conservation work and the incentive to do it well. One can’t help thinking that within this operation lies a productive model for the conservation of shorebirds on the Delaware Bay. </p><p align="left"><br />The next day, Clive and his wife, Pat, graciously helped us prepare for our 10-day journey across the Outback -- an adventure when prepared, a disaster when not. For those readers who know Clive, he was "in his glory" helping us pack for the trip he has taken many times before, right down to the precise arrangement he favors for postitioning boxes across the back seat to allow meals without stopping, and a timetable with daily targets to be achieved each day. When we described this to Roz, she said “oh yeah, just ditch that . . . . On second thought, keep it so that you know where you are supposed to be when you call in to Clive”.<br /><br /></p></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130989159201816530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYNoHEz1LB2nOWq8dwIbJhBom1DFtTrEC9_PO84UkyhDQij8Tb_QrkrKciHDIIWukFW8VCVt8y81tPCKsYFgE-NXrwSPwClmzNZcoZ2lUw61tVUUViuWi96yw2Ggvgacj80j0uZTX6k0nB/s400/Pat+Minton+feeding+Magpie.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><em></em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>Pat Minton feeds a Magpie<br /></em></span></p><p align="center"><br /></p><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130989562928742386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxB_ZgCHA10SbH_x_nZO9yzhISxSnfc9YI6h0gBNc1v0ALE1Zx-CubtCnVFcriDH_JBxrJa3NZCUWEoWyVV_BmfyzWrBfuVMzK2IHkYKt3mBFQNDClOBiMJqfFPMEiwagTTZt-_6sfBm9m/s400/Clive+preparing+the+Landcruiser+for+the+journey+north.jpg" border="0" /></span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>Clive prepares the Land Cruiser for the journey north </em></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em><br /></em><br />By 7 a.m. on Thursday, November 1, we were off. On our first day, we fell short of our goal by 400 km!!<br /></span></div>Shorebird Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15385844029270323237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755285369371889348.post-27716620957628721792007-07-09T13:08:00.000-04:002008-12-11T16:25:33.162-05:00Canada - Victoria Island, Nunavut, Wednesday, July 4, 2007<span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >We spent the last day in the field re-surveying Mt. Pelly for red knots. With the coordinates of the three nests found in 1999-2003, we used GPS to cover much of the area we had surveyed at the start of the trip but without success. We went back to Mt. Pelly that evening to listen for knots, but still no luck. We stayed to watch the sun, still far from the horizon even though it was nearly 11:00 pm, but eventually a strong cold wind drove us back to camp.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Gwen pointing out a red knot nest cup on Mt. Pelly occupied by a breeding pair in 2001, (see silver coin in the bottom of the nest cup)</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYuM2YM_YMpZDADbNf3YnspSl5_lH7QF5KTQM3ZmfbgUouYYWJ43CqCJPmaqkuq32dy-IMzmy2mTa9f5xhYifNMcHnRfEkbvHWpzps-b_mtEQ1R5dVFRSlwoHj30-NFrg15vl9jFuLR7g9/s1600-h/Nest+cup.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085253167586531010" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYuM2YM_YMpZDADbNf3YnspSl5_lH7QF5KTQM3ZmfbgUouYYWJ43CqCJPmaqkuq32dy-IMzmy2mTa9f5xhYifNMcHnRfEkbvHWpzps-b_mtEQ1R5dVFRSlwoHj30-NFrg15vl9jFuLR7g9/s400/Nest+cup.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >After a day breaking down camp and packing, we moved back to Cambridge Bay in preparation for our long flight home. Breaking camp after eight days is a bit like moving house, but using ATVs instead of a van. It took two trips with four ATV’s to move everything back to town. </span><p style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Our trips to the Augustus Hills, Lady Pelly and Little Pelly had taken us through Cambridge Bay three times. This allowed us to have much more interaction with the towns folk than on our previous expeditions to Southampton Island and King William Island. There, we were in complete isolation the whole time. This time we were fortunate to experience life in a predominately Inuit town and get to know some of the people. Peter Laube, his wife Helen Koaha and their lovely children, six in all, rented us the ATV's and graciously provided logistical support. It was unexpected and greatly appreciated. Peter and Helen typify the independent and entrepreneurial spirit of the people in this remote arctic settlement, running both a rental business and a construction company.<br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Helen, Peter and their children</span>.<br /></span></div><p style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXlXQAhxGPZGF492efV_s_pHIlTpViKQk7dnCSy0a5Q96WkmExoSVro0au5uYSOslOZmyjmW8u9z-kkNXwKb4UeC6IuWvuUDNxMsVWhlvO1q9Q6ob4q6YRI36hc11dGlEzQo5TObyEpK-o/s1600-h/Peter,+Helen+and+Family.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085253176176465634" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXlXQAhxGPZGF492efV_s_pHIlTpViKQk7dnCSy0a5Q96WkmExoSVro0au5uYSOslOZmyjmW8u9z-kkNXwKb4UeC6IuWvuUDNxMsVWhlvO1q9Q6ob4q6YRI36hc11dGlEzQo5TObyEpK-o/s400/Peter,+Helen+and+Family.jpg" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />Cassidy, Georgia, Kalene, Brandy, Jonhenry, Dyson, Madelaine</span></p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJxTuLj3uoaOZRldomuNPz4fN5zCHJVPVrKXRMyJ8ERuFQ0RuOAt7P9GP1ieusTG6MRhNAfenI5-UTqZ43-g4JzW0e1PUJtLZ8cwgjhtu63oC0QR2F0EEvsGjPy9zXhn9W2ixSw2tcXw2/s1600-h/kids.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085253180471432946" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJxTuLj3uoaOZRldomuNPz4fN5zCHJVPVrKXRMyJ8ERuFQ0RuOAt7P9GP1ieusTG6MRhNAfenI5-UTqZ43-g4JzW0e1PUJtLZ8cwgjhtu63oC0QR2F0EEvsGjPy9zXhn9W2ixSw2tcXw2/s400/kids.jpg" border="0" /></a></span> <p style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Cambridge Bay (population around 2,000) is growing slowly, both from the natural increase in the resident population and also from increased mining activity in the surrounding area. Most of the town’s income appears to come from natural resources (guides and logistics for hunting, fishing, birding, etc), from mineral resources (diamonds, gold and other precious minerals), and from commerce -- supplying the needs of the people and the government (community, Provincial and National Governments). The extraordinary isolation (it is a three-hour flight to Yellowknife, NWT, the nearest large town), the extreme climate (-30 to -50°C in winter is not uncommon) and the otherworldly effect of daylight all through the night in summer makes Cambridge Bay a truly unique place and afforded a wonderful experience that touched us all. The people of Cambridge Bay deserve to feel proud of what they still call their “hamlet”.<br /></span></p><p style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">As mentioned earlier we also had the good fortune to meet Rob Harmer, one the Nunavut Conservation Officers for the region. Although the entire team felt gratitude to Rob for his assistance and direction on all matters regulatory, Mandy and I felt a special connection with a fellow provincial (= state) conservation professional. Rob’s job is not unlike that of our own Conservation Officers in NJ and works for an organization similar to NJ Fish and Wildlife. But, of course, Rob deals with polar and grizzly bears, -50°C temperatures, as well as the best (and worst) hunters, birders, photographers and researchers from the rest of the world. He displayed a keen knowledge and understanding of the wildlife, the land and its people. He represented his agency well and with professionalism.<br /></span></p><p style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Much of our time in the field was spent in places of spiritual significance to the Inuit, and this helped us to gain some access to their culture. They say that the three hills, Mt. Pelly, Lady Pelly and Baby Pelly, arose from the dying bodies of three gods that could go no farther in harsh conditions. Although our team covers the gamut of religious background and commitment, we all felt an organic connection to the land and honored the sanctity of the areas we searched. There is no need to attend church when on Mt Pelly, Lady Pelly or Baby Pelly, you are in church. It made the loss of red knots all the more poignant.<br /></span></p><p style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Our entire team is grateful for the hard work of Dr. Humphrey Sitters, who edited this blog and Phillipa Sitters for putting it up on the internet while we were gone. The same goes for Steve Gates, who help us get ready for the trip and with Satellite phone communications. They are long-term members of the team who for personal reasons could not make the trip. They were missed.<br /></span></p><p style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">As said above, we are also thankful to Peter Laube and Helen Koaha and their family who own and run Kalvik Enterprises, Inc., in Cambridge Bay. If anyone is interested in equipment & ATV rentals, contact Kalvik Enterprises (867) 963-2922. Also thanks again to Rob Harmer and Shawn Sather, both conservation officers that can be contacted through Nunavut Department of the Environment in Cambridge Bay.<br /></span></p><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >Funding for this trip came from New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife and the New Jersey Natural Lands Trust in the Office of Natural Lands Management, both in the Department of Environmental Protection. Funds also came from The Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ which also provide logistical support for the trip. The Delaware Fish and Wildlife, Department of Natural Resource and Environment Control provided funding. We are especially thankful to people of these groups Dave Chanda, Dave Jenkins, Bob Cartica, Michael Catania, Margaret O’Gorman, Karen Bennett.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >The 2007 Victoria Island Crew (L to R, top to bottom): Bruce Luebke, Michael Male, Gerry Binsfeld, Mark Peck, Georgia Peck, Larry Niles, Mandy Dey, Gwen Binsfeld.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-style: italic;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd3pRENo-P3X4Q0GYD2dpXvTNSapbEtCpQNns-FIgbRZMaA0hpQbp7mgjqtyDfaZIxyjYVu1J15flzdIwRqPhVeMCXKV8rNh620e-Y5rxyyqYCMe8vNB57P3oqwhdC-VER8Q107nDQwVjq/s1600-h/2007+Victoria+Crew.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085253171881498322" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd3pRENo-P3X4Q0GYD2dpXvTNSapbEtCpQNns-FIgbRZMaA0hpQbp7mgjqtyDfaZIxyjYVu1J15flzdIwRqPhVeMCXKV8rNh620e-Y5rxyyqYCMe8vNB57P3oqwhdC-VER8Q107nDQwVjq/s400/2007+Victoria+Crew.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></span></div><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ></span>Shorebird Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15385844029270323237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755285369371889348.post-57517267681848609412007-07-04T07:18:00.000-04:002008-12-11T16:25:35.328-05:00Canada - Victoria Island, Nunavut, Monday, July 2, 2007<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">A cold wet fog ended the long run of unseasonably warm weather we’ve had since our arrival on Victoria Island. Normal for this time of year is a high of about 46 degrees but over the last five days we have basked in temperatures as high as 75 degrees. Although most of the town of Cambridge Bay enjoyed the short reprieve from winter, it felt ominous. Was this global warming in action? Or was it just an odd spell of warmth punctuating the usual cool summer weather? Climate change or not, it was glorious. Warm gentle breezes, coupled with a sun that circled the horizon, lent a joyous atmosphere to this otherwise serious, bleak landscape.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">But then the wind shifted, coming right off frozen Lake Ferguson, and the temperature dropped 20 degrees. Towards evening, the fog enshrouded the peak of Lady Pelly; and very quickly it swept down the hill into our camp site with a damp that chilled to the bone. It was a tough end to a tough day. The day before, Saturday, we left our main camp on Mt Pelly without the cook tent to lighten our load for the 70 km cross-tundra ATV trip to Lady Pelly. On Sunday, we spent all day searching for knots on Lady Pelly, and the surrounding hills and lakeshores. We were tired. We only had a small Coleman stove, and were anxiously waiting for hot soup when the fog slowly engulfed us. Although the temperature was only in the forties, the wind left us all, Mark, Georgia, Bruce, Michael, Mandy and I, feeling bitterly cold as we clustered around the stove for the smallest bit of warmth. The only good thing was that the cold would forestall the mosquitoes for a few more days.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Cooking at the Lady Pelly campsite with fog approaching</span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1O02-1g1N7BAtQ5k5KKqkKFWXMm3qOkWlIowPw8x0LhBM6io769p9sW_RCRDtCzZbv0SbyIhUacjNgHmJs2BRbkRThhepM4fpHGYx2iaUw9LxCS52tf0y_8ITejVhgOyyclJGrx4D3kH5/s1600-h/CookingattheLadyPellycampsite,withfogapproaching.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083302681203496082" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1O02-1g1N7BAtQ5k5KKqkKFWXMm3qOkWlIowPw8x0LhBM6io769p9sW_RCRDtCzZbv0SbyIhUacjNgHmJs2BRbkRThhepM4fpHGYx2iaUw9LxCS52tf0y_8ITejVhgOyyclJGrx4D3kH5/s400/CookingattheLadyPellycampsite,withfogapproaching.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">What made the day even more gloomy for us was the absence of any sign of red knots. Over the last three days we had searched Baby Pelly Mountain, the Augustus Coastal Hills and Lady Pelly. Gerry and Gwen, who stayed behind when we left Mt Pelly, searched the small hills north and east of Cambridge Bay. All of these places ranked high as suitable habitat for knots according to our habitat model. In the field, they looked just like the places where we have found knots on both King William and Southampton Islands. We found no nests, heard no song, and saw no birds. We looked at both the high barren plateaus characteristic of nesting habitat, and at all the wet areas characteristic of foraging habitat. We spent the evenings, especially those that were windless, listening for their territorial calls, but we heard nothing. I am convinced there are no red knots in the areas we searched and possibly none in the entire area.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It has made us rethink our assumptions. Why are there no knots here? Could we be outside their range? This is not likely; knots have been seen here in the past even though, until now, no one has done a systematic search. Knots and their nests were recorded here fairly regularly until four years ago. In 1999, we found knots on Jenny Lind Island, just 50 km east; and in 2001 and 2003 we found knots on King William Island, 250 km east. We must be within their range.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So, are we looking in the right habitat? I can say “yes” to this without question. The habitat we have been searching not only fits with what was predicted by remote sensing but also with my experience of knot habitat elsewhere. We are also being very thorough. We are searching all potential habitat; not just the areas that seem to us to be the best, in case we have missed some subtle aspect that is important to knots. We have searched areas that cover a whole range of distances from the sea, different elevations and widely separated areas.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">One potentially important factor might be the weather. This year, winter was late and colder than normal. We have seen Canada geese and white-fronted geese flying around in pairs but obviously not nesting. It’s late for them to start, so probably they will not nest this year. But if this is the case with knots, we should still be able to find the adults as we have in similar circumstances elsewhere.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I’m sure there are other possible reasons why the knots are missing around Cambridge Bay, but one can’t help suspect that the main one is that the total population has undergone a drastic decline. Knots always nest at low densities, usually less than one pair per square kilometer. But what happens on the breeding grounds when numbers fall by 90%, as shown by counts in Delaware Bay? Do they gradually dwindle to nothing, one pair lost at a time until perhaps, like a needle in a haystack, only the last pair remains in an area the size of New Jersey; and then it too disappears? Or do they decline until a certain low level is reached, a level too low to allow a population to persist, and then the last remaining birds relocate in an effort to find a mate? Or do they follow other birds to areas with greater densities? I don’t think anyone really knows what happens on Arctic breeding grounds when a shorebird population collapses to the degree we have seen in the American red knot.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Certainly this is outside the experience of our team, which includes people like Clive Minton and Humphrey Sitters who have studied shorebird populations all over the world for more than 40 years. My own experience is more recent, but I have to say that over the last ten years I have grown used to hearing knots in the Arctic. Their plaintive song carries far across the landscape and, perhaps prophetically, they always end with “poor me, poor me, poor me”. All of our team has heard this song many times as we have lain in our tents in the middle of midsummer nights. It will be a great loss to this otherwise bleak and austere land if we can hear it no more.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Rock Ptarmigan near Lady Pelly</span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWZT5NG21AyLzFAhA6sHAN8EKV4IRkBMMlq6m0oSCshQLF38YlMKxpvcMblxzwMLxxNS3VSW46450sMd6BP_SpFhDCa8i8BEXmK5X7rWr9oQVtw7k4470zLcV3rmDtcZ2bqWKh1ETDWt3L/s1600-h/RockPtarmigannearLadyPelly.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083304644003550434" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWZT5NG21AyLzFAhA6sHAN8EKV4IRkBMMlq6m0oSCshQLF38YlMKxpvcMblxzwMLxxNS3VSW46450sMd6BP_SpFhDCa8i8BEXmK5X7rWr9oQVtw7k4470zLcV3rmDtcZ2bqWKh1ETDWt3L/s400/RockPtarmigannearLadyPelly.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br />Willow Ptarmigan on Lady Pelly</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8SUIQXM5jaiJq7NRtCpvrJEwSKDdngNhsEtFx31fDCJ-ciPTBA-QeIOPEErWFtQroXAmwRLOHbiois1okOmWXB_YbhVSchjPF1biT2OjBfyVf_WrM_VvlkSsp1BoPvOcTQBafvOCC6OoO/s1600-h/willowptarmiganononLadyPelly.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083304648298517746" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8SUIQXM5jaiJq7NRtCpvrJEwSKDdngNhsEtFx31fDCJ-ciPTBA-QeIOPEErWFtQroXAmwRLOHbiois1okOmWXB_YbhVSchjPF1biT2OjBfyVf_WrM_VvlkSsp1BoPvOcTQBafvOCC6OoO/s400/willowptarmiganononLadyPelly.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br />Sabine's Gull near Lady Pelly</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJph4Xvo6OBAnP6Oqlkggqxx6iEl3SJrWCvOl3EyvvQlc-_vVax7iYnJJ2q9-OVD84M66FLP9KSC5sWKXi4kv981gElK_ct5mI2sxYDCC78SvwhzJrSG7ATL-QHmFvPPsRGHM0YWL_sygY/s1600-h/SabinesgullnearLadyPelly.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083304648298517762" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJph4Xvo6OBAnP6Oqlkggqxx6iEl3SJrWCvOl3EyvvQlc-_vVax7iYnJJ2q9-OVD84M66FLP9KSC5sWKXi4kv981gElK_ct5mI2sxYDCC78SvwhzJrSG7ATL-QHmFvPPsRGHM0YWL_sygY/s400/SabinesgullnearLadyPelly.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br />Mark, Georgia, Bruce, Michael and Mandy in convoy across the tundra</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijCja5shrfNdvi4jzDWusCgQPVmyZwzggqs4vLYpbin7pG2zYX0uttAycxQQTxsASWaTURK0u9qQyqD9wDhHjx94y36Sp0f0xONYYAQXKnBZR7L9Hgdz1VprVLyZj5N-22ByYtdexspGw3/s1600-h/Mark,Georgia,Bruce,MichaelandMandycomingbacktotheMtPelly.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083304652593485074" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijCja5shrfNdvi4jzDWusCgQPVmyZwzggqs4vLYpbin7pG2zYX0uttAycxQQTxsASWaTURK0u9qQyqD9wDhHjx94y36Sp0f0xONYYAQXKnBZR7L9Hgdz1VprVLyZj5N-22ByYtdexspGw3/s400/Mark,Georgia,Bruce,MichaelandMandycomingbacktotheMtPelly.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br />The Lady Pelly campsite with Mt Pelly in the background</span><br /></div><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU327WnFTHSAjxfzGn1ji-I7KRODT7a5ZnXdXgmJrNI2yhRG99mL_TrnAR2lq7FqE_2bPfuG-YI-nRRbE0OqQ4gmXDJhTc3jjclgod9LpBFpplySSSQjkmSRj381wtRVjC3nfEtrFgKSvc/s1600-h/LadyPellyCampsitewithMtPellyinthebackground.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083304652593485090" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU327WnFTHSAjxfzGn1ji-I7KRODT7a5ZnXdXgmJrNI2yhRG99mL_TrnAR2lq7FqE_2bPfuG-YI-nRRbE0OqQ4gmXDJhTc3jjclgod9LpBFpplySSSQjkmSRj381wtRVjC3nfEtrFgKSvc/s400/LadyPellyCampsitewithMtPellyinthebackground.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Georgia searching for knots on Lady Pelly</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_X5zlIscrUOldZwf_xigUYsawPtSn4EcpZH2VEKGNGCTVle6AeBw8m1GAtS5wCYVEm1fjOZxMRW1Btxk2eWaJLMRaIdC_5_0WOZaNFs6STFPjgenWNA2wo4bz7oH1VWUfH2WiZJVcTuy/s1600-h/GeorgiasearchingforknotsonLadyPelly.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083302685498463394" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_X5zlIscrUOldZwf_xigUYsawPtSn4EcpZH2VEKGNGCTVle6AeBw8m1GAtS5wCYVEm1fjOZxMRW1Btxk2eWaJLMRaIdC_5_0WOZaNFs6STFPjgenWNA2wo4bz7oH1VWUfH2WiZJVcTuy/s400/GeorgiasearchingforknotsonLadyPelly.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br />An Arctic Hare in front of the latrine</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEWXEwL8WA_bygbhj-lEprJZXB6LL1JzRtPpakvgarS47TOG675EOqBIzQAxx1zBXDElBjCLCI5UX_MMClzy3xHKy6YjUB4eRskVkWTfZXq1gp4zTtoXpE5Wfm2hzuHIJdNf8kmVGT2PtL/s1600-h/ArcticHareinfromofthelatrine.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083302685498463410" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEWXEwL8WA_bygbhj-lEprJZXB6LL1JzRtPpakvgarS47TOG675EOqBIzQAxx1zBXDElBjCLCI5UX_MMClzy3xHKy6YjUB4eRskVkWTfZXq1gp4zTtoXpE5Wfm2hzuHIJdNf8kmVGT2PtL/s400/ArcticHareinfromofthelatrine.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br />A Baird's Sandpiper on Lady Pelly</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-G7POrBF5uwffJd1kcXqO6l8dAF1talUBbg8O8BvAVPtVWhSerXvAFKbpHSylSVhHN7RQ_y9ulXvms_VJXMEnQEhBz886KuHR5b7FMXgcFKMVsZ9n_j1-vzcfJ6QpSn6gsgx8AVV-eRk/s1600-h/BairdsSandpiperonLadyPelly.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083302689793430722" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-G7POrBF5uwffJd1kcXqO6l8dAF1talUBbg8O8BvAVPtVWhSerXvAFKbpHSylSVhHN7RQ_y9ulXvms_VJXMEnQEhBz886KuHR5b7FMXgcFKMVsZ9n_j1-vzcfJ6QpSn6gsgx8AVV-eRk/s400/BairdsSandpiperonLadyPelly.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br />Michael straining coffee with a new sock after we forgot the coffee pot!</span></span><br /></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6dL4PHpo0TBIXGu-Pis2Z-e4WSoxxXPnIUfI4YRePjOK_p_z4GcaSZAHMYE01UC8MUNndKsb6cqKCPXIoy3NDYeFOg0WDxMP6fHCdn9SDuyAOP_n0lD_w_uXO3TjL-qiqyqd0mg9fxEB_/s1600-h/haelstrainingcoffeewithanewsockafterweforgotthecoffeepot.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083302689793430738" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6dL4PHpo0TBIXGu-Pis2Z-e4WSoxxXPnIUfI4YRePjOK_p_z4GcaSZAHMYE01UC8MUNndKsb6cqKCPXIoy3NDYeFOg0WDxMP6fHCdn9SDuyAOP_n0lD_w_uXO3TjL-qiqyqd0mg9fxEB_/s400/haelstrainingcoffeewithanewsockafterweforgotthecoffeepot.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></span><br /><div></div></div>Shorebird Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15385844029270323237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755285369371889348.post-43467686271716672252007-07-01T14:30:00.000-04:002008-12-11T16:25:37.345-05:00Canada - Victoria Island, Nunavut, Saturday, June 30, 2007<div style="text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmlMHUABshzSikOYzBO_RSNKqknIXw-YbuFfHMsy9sg5_iTpiO3qp_V-sglONOJfSCmOfn53DZsysCbZTHJes22bCRiUVIRW4w23r1WMFlNCuZgdLdDFbpktYUAjUEwjT3Zv8QdDLBFpUa/s1600-h/IMG_0090.jpg"><span style="font-style: italic;">Mount Pelly</span></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmlMHUABshzSikOYzBO_RSNKqknIXw-YbuFfHMsy9sg5_iTpiO3qp_V-sglONOJfSCmOfn53DZsysCbZTHJes22bCRiUVIRW4w23r1WMFlNCuZgdLdDFbpktYUAjUEwjT3Zv8QdDLBFpUa/s1600-h/IMG_0090.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5082299346778379330" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmlMHUABshzSikOYzBO_RSNKqknIXw-YbuFfHMsy9sg5_iTpiO3qp_V-sglONOJfSCmOfn53DZsysCbZTHJes22bCRiUVIRW4w23r1WMFlNCuZgdLdDFbpktYUAjUEwjT3Zv8QdDLBFpUa/s400/IMG_0090.jpg" border="0" /></a></span></div> <span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><div style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Our camp lies at the base of Mt. Pelly, about 12 miles north of Cambridge Bay. More a big hill than a mountain, Mt. Pelly nevertheless imposes a mighty presence in this large flat landscape. Imagine a steep mound rising ominously out of the tundra like a giant being with it own wildlife community clinging to its sides: peregrine falcons, ravens, rough-legged hawks, American pipits, horned larks and rock ptarmigans have been seen on Mt Pelly for as long as people have been recording wildlife. No doubt they were here long before people first came to this land. Standing on the mountain’s slopes, one cannot fail to be awed by the endless pattern of tundra and water stretching unbroken in all directions. Mt Pelly looms large in the mythology of the Inuit of this region, but any person of faith can feel the presence of the divine.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> Our camp on the slopes of Mt Pelly</span><br /></span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7F7M3WwHUvS_12MZ9honb_nx7Q4nkRuC4FDriJHHvNE20dGSORmwicfc3_8tlShxXCp4DKGpgl3KQSwndkntwSr38SJqiRY_9XHocko_Edr7Y3A8zWMNFNO-DPx2ffabj85T1oJZ8Hr_T/s1600-h/IMG_0122.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5082299351073346674" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7F7M3WwHUvS_12MZ9honb_nx7Q4nkRuC4FDriJHHvNE20dGSORmwicfc3_8tlShxXCp4DKGpgl3KQSwndkntwSr38SJqiRY_9XHocko_Edr7Y3A8zWMNFNO-DPx2ffabj85T1oJZ8Hr_T/s400/IMG_0122.jpg" border="0" /></a></span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Musk Ox family</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></div> <div style="text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4oQMw8PTxnbONEf4jRT23vshvZvC1ppjfJt5AH4de9hdUMm3YXNKH85mdRY6NLGPitVoWgog_0l-MSp-mfoyEzkXDD0nM9jHuA7HT10VxRi58P_UBjlaqi7Ka2GDl0uluLAkz5c18S6x4/s1600-h/IMG_0158.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5082299351073346658" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4oQMw8PTxnbONEf4jRT23vshvZvC1ppjfJt5AH4de9hdUMm3YXNKH85mdRY6NLGPitVoWgog_0l-MSp-mfoyEzkXDD0nM9jHuA7HT10VxRi58P_UBjlaqi7Ka2GDl0uluLAkz5c18S6x4/s400/IMG_0158.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Arctic hare</span><br /></span></div> <span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6zQId42I3P2uGHxmyLB3_Zjv2dkyZUGzSqTOChpb9w3JWioyf9xouo3fLlEKQj9rb40tnCIdrk4_iLfJ7GDlhMR5v4KRVA6qLTYec3eOzW1eivz4Ex8WYv6JQGr_8kCwL1y_dvCILoZ1_/s1600-h/IMG_0028.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5082299355368313986" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6zQId42I3P2uGHxmyLB3_Zjv2dkyZUGzSqTOChpb9w3JWioyf9xouo3fLlEKQj9rb40tnCIdrk4_iLfJ7GDlhMR5v4KRVA6qLTYec3eOzW1eivz4Ex8WYv6JQGr_8kCwL1y_dvCILoZ1_/s400/IMG_0028.jpg" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Red knots are another of the creatures that are known to live on the slopes of Mt Pelly. The mountain top is just high enough for the winds to preclude all but the hardiest of vegetation. There, mainly Arctic Avens and scattered grasses cover 1-20% of the ground. It is exactly the same habitat as that in which we found knots on Southampton and King William Islands, just like the places where we’ve relocated most of our knots with radio transmitters. It is also the place where nests have been found by other people as recently as 2003. Although the mountain-top seems the most likely place to find knots, we will also search the surrounding land. Some areas look promising while others do not seem to be, however we need to be aware that the habitat that knots use may vary from place to place.<br /><br />But we had no luck. Our team, Jerry and Gwen, Mark and Georgia, Bruce, Mandy and I, systematically combed the pate of the mountain to no avail. Then we moved further down to areas that seemed to offer habitat that was less than prime, but still there were no knots. We had always regarded those areas as a long shot, so our failure to find knots there was not surprising. Jerry and Gwen had searched part of the mountain the day before the rest of us arrived and found no evidence that knots were present. They are expert birders and wouldn’t have missed them if they had been there. We have therefore come to the firm conclusion that no knots are nesting on Mt Pelly this year.<br /><br />Does this mean that the knot population of the Cambridge Bay area has fallen? By itself: not necessarily, but it does highlight the difficulties of our venture. When we first started coming to the Arctic in 1998, the peak counts of knots in Delaware Bay was over 50,000; this year it was only 12,500. At our last study area on Southampton Island the number of pairs fell from eleven in 2000 to two in 2004. Since then the Delaware Bay peak count has dropped further, so now we would be lucky to find any knots breeding there.<br /><br />Keep in mind that red knots occur at low densities in the Arctic, even when population levels are high. They are found in bleak arctic deserts; stony areas with sparse vegetation. Sometimes, when snowmelt is late, they are confined to snow-free ridges like the eskers on Southampton Island, but even then there may be only one nest per kilometer of esker. In our old study area, the highest density we recorded was 1.2 nests per square kilometer, but it dropped six-fold to 0.2 nests per sq kilometer. Here on Mt Pelly only one nest was found in 2003, but the area of habitat is quite small so the density would have been relatively high; but at that time the total knot population was double what it is now.<br /><br />Over the next few days we will range out over the area around Cambridge Bay; but it looks as if it is going to be a tough job finding knots.<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Inukshuk near Cambridge Bay</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></div> <div style="text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrL1vdn8idUa-lbX4uJHp21G3sfBv7czrQvxhk32KpwTaKoWXvTc1_49kXI5kZbkVGbpvsO3kJxkxLfDVOC_9qaXUaYwS788T-HGeEd9UKGFH5rohdS1SAyJTZx0GBsTKmQIEd_gHZTJcc/s1600-h/IMG_0164.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5082299346778379346" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrL1vdn8idUa-lbX4uJHp21G3sfBv7czrQvxhk32KpwTaKoWXvTc1_49kXI5kZbkVGbpvsO3kJxkxLfDVOC_9qaXUaYwS788T-HGeEd9UKGFH5rohdS1SAyJTZx0GBsTKmQIEd_gHZTJcc/s400/IMG_0164.jpg" border="0" /></a></span></div> <span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"></div>Shorebird Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15385844029270323237noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755285369371889348.post-21781536337060851322007-06-29T07:12:00.000-04:002008-12-11T16:25:38.858-05:00Canada - Expedition to study Red Knots around Cambridge Bay, Victoria Island, Nunavut<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Thursday, June 28, 2007</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Snow and Ice first started appearing from the jet window about an hour north of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. We were still an hour south of Cambridge Bay, Nunuvut, our final destination and where our expedition would begin. From our warm perch at 10,000 ft, we could first see a remnant patch of ice on the edge of one of the constellation of ponds and lakes that dot the tundra. Within minutes, the ice remnants turned to into the predominant feature of the landscape; the vast unbroken wilderness of tundra stretching thousands of miles to the north, east and west, dotted with frozen lakes and rivers. We could also see small strands of pure white snow, probably drifts in the lee of small hills.<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The luggage carousel at Yellowknife Airport</span></span></span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4ETXXD5TRT3fJn5r_p2LobZgmVdgonWGdaFhmY5x-CoXH9fQsh7VdMlJolxv_-tTK9Uigyvdl3EmU_6YfHayPgDvI51mVOKARJ3PprpPiP_WvksZq1ZLs9usffJXxGfnSQ6fdWbgOUvL/s1600-h/Luggage+carosel+Yellowknife.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4ETXXD5TRT3fJn5r_p2LobZgmVdgonWGdaFhmY5x-CoXH9fQsh7VdMlJolxv_-tTK9Uigyvdl3EmU_6YfHayPgDvI51mVOKARJ3PprpPiP_WvksZq1ZLs9usffJXxGfnSQ6fdWbgOUvL/s400/Luggage+carosel+Yellowknife.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5084468283788023122" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic;">First look at frozen tundra an hour north of Yellowknife </span></span></span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiscATUWuLZpoD2SYa0BXRYm5ivEBVyWufit1mTyvUsDlS8cVEfCjp2Y-EokGvjMw1yFRK6Y5R9mcZF0XQiRNgB6M9FeOO70xRi53qV88uj9fKbObaLxwd74eh9fruxxF5KO1IDvd99HY3W/s1600-h/First+look+frozen+tundra+yellow+to+cambr.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiscATUWuLZpoD2SYa0BXRYm5ivEBVyWufit1mTyvUsDlS8cVEfCjp2Y-EokGvjMw1yFRK6Y5R9mcZF0XQiRNgB6M9FeOO70xRi53qV88uj9fKbObaLxwd74eh9fruxxF5KO1IDvd99HY3W/s400/First+look+frozen+tundra+yellow+to+cambr.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5084468283788023106" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Thus began our 9th expedition in the Canadian Arctic, our home for the next ten days while we search once again for red knots. For the last few weeks we have been anticipating the usual 35 to 45 degree weather with wind that can go from absolute silence to hurricane force in a few hours. Instead a strange heat-wave blanketed Cambridge Bay when we finally landed at the airport; it was a balmy 70 degrees. We enjoyed it but didn’t expect it to last for long.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We only have a small team this year: Mandy Dey of the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife, Mark Peck of the Royal Ontario Museum, Bruce Luebke of the US Fish and Wildlife Service and me, Larry Niles from Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ, form the returning core group. We will miss Humphrey Sitters of the International Wader Study Group, whose mother is ill, and hopefully recovering, and Nancy Donnelly who must begin her new career as principal of a Friend School in PA. We are glad to embrace Gerry and Gwen Binsfield into the team. Although new to our Arctic team they are not new to the Arctic. And it our pleasure to include Georgia Peck, Mark’s young daughter, who has accompanied us in our work in Florida and on the Delaware Bay since she was only five years old. Now she is an elderly twelve. Last but not least, for the first time on our expeditions we are accompanied by “the media” in the friendly form of wildlife cameraman Michael Male from Locustville, Virginia.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The organization of the expedition this year was in some ways easier, but in others harder than in the past. It was easier because we are not being flown into a remote site and left on our own for a few weeks; this time we will use ATVs direct out of Cambridge Bay. We hope to achieve two major goals. First, we want to create a new study site where we can continue our investigations into the status of the red knot, and the other arctic-breeding shorebirds that pass through the Delaware Bay every May, without the extraordinary cost and difficulty of charter flights to remote locations. We have every hope that we will be successful in finding knots around Cambridge Bay because our predictive mapping suggests it is good knot habitat; moreover birders have found knot nests here in the last few years. However, whether it proves to be a good study site will depend on the numbers of birds. In the early years, we were blessed at our study site on Southampton Island with substantial numbers of knots and other shorebirds nesting around our camp. Unfortunately the decline of knots seen in the Delaware Bay and South America was reflected in the numbers on Southampton Island. In the eight years of our fieldwork, the number of nesting pairs dropped from a high of fourteen pairs to only one in 2004. We hope to find greater numbers around Cambridge Bay.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Our second goal relates to the predictive mapping. Rick Lathrop and John Bognar, of the Grant F. Walton Center for Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis at Rutgers University, together with Mandy Dey and I have developed a new GIS map that predicts the breeding habitat of the red knot. Hopefully this will prove to be an improvement on the previous version but the only way to tell is to test it by looking for knots in the places they are predicted to occur.<br /><br />While we are at Cambridge Bay, we will conduct point counts according to a protocol we developed on Southampton and King William which depends on hearing singing birds as well as seeing them. In this way we can test the effectiveness of the map to predict habitat.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">But before we could begin our fieldwork, we had to meet with the local conservation authorities. Mark had already spoken to staff with the Nunavut Department of the Environment, a provincial agency comparable to the NJ Wildlife Management Division in the NJ Department of Environmental Protection. However, soon after we landed we had the good fortune to meet with Conservation Officer Rob Harmer and got more details on restrictions to our field work and advice on how to navigate the agencies permitting requirements in the future. Just like the state wildlife conservation agencies concerned with the Delaware Bay, the Nunavut Government in Cambridge takes great care to ensure that the study of wildlife does not cause damage. As employees of US federal and state wildlife agencies, we appreciate Nunavut’s devotion to protecting the integrity of this area.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This year the Canadian Wildlife Service recommended the listing of the red knot as an endangered species. Our work contributed to that decision. In the same way we hope our work on Victoria Island will contribute to the protection of critical red knot habitat. It is the ultimate goal of our expedition to provide valuable new data to assist the Nunavut Department of the Environment in the protection of this beautiful and wild land.<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Out first look at the community of Cambridge Bay and . . . . .</span></span></span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXR0GwlVldTrNDazQfPZz1OwiRacW_FAOJXVG31VbslRzq3tZf4GSOFo4Yh8ptWWsQdKz6_oB-nGhWJbnjEkDeZxkyrlTAxUpQVH5wfauNQ7AX7TnTCkRnaPGyX2q15oc8Zkwuo4OaaY5D/s1600-h/first+look+at+cambridge+bay.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXR0GwlVldTrNDazQfPZz1OwiRacW_FAOJXVG31VbslRzq3tZf4GSOFo4Yh8ptWWsQdKz6_oB-nGhWJbnjEkDeZxkyrlTAxUpQVH5wfauNQ7AX7TnTCkRnaPGyX2q15oc8Zkwuo4OaaY5D/s400/first+look+at+cambridge+bay.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5084468288082990434" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic;">. . . . Mount Pelly</span></span></span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXaNqjoU7aMlJxQGDEfKWQQQLaHbEL1TXx1v1hwKqw1GxR14kt1uSgEEqRAeGTi1m-NbdN9fuXkt0Qi30BOmqaOV6O3auyAQ60O3kfTYAHz7OAhp8qrLGeKVrfg8q12RRjTOuBzsKjTTul/s1600-h/first+look+at+pelly.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXaNqjoU7aMlJxQGDEfKWQQQLaHbEL1TXx1v1hwKqw1GxR14kt1uSgEEqRAeGTi1m-NbdN9fuXkt0Qi30BOmqaOV6O3auyAQ60O3kfTYAHz7OAhp8qrLGeKVrfg8q12RRjTOuBzsKjTTul/s400/first+look+at+pelly.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5084468279493055794" border="0" /></a>Shorebird Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15385844029270323237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755285369371889348.post-27050139461338890692007-06-21T20:00:00.000-04:002008-12-11T16:25:39.149-05:00Delaware Bay, New Jersey, USA - Thursday, June 7, 2007<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We wanted to get a late catch of sanderlings before the season ended. Most of the team had already left for their homes all over the globe: Humphrey, Phil and Alice to England; Clive, Susan and Peter to Australia; Pablo and Victor to Mexico. Now it was down to the core group, Steve, Jeannine, Bill and Mandy with Dick who was due to leave the following day. It seemed that the birds, too, were mostly gone. Kathy, Ron and Bill flew the entire bayshore on Tuesday and found only a few thousand birds, mostly sanderlings in the Villas area. I had hoped to find them for a late catch but by the next day they too had left. We would not be trapping -- the season was over. In all the years of working on the Delaware Bay stopover I found it strange for everything – birds and people – to be gone so completely.<br /><br /></span> </span></p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><o:p></o:p></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >But it’s best when the birds leave this way: at least it suggests that they have all have made sufficient weight and are on their way to the Arctic. The last few seasons haven’t been so clear. Only a couple of years ago nearly 3,000 knots remained in the bay until well after the first week of June. We have also had years when few knots have achieved adequate departure weight (about 185 grams) by the end of May, which is the time by which they need to reach adequate departure weight if they are to have a good chance of breeding successfully. God help those birds. If the Arctic spring is cold or if late storms hit the breeding areas when birds have just arrived, those that are poorly prepared will have a tough time. The best that can happen is they fail to breed; the worst is that they will die.<br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">This was not one of those years, though the situation is far from satisfactory. The full story has yet to be told, but in New Jersey Dan Hernandez has reported that horseshoe crab egg density fell lower than last year for the first five weeks of the egg survey. Densities averaged about 1,800 eggs per square meter, the lowest in the six years of the survey and far lower than the estimated 40,000 eggs per square meter in the early 1990s and the figure considered necessary for recovery of the bird population. The persistent northwest winds that pounded the NJ bayshore may have lowered the count by creating wind driven waves against the Cape Peninsula shoreline and deterred the crabs from spawning. But eggs densities were low on the Moores Beach to Gandys Beach segment as well. These beaches face south and were not affected by the northwest winds. </span></p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078925670199755634" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 411px; height: 275px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5JnBgzPNe2jNSavH9iuUgSuFqeqOWyalIWl2Jli53xYOeKGI07P3lhyphenhyphen8r8LD7pg3UEdzVdSV3DTLIEnFeyEF1v8fIScwocobBJoERj6kRkJbufDFKYAdXRb5AvA1_EJk14WtTBJFb-Py-/s400/Slide1.GIF" border="0" height="314" width="456" /></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >Kathy and her team reported about a thousand fewer knots than last year. There are complications that may have caused her to miss birds, particularly in the timing of the counts. But the great value of them is that they have been carried out in the same way every year for the last 21 years so the trend will be true. We have yet to hear of the results of the crab spawning index conducted by Delaware and New Jersey Divisions of Fish and Wildlife.<br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">So there it is. Any reasonable person would have to admit that nothing has improved for shorebirds on the Delaware Bay; if anything, conditions are worse. Our team hopes for the best, but considers that no improvement, particularly when numbers are at such a low level, is bound to lead the bird populations into renewed jeopardy. They may not finally go extinct because of problems in Delaware Bay; that may happen because of something natural but unexpected, such as bad arctic weather, hurricanes, or disease outbreaks. Those will be the proximate causes of extinction, but the ultimate cause will be the lack of improvement in the ecological condition of the Delaware Bay. As things stand, it is clear that until there are more horseshoe crab eggs in the bay beaches during May, the bird populations are unlikely to increase. Unless they increase, they will remain vulnerable to the proximate causes of extinction mentioned above.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >I can’t say enough about all the people who helped us this season. Our team of professional volunteers is an inspiration to all. By supplying the team with dinners and arranging field trips to Pinelands, Bear Swamp, the Meerwald and Wheaton village, Citizens United provided the team with rewarding experiences that they will never forget; leaving them, like the birds, in better condition than they when arrived. The NJ Natural Lands Trust, NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife, Conserve Wildlife Foundation, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation provided the funds and logistical underpinnings for the whole project. Finally the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife and Conserve Wildlife Foundation’s volunteer program provided us with an eager and hardworking group of people who passionately protected beaches, and helped band and resight birds. This project can only be done by a team, and it best done by a team of good people who care about the birds. We had that and more.</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >We leave for the Arctic in the last week of June.<span style=""> </span>More on that then. </span>Shorebird Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15385844029270323237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755285369371889348.post-3110663253466137262007-06-06T20:34:00.000-04:002008-12-11T16:25:41.587-05:00Delaware Bay, New Jersey, USA - Sunday, June 3, 2007<span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >We should not have gone out of the Gandy’s Beach Marina on Sunday.<span style=""> </span>A small craft advisory was posted by the National Weather Service and even worse, over an inch of rain was being forecast.<span style=""> </span>If we were to catch knots, then we had to go out of the barely- protected inlet at Gandy’s Creek and hug the bay shoreline for about a quarter mile in a 16 foot aluminum V-hull known un-affectionately as “the Pig”.<span style=""> </span>But after three unsuccessful tries at catching knots over the previous two days, we had to make a go of it.<span style=""> </span>The team could walk to the catch site safely, only having to taken by boat across a small creek.<span style=""> </span>Clive, Peter and I would take all the heavy equipment in the boat.<br /><br /></span><p style="text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Clive and Larry in rough sea, calling the red knot catch. Peter Fullagar</span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbbKGhFZPqp8nRqYwr9KutBdOIalzpGFdMgkyIJCxJMpUOvd-KcmIOJAW_AaheoU6XEG1r259ylUVuy85hLBFXiQp1fimeW3da98NSOll4KEWh0p_daXdUi9oDIhRw7nzw5bqbopX4V9o/s1600-h/Gandys+boat+landing.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbbKGhFZPqp8nRqYwr9KutBdOIalzpGFdMgkyIJCxJMpUOvd-KcmIOJAW_AaheoU6XEG1r259ylUVuy85hLBFXiQp1fimeW3da98NSOll4KEWh0p_daXdUi9oDIhRw7nzw5bqbopX4V9o/s400/Gandys+boat+landing.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5073116361859694594" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We needed to get a good idea of the condition of the birds at the end of the season.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Our last few catches had been as revealing as the big movement of knots from the bay beaches in New Jersey to Mispillion Harbor in Delaware.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Reports from Kevin Kalasz, who leads the Delaware Fish and Wildlife’s team, suggested that the knots were building weight rapidly at Mispillion and lifting off to the Arctic in small groups.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We had seen turnstones and sanderling doing something similar here in New Jersey.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">But Kathy Clark’s flight last week revealed several thousand knots and many thousand turnstones, semipalmated sandpipers and sanderlings still remained along the northern bayshore of New Jersey.<span style=""> </span>We tried to catch the birds several times but without luck. During the previous attempt Clive, operating from a boat, had found a group of about 600 knots just down-bay from Gandy’s Beach.<span style=""> </span>They were only accessible by boat.<span style=""> </span>Most likely the birds were waiting to leave at any moment so there was urgency to go out on this miserable day to catch them.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Greenish wind-rows of horseshoe crab eggs on Gandy's Beach. Dick Veitch</span><br /></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhokN6V_Y7HZ-CINx2D1hggf_sheiOJrC7pT7yNqCmfBmwA-Wwj_YkGu0I8edfmlgceiTtqqvRPolKXx_wpI3D2kMyjNwHhdT6fT-yaQhdZr-ze7VX3tEDqbIYWWLCDa6_jpx1JTrxUi0Yo/s1600-h/dick+eggs+at+Gandys+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhokN6V_Y7HZ-CINx2D1hggf_sheiOJrC7pT7yNqCmfBmwA-Wwj_YkGu0I8edfmlgceiTtqqvRPolKXx_wpI3D2kMyjNwHhdT6fT-yaQhdZr-ze7VX3tEDqbIYWWLCDa6_jpx1JTrxUi0Yo/s400/dick+eggs+at+Gandys+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5073117766314000450" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">It was important to make this catch because the late season catches are often the most revealing.<span style=""> </span>If most of the shorebirds have left the bay then a late catch will show the weights of the birds that for one reason or another could not make sufficient weight in time and were therefore unlikely to breed successfully.<span style=""> </span>The Arctic summer is so short that even if they did lay down the resources needed to fly to the breeding grounds they would be unable to rear their chicks before the cold weather returns in late summer.<span style=""> </span>But in the last few days there have been a significant number of birds remaining in the bay, and so a late catch will help us to understand their plight. When the Delaware Bay knot population stood at 95,000 birds in 1989, a few thousand left behind at the beginning of June was unimportant, but with the current peak count at only 12,000, a few thousand represents a significant proportion of the whole population.<span style=""> </span>As far as we could determine, at least 1,500-2,000 knots had been left behind, possibly more. We wouldn’t know for sure until Kathy’s flight.<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">I delivered Sue, Pablo, Victor, Alice, Philippa and Dick to the other side of the small creek so they could walk to the catch site.<span style=""> </span>Clive, Peter and I motored out into a chaotic, choppy sea with Atlantic-coast-size waves crashing against the sod bands that are exposed by the low tide.<span style=""> </span>Rain threatened at any moment.<span style=""> </span>After a difficult landing and a relatively quick set of the three-cannon net, the team moved behind a patch of phragmites while Clive and I watched the danger zone and catch area from the pitching boat. Nearly all the birds left when we arrived but they were now slowly trickling back into the area.<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" face="trebuchet ms"><span style="font-size:100%;">Looking back, this was our lucky day; things went well from the start. A small group of knots walked up straight up the beach into the catch area. These acted as decoys and moments later a larger flock fell “like rain” into the catch area and we fired.<span style=""> </span>We caught 171 knots and 37 turnstones.<span style=""> </span>It was our best catch of the year.<span style=""> </span>And it was the most important.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The three-cannon net firing over a flock of knots and laughing gulls. Peter Fullagar</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><span class="on down" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_JustifyLeft" title="Align Left" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 10);ButtonMouseDown(this);"></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr9f_03RNyX71lfpoIfwS1uQEKYTNSffPrQRWWgxH8ywLfs3AV5LJcQdkcd8imhGJmPsIzS8juOuHlMPhbCITyppQ4K9z1KtwVnMtafJG2zvpsCtH77p6rcgut4leOhnUGI2p2tbkVoRzn/s1600-h/IMG_1354.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr9f_03RNyX71lfpoIfwS1uQEKYTNSffPrQRWWgxH8ywLfs3AV5LJcQdkcd8imhGJmPsIzS8juOuHlMPhbCITyppQ4K9z1KtwVnMtafJG2zvpsCtH77p6rcgut4leOhnUGI2p2tbkVoRzn/s400/IMG_1354.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5073118294594977954" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal" face="trebuchet ms"><br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRNGvzaVkrBG-k9ShHR4LHV9sLlu8AIJ6wCTnnr7ro6XaQ8SCEasYONY_W9UeX9r85bND1Iy6yZ_DdYl5KyCFvVA5QUpI1htE_crfzv4y44JQu_UcMHtxBYjPzb0CmU2QdBopsPNmxNOtQ/s1600-h/IMG_1355.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRNGvzaVkrBG-k9ShHR4LHV9sLlu8AIJ6wCTnnr7ro6XaQ8SCEasYONY_W9UeX9r85bND1Iy6yZ_DdYl5KyCFvVA5QUpI1htE_crfzv4y44JQu_UcMHtxBYjPzb0CmU2QdBopsPNmxNOtQ/s400/IMG_1355.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5073118281710076002" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsuOmXoPvX-lPQzqeQl9c7f9_r3rCUg_JPSmwRs8jjJGF7mmXd789bnm6CTi3uOM1vfEm5VsvnBTDr6abGZScp3UXHPNXBXAtpcWlKvocgBUucG1ke4xD9hN8l7hdsH0w8A3ZbK5QfaT_M/s1600-h/IMG_1357.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsuOmXoPvX-lPQzqeQl9c7f9_r3rCUg_JPSmwRs8jjJGF7mmXd789bnm6CTi3uOM1vfEm5VsvnBTDr6abGZScp3UXHPNXBXAtpcWlKvocgBUucG1ke4xD9hN8l7hdsH0w8A3ZbK5QfaT_M/s400/IMG_1357.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5073118290300010626" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI5BMNoJhkJrQmhnZPhixT5hDTMtulstm9EGLEYHV7qdejUkiHyofc_ouKUmrxaj9q2zrZqio-_l547F4LfdWn7ToAdLPN2tAOXPp4HGx2bkvqB3pDoO8gzfjap3HAbqtvYDh-aOV-KHEM/s1600-h/IMG_1359.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI5BMNoJhkJrQmhnZPhixT5hDTMtulstm9EGLEYHV7qdejUkiHyofc_ouKUmrxaj9q2zrZqio-_l547F4LfdWn7ToAdLPN2tAOXPp4HGx2bkvqB3pDoO8gzfjap3HAbqtvYDh-aOV-KHEM/s400/IMG_1359.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5073118294594977938" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">We found that there were indeed birds with high weights, a few above 205 grams. And there were low weights as well, one poor soul weighing only 98 grams!<span style=""> </span>The most interesting was the weight distribution; more than 80% of the knots were below the threshold weight of 185 g needed to go off to the Arctic.<span style=""> </span>The turnstones had a similar weight profile.<span style=""> </span>We had six retraps from Argentina and one from Chile that we had banded in 2003.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRY7y1L6f3oKtRIXtIjn2FwY-NWJJOvqgIraTwnngSvtZr0u31vaNUeJ63lDsxqLDAVS-D0hldy-UBuCWbeF9pqKXh7pfhnGZT_coLn41cg8RJ6CbmL3y7zHoy1XXUrNBqmGZtutbRp6c4/s1600-h/REKN+Gandys+3+Jun+07.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRY7y1L6f3oKtRIXtIjn2FwY-NWJJOvqgIraTwnngSvtZr0u31vaNUeJ63lDsxqLDAVS-D0hldy-UBuCWbeF9pqKXh7pfhnGZT_coLn41cg8RJ6CbmL3y7zHoy1XXUrNBqmGZtutbRp6c4/s400/REKN+Gandys+3+Jun+07.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5073306401277640882" border="0" /></a></p> <p face="trebuchet ms" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p face="trebuchet ms" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">As often happens to us, we were unexpectedly treated to the hospitality of the people who live on the Delaware Bayshore.<span style=""> </span>After we made the catch a cold drizzle threatened our team and the catch with a dismal day.<span style=""> </span>We would have to erect makeshift shelter for the birds and the team, but the wind was driving the rain almost horizontal.<span style=""> </span>We couldn’t allow the birds to get wet so it seemed that we had a difficult problem.<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><o:p></o:p>We decided to take everyone, team and birds, back to the landing in the hope of stretching out a tarp across some of the boats in the boatyard to form a makeshift shelter. I went into the Marina office to ask Pete Wagner, the owner of Gandy’s Beach Marina, for his permission to do this and without hesitation he told us to come inside his office and set up our equipment and band the birds indoors! We gratefully did so and processed over 200 birds in perfect comfort. Pete’s son Nick joined our team, which included Pablo and Victor, our visitors from Mexico. In conversation, Nick told us how his father, as part of his local church, helped to build homes for needy families in Mexico. Our group couldn’t thank Pete and Nick enough for their generosity.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">From left: Chuck, Nick Wagner and Peter Wagner. Peter is the proprietor of Gandy's Beach Marina. Philippa Sitters</span></span><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4NNPFF7zR_v17AE1nZPlda22uWqWEkmgV-rQ1ViUI1BMUU4n0muvi80qGNAP_kH6zqAc_76Xcqyp4QxOna_AwwRhknkk-7L3EDg3jaAQggSpDMBAwgQ-XjA4S2NjWNUma_GlscxeZHeL/s1600-h/0New+Jersey+111.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4NNPFF7zR_v17AE1nZPlda22uWqWEkmgV-rQ1ViUI1BMUU4n0muvi80qGNAP_kH6zqAc_76Xcqyp4QxOna_AwwRhknkk-7L3EDg3jaAQggSpDMBAwgQ-XjA4S2NjWNUma_GlscxeZHeL/s400/0New+Jersey+111.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5073117757724065842" border="0" /></a></p><br /><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic;">The team processing a catch of red knots and ruddy turnstones in the Gandy's Beach Marina Office. Larry Niles</span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqViFgXOrxM5JQ0RQ-Z8AABdw71quKXkYT07q0vGaZWR_c-rKmMXrVpzFYp_W-eVScp0CikZdG_dUlMV3yJRxCmkoJVLYm7JjCPEtzXzOQ8g2afYOw1ll2-mIkQUSW59-37-pAQvA-CnR/s1600-h/0New+Jersey+106.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqViFgXOrxM5JQ0RQ-Z8AABdw71quKXkYT07q0vGaZWR_c-rKmMXrVpzFYp_W-eVScp0CikZdG_dUlMV3yJRxCmkoJVLYm7JjCPEtzXzOQ8g2afYOw1ll2-mIkQUSW59-37-pAQvA-CnR/s400/0New+Jersey+106.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5073117757724065810" border="0" /></a></p><br /><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic;">Nick Wagner weighing a ruddy turnstone. Philippa Sitters</span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjruYLabq9JukAvzF4Lz_guM1MAg_-XsO45emXw9KUTa-Kcx7S2Pp0aJU_biDtfmzMbc2J5ryoV0TJj669VMN9QN4OJEg7u1V8uOnDf-DjJ_EyF1g-xbEHGzafZDAihflZwBAsJIN1-YgAi/s1600-h/0New+Jersey+110.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjruYLabq9JukAvzF4Lz_guM1MAg_-XsO45emXw9KUTa-Kcx7S2Pp0aJU_biDtfmzMbc2J5ryoV0TJj669VMN9QN4OJEg7u1V8uOnDf-DjJ_EyF1g-xbEHGzafZDAihflZwBAsJIN1-YgAi/s400/0New+Jersey+110.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5073117757724065826" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style=""><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span></span> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Shorebird Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15385844029270323237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755285369371889348.post-68815983107681668582007-06-02T06:29:00.000-04:002008-12-11T16:25:43.050-05:00Delaware Bay, New Jersey, USA - Thursday, May 31, 2007<span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >There were close to thirty people waiting around for a catch of shorebirds.</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" > </span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >Beside our core team, the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Team studying avian influenza, and Dave Mizrahi’s team working on semipalmated sandpipers, there were ten students from Dan</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Hernandez’s horseshoe crab egg monitoring team.</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" > </span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >We set our net on a small beach on <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Money</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Island</st1:placetype></st1:place>, a tiny bayside community just up-bay from Gandy’s Beach and Fortescue.</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" > </span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >The sky was a brilliant blue, it was not unbearably hot and the flies and gnats were tolerable, unlike the day before in Fortescue . . . . . .<br /><br /></span> <p style="text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >Larry and Clive assess a potential knot and turnstone catch on Money Island. Peter Fullagar</span><br /></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" face="trebuchet ms" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-A5vTsdmm3FHn_hZUdqvISaaT9SXVAsEFDqOUfKelV3013pI720GwhwLQHYOCPBivW9LnMNj9cCJtRYFdBsv74lNll9KX5dJEtSka6NQtwElQPlmtHGN-QXy3-D8608du759EP0dLTPL/s1600-h/IMG_0815.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-A5vTsdmm3FHn_hZUdqvISaaT9SXVAsEFDqOUfKelV3013pI720GwhwLQHYOCPBivW9LnMNj9cCJtRYFdBsv74lNll9KX5dJEtSka6NQtwElQPlmtHGN-QXy3-D8608du759EP0dLTPL/s400/IMG_0815.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071414228950859682" border="0" /></a></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" face="trebuchet ms" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" face="trebuchet ms" class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>There the biting strawberry flies were so dense you could count hundreds flying around every person on the beach.<span style=""> </span>We set our net there to try for a catch of red knots which were rapidly becoming scarce in NJ.<span style=""> </span>Two weeks ago there were about 5,000, but without sufficient horseshoe crab eggs on NJ beaches they left and crossed to <st1:placename st="on">Mispillion</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Harbor</st1:placetype> in <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Delaware</st1:place></st1:state>.<span style=""> </span>Still, mostly we were lucky and managed to keep up our catching program. Then we lost nearly all the knots.<span style=""> </span>We could still make catches of sanderlings and turnstones, but we really needed a last catch of knots.<span style=""> </span>So we tried for a small catch in Fortescue but none showed.<span style=""> </span>But that day we saw close to 200 on a small beach on <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Money</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Island</st1:placetype></st1:place> and we were hoping for the best.</p><p style="text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >A "flock" of strawberry flies</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljgofli5huKKtrQuCTv0w99JAwd4zu78Dp-7DViTHW2SQQ9Xk3RsC5llEOAjtAQtutZf0EpC5SNqRrLtn-szvivBCLerDoEuFTYmx5VIlXoxcWJ0py5yr7dx0p3-kfpPK5lSrkpXJLHsa/s1600-h/GreenEggs_and_Ham_anyone_AliceEWING.JPG"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /></a></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLRFgg-59tWN34fHVDv8Rms3OxUjbtHRBG9-UhbA9QU85cdONiuUtTjfpP3yor5ZS5VRbterclaPLm_rW_2AAtOp0rJi0fmIxLwW8bDqU9uigiKByp63x7qaPa0KHJltjyL2b_-HtUtG2/s1600-h/IMG_0446-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLRFgg-59tWN34fHVDv8Rms3OxUjbtHRBG9-UhbA9QU85cdONiuUtTjfpP3yor5ZS5VRbterclaPLm_rW_2AAtOp0rJi0fmIxLwW8bDqU9uigiKByp63x7qaPa0KHJltjyL2b_-HtUtG2/s400/IMG_0446-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071414233245826994" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal" face="trebuchet ms"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Over the past ten years, this is how the season often ends.<span style=""> </span>The birds, desperate to find eggs, move all over the bay in search of the best spots.<span style=""> </span>They have to be choosey.<span style=""> </span>Dan Hernandez did his Ph.D on foraging shorebirds on the <st1:place st="on">Delaware Bay</st1:place> and he found they seek places that have more than 20,000 eggs/square meter.<span style=""> </span>The average egg density on the six best beaches in NJ is now about 3,000 eggs/square meter, but there are places, like the mouths of creeks coming out to the bay, where eggs are deposited in higher densities.<span style=""> </span>At Kimble’s Creek entrance last year average densities were 16,000 eggs/square meter.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Horseshoe crab eggs (tiny greenish specs) on the surface of the sand are easily available to hungry shorebirds. Alice Ewing</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljgofli5huKKtrQuCTv0w99JAwd4zu78Dp-7DViTHW2SQQ9Xk3RsC5llEOAjtAQtutZf0EpC5SNqRrLtn-szvivBCLerDoEuFTYmx5VIlXoxcWJ0py5yr7dx0p3-kfpPK5lSrkpXJLHsa/s1600-h/GreenEggs_and_Ham_anyone_AliceEWING.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljgofli5huKKtrQuCTv0w99JAwd4zu78Dp-7DViTHW2SQQ9Xk3RsC5llEOAjtAQtutZf0EpC5SNqRrLtn-szvivBCLerDoEuFTYmx5VIlXoxcWJ0py5yr7dx0p3-kfpPK5lSrkpXJLHsa/s400/GreenEggs_and_Ham_anyone_AliceEWING.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071439719581761474" border="0" /></a></div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style=""> </span></p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic;">Ruddy Turnstone digging for eggs (foreground). Peter Fullagar</span><br /></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYCL4pV0VFsROwwoH3cHEGVl0vvFuQ4dbSSRhoCaEw3xiwe69iE1-k4z4XvtnvC_BvXxAlarUDRCzRETI9O0PwH_xEEw-3W8XF6ZeysSsmvZsJ3hHugnUOFum4qWxwKlxrndQBDk-eJ5Y4/s1600-h/IMG_9606.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYCL4pV0VFsROwwoH3cHEGVl0vvFuQ4dbSSRhoCaEw3xiwe69iE1-k4z4XvtnvC_BvXxAlarUDRCzRETI9O0PwH_xEEw-3W8XF6ZeysSsmvZsJ3hHugnUOFum4qWxwKlxrndQBDk-eJ5Y4/s400/IMG_9606.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071439728171696082" border="0" /></a></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal">The knots need these higher egg densities because it takes about 5,000 horseshoe crab eggs for a knot to gain 1 gram of weight. In 1997, knots were gaining an average of 8 grams/day, some up to 15 grams/day – this equates to 40,000 - 75,000 eggs consumed per day!<span style=""> </span>At high egg densities, knots can gain the weight necessary to get them to the <st1:place st="on">Arctic</st1:place> on time.<span style=""> </span>As you might guess, if eggs are abundant the only limit is the rate at which knots can ingest them. If eggs are less abundant birds suffer diminishing returns, and if eggs are sparse the knots are in trouble.<span style=""> </span>This is a well-known ecological relationship called the <i>functional response</i> which describes the how an animal’s intake of food increases as the density of its prey increases. But there is a limit to how fast an animal can pickup food and swallow it -- this is the point beyond which foraging rate cannot increase any further, however much food is available.<span style=""> </span>At one time, most of the bay beaches had egg densities that allowed shorebirds to feed at the optimal, or fastest, rate.<span style=""> </span>Now, even though we have far fewer birds, there are only a few places where this top rate of foraging can be achieved.</p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />A creek mouth at Money Island. The sandy areas on either side of the creek are protected from wave action and are good places for crabs to spawn. Alice Ewing<br /><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjysdGkgYsCdg7BVzs4bDoXCo91ACHcHyz8eAn-3vKMsI87EmIRo1VifiBEgYx3_LJyH9c-JUIGhwH1l3i6l0OCSSp3h7PIbK6nKukLIv2PwNKLo70AlT99Pw5foCifyIuG6sWwrA-3sHYK/s1600-h/Pablo_twinking_MoneyIs_AliceEWING.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjysdGkgYsCdg7BVzs4bDoXCo91ACHcHyz8eAn-3vKMsI87EmIRo1VifiBEgYx3_LJyH9c-JUIGhwH1l3i6l0OCSSp3h7PIbK6nKukLIv2PwNKLo70AlT99Pw5foCifyIuG6sWwrA-3sHYK/s400/Pablo_twinking_MoneyIs_AliceEWING.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071441918605017090" border="0" /></a><p style="text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic;">Semipalmated sandpipers and dunlin foraging in the creek mouth. Alice Ewing</span><br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoh5AEwSGNNB3a66hNiH8xvrSbFeVuseOOspiiEmS8u1V8ZcWBvxMKqt61HSLJNt0rdYpGB9_WE9meGZ4JB4rEk_yv4YW_K67wfTxxH2rp5516ioWqAjS2Iz8ZSJ3u3VBThmbWLR3Xqgau/s1600-h/And_only_Semis_and+Dunlins_remain_AliceEWING.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoh5AEwSGNNB3a66hNiH8xvrSbFeVuseOOspiiEmS8u1V8ZcWBvxMKqt61HSLJNt0rdYpGB9_WE9meGZ4JB4rEk_yv4YW_K67wfTxxH2rp5516ioWqAjS2Iz8ZSJ3u3VBThmbWLR3Xqgau/s400/And_only_Semis_and+Dunlins_remain_AliceEWING.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071441910015082482" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We were on </span><st1:place style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Money</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Island</st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, and trying to make a last catch.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">After a few hours, the birds started to arrive, but far fewer than the day before.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">At one critical point, we had about enough to make a catch of knots and turnstones.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We came within seconds of firing the net but a plane flew low over the site.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It scared the birds away, and before we could induce them to come back the tide had fallen far below the catching area. We had to throw in the towel.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Nesting double-crested cormorants near </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Money Island. Alice Ewing</span><br /></div><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1JT4XzaBSWRBVda8Lu6bwyy7pQJ-PHpIHRBn0on2IxFab45s0w1SpKbxJYKJuEtOJzo-_rRqFgPlAqEKm2___vUr7MHfWJYndabJm9PkYgdTqkEXxzc4nbIME7iHmIivgViu3U6T2izpD/s1600-h/DoubleCrestedCormorants_breeding_MoneyIs_AliceEWING.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1JT4XzaBSWRBVda8Lu6bwyy7pQJ-PHpIHRBn0on2IxFab45s0w1SpKbxJYKJuEtOJzo-_rRqFgPlAqEKm2___vUr7MHfWJYndabJm9PkYgdTqkEXxzc4nbIME7iHmIivgViu3U6T2izpD/s400/DoubleCrestedCormorants_breeding_MoneyIs_AliceEWING.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071452192166789170" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdGxQGdiRKp56JdWE4HdCZrOLcdtZLB7gwAY3hxQUR4ErKQMnaGAsyn4VlSU5AZxxTs4DVJqvKu_eAb9EOhOjqQyOa7DKORDTdCF3WfUvruFhskTDNxR1_5Zv9FcX9ctCaMZs1SqrT-RHk/s1600-h/DoubleCrestedCormorants_breeding_MoneyIs_AliceEWING.JPG"><br /></a><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal">Ironically, the plane was part of Jim Fraser’s team out of Virginia Tech who were tracking radio-tagged red knots outfitted with transmitters in <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Virginia</st1:place></st1:state>.<span style=""> </span>One of them was seconds from being caught, but it was not to be. At least not today!<br /></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ecUs1dgjzd82OAWN8UweourUi31wWKlLMCOwUqcLN_INs6uHKEOP_Q0GmMgYhteKcHzveg5QG91hA4IiJ91n8XMp0oNK9LYZLyy44xxrG5wC1XfJowIm1Eq1tT2h6O8faMkgUM2tiCyY/s1600-h/IMG_0466.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ecUs1dgjzd82OAWN8UweourUi31wWKlLMCOwUqcLN_INs6uHKEOP_Q0GmMgYhteKcHzveg5QG91hA4IiJ91n8XMp0oNK9LYZLyy44xxrG5wC1XfJowIm1Eq1tT2h6O8faMkgUM2tiCyY/s400/IMG_0466.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071441291539791842" border="0" /></a></p>Shorebird Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15385844029270323237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755285369371889348.post-16466341893635739652007-05-28T17:06:00.000-04:002008-12-11T16:25:43.921-05:00Delaware Bay, New Jersey, USA - Saturday, May 26, 2007Last year our banding crew doubled the food budget.<span style=""> </span>Imagine what 20 or so people working hard all day would eat over a month long period.<span style=""> </span>But I'm not complaining.<span style=""> </span>After all, food is a minor cost for all our team does, oftentimes working from dawn to dusk, seven days a week.<span style=""> </span>And these are skilled people, many with PhDs and many years of experience on shorebirds from all over the world.<span style=""> </span>But some have big stomachs.<br /><br />By chance one day, I mentioned the gargantuan appetites of the banding crew to my friend Jane Galetto, who is exec director of Citizens United to Protect the Maurice River.<span style=""> </span>Over the next few days she sent an appeal to her generous membership and the citizens of Cumberland County to help feed the hungry shorebird biologists.<span style=""> </span>By the time the crew arrived, Jane had arranged for 10 dinners of over 20 people.<span style=""> </span>It started with Jane providing a meal of filet mignon and another of salmon steaks that Clive grilled to perfection, enough to cover two meals for 24 people.<br /><br />Next we were treated to what we thought was chili con carne that was in fact chili sin carne.<span style=""> </span>Tony and Marsha Klock make vegetarian chili that was so deceptively meaty that our two vegetarians; Philippa and Mike passed it over and ate a different meal!<span style=""> </span>Over the next week Jim Applegate, a recently retired professor from Rutgers and his wife Carole brought delicious lasagna, Sue and Dave Fenili, trustees of Citizen United, brought sloppy joes, Leslie and Tony Ficcaglia brought a generous quantity of tasty roasted chicken, dozens of eggs and four pounds of bacon, Harry Whitelan of the Port of Call Restaurant in Maurice River Township, brought us a lovely lasagna, Scott and Lenore Eves provided five dozen eggs from their chickens and Dot Slack gave us a delicious cake with cream cheese icing.<span style=""> </span>Over the next week we look forward Renee Scagnelli's stuffed peppers and Diane Amico’s fish dinner.<span style=""> </span>Renee is a botanist who has also led our group on a field trip to Bear Swamp and Diane Amico is with the planning office in Vineland and an environment studies student at Stockton.<span style="font-family:arial,helvetica;"><span family="SANSSERIF" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Geneva;font-size:85%;" ><br /><br /></span></span>Every mother knows that cooking is the fastest way to her family’s heart.<span style=""> </span>I think it is fair to say that there is a small crowd from all over the world in love with the Citizens United and the people of Cumberland County!<br /><br /><span style=""></span>We are also thankful to Pete and Jane Galetto for their generous invitation to the Millville airshow.<span style=""> </span>I loved it because it brought back fond memories of my father and our family trips to the Willow Grove airshows, Clive also loved it because he saw the planes he knew as a boy in wartime England.<span style=""> </span>Pablo and Victor enjoyed the show because before they had only experienced the thrill of powerful jet fighters flying in movies.<span style=""><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">A Horned Lark looking over a Blue Angel at the Millville Airshow</span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7MP5D_MGuM_m6nOxKiD8h0YWjAa_cHIrc-iKiRbmsMTSePHTF9oN_axJuiKYlVFCzrH6gfCpS6z2KbzI_bm7mBkpgeDm3s4xTiyZsy2eICAFHpaojz-JWIuLD5vwWdeV5QU_prdgCygCW/s1600-h/A+horned+lark+looking+over+Blue+Angel+at+the+Milleville+airshow.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7MP5D_MGuM_m6nOxKiD8h0YWjAa_cHIrc-iKiRbmsMTSePHTF9oN_axJuiKYlVFCzrH6gfCpS6z2KbzI_bm7mBkpgeDm3s4xTiyZsy2eICAFHpaojz-JWIuLD5vwWdeV5QU_prdgCygCW/s400/A+horned+lark+looking+over+Blue+Angel+at+the+Milleville+airshow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069721515127455762" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Harry Whitelan's lasagne dinner</span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxl5SOFzoKgtkifTm-zEG3QuONHceXSX8tPvNpu9PPVZPMgGepT2EgHHk5kS1TqYXvqkaXQCYahtsOFAkplYgW2Dqlc6V7us6K-3VXqP7hmxXpA7rPoQa4Vw9HNW1p563qLv5jpmsR3a4z/s1600-h/Harry+Whitelan%27s+Lasagna+dinner.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxl5SOFzoKgtkifTm-zEG3QuONHceXSX8tPvNpu9PPVZPMgGepT2EgHHk5kS1TqYXvqkaXQCYahtsOFAkplYgW2Dqlc6V7us6K-3VXqP7hmxXpA7rPoQa4Vw9HNW1p563qLv5jpmsR3a4z/s400/Harry+Whitelan%27s+Lasagna+dinner.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069721820070133794" border="0" /></a>Shorebird Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15385844029270323237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755285369371889348.post-72937683515462682542007-05-28T16:52:00.000-04:002008-12-11T16:25:47.597-05:00Delaware Bay, New Jersey, USA - Sunday, May 27, 2007The entire team waited patiently for a few of the 300 red knots roosting and feeding on <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Stone</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Harbor</st1:placetype></st1:place> point to be twinkled by Peter Fullagar into the catch area of the three cannon net.<span style=""> </span>We had being trying for over an hour to move the birds into position but without luck.<span style=""> </span>Peter was working hard twinkling the birds so slowly that you couldn’t really tell he was moving.<span style=""> </span>The team including Sue, Mandy, Dick, Pablo, Victor, Alice, Barry, Angela, Jeannine and Philippa sat in rapt attention by the firing box while an unseasonably cold wind pushed sand across the long sandy flats adjacent to Hereford Inlet.<span style=""> </span>But the wind-blown sand forced the birds into a new place just outside of our catch area.<span style=""> </span>We decided to relocate the net. Eventually, Peter twinkled the birds onto position and we caught 84 red knots.<span style=""> </span>This was an important catch as it represents the birds that feed on the <st1:placename st="on">Atlantic</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Coast</st1:placetype> which are most often birds from the southeast <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region> wintering population.<span style=""> </span>It was also the second catch in a very long day that started at dawn. <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>But the most spectacular event of the evening was the gradual disappearance of three small flocks of knots and sanderlings into the north.<span style=""> </span>It always seems such an impossible coincidence to actually be there when a group of birds, that have been around the bay and <st1:place st="on">Atlantic</st1:place> coast for two or three weeks, suddenly make the decision to lift up and fly on a 2,500 mile journey.<span style=""> </span>And yet there was no mistaking it.<span style=""> </span>They took off as usual, flying together but in a loose formation.<span style=""> </span>Usually they are responding to some unknown cue, the need to move for a better place to feed, a real or imagined threat from a predator.<span style=""> </span>But on this evening of strong winds from the south they took off and gradually gained altitude.<span style=""> </span>Flying higher and higher, in widening circles the flock started to reform into a ‘V’, the most efficient formation for flying long distances.<span style=""> </span>Turning into the north they slowly disappeared from sight.<span style=""> </span>Next stop <st1:place st="on">Southampton Island</st1:place> or some other Arctic tundra breeding site.<span style=""> </span>It was thrilling!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>Our catch that evening told the whole story.<span style=""> </span>Although the mean weight was 171 grams or 9 grams below what is considered to be average lift-off weight of 180 grams, the numbers disguised the existence of two different weight-groups. The majority were in the higher weight-group that averaged 182 grams while the lower weight-group averaged only 128 grams.<span style=""> </span>This illustrates an important characteristic of the migration: most of the birds that feed on the Atlantic coast arrive on time and gain sufficient resources of fat and protein to fuel their onward migration while others are less fortunate; perhaps they arrived late or in poor condition, or perhaps couldn’t find sufficient food. Either way, they are behind in the race to get to the <st1:place st="on">Arctic</st1:place> in time to breed successfully.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;" >Distribution of red knot weights from May 27 catch at Stone Harbor</span><br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_nB6IbU9L6Zkj84Ck3mix9tjdrlV80sV1MAATNxLaSSIIiSnP4l82AQe55pPm4TiH0gCha1B4Yw5O65idCoFKlN-vjpwacez6lNdvG4_qph3gLIQ2-ihy6NdGCaBhN8aZEJXFBCJSEeD2/s1600-h/REKN+Stone+Harbor+27+May.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_nB6IbU9L6Zkj84Ck3mix9tjdrlV80sV1MAATNxLaSSIIiSnP4l82AQe55pPm4TiH0gCha1B4Yw5O65idCoFKlN-vjpwacez6lNdvG4_qph3gLIQ2-ihy6NdGCaBhN8aZEJXFBCJSEeD2/s400/REKN+Stone+Harbor+27+May.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069944054562930754" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /></span><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>A similar weight pattern was evident among the knots we caught earlier the same day at Fortescue on the Delaware Bayshore. Probably the fat birds came to the bay 10-14 days ago arriving around the time of the last spring tide when there was a good horseshoe crab spawn. This led to an abundance of eggs and they fattened quickly.<span style=""> </span>The second group probably arrived later and found fewer eggs because it was a period of neap tides.<span style=""> </span>Before the collapse of the horseshoe crab population, eggs were available throughout the month regardless of the tide.<span style=""> </span>Now with far fewer crabs they can all spawn on the best tide, the high spring tides, and avoid the low high tides or neap tides.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>When the fatter birds reach sufficient size they leave for the <st1:place st="on">Arctic</st1:place>.<span style=""> </span>This pushes the average weight of the birds in the bay downwards, because those left behind have lower weights.<span style=""> </span>Each year we see groups of birds coming to the bay late, but it is only in about the last five years that they seem to be having a more difficult time.<span style=""> </span>We will have to wait and see what will happen to them this year.<span style=""> </span>But it’s always good to watch fat birds spiral up into the sky chattering excitedly and disappear northwards!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">Red knot weight gain (grams) tracked throughout the stopover period (early May to early June) on Delaware Bay; 1997 to 2007</span></span><br /></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4ixOFtliE79lYdNb4jDHWXegZkpnhoZa2WIfA4AbnfPUJPB9B4FZULzyiHeFbpmzW_th3CJHfoM7VaKYKK7N2-CycOL6JhxZIV64gMLnms9rZMlZ4tWpe5lI3PBTO4bVQGR5myF1ViKZ/s1600-h/REKN+27+May+07.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4ixOFtliE79lYdNb4jDHWXegZkpnhoZa2WIfA4AbnfPUJPB9B4FZULzyiHeFbpmzW_th3CJHfoM7VaKYKK7N2-CycOL6JhxZIV64gMLnms9rZMlZ4tWpe5lI3PBTO4bVQGR5myF1ViKZ/s400/REKN+27+May+07.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069944054562930770" border="0" /></a></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >Ruddy Turnstone weight gain (grams) tracked throughout the stopover period (early May to early June) on Delaware Bay; 1997 to 2007</span><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI4TMtJ6JmFJzvyBvQlLMzEQUxhs3Uaeto1MnjDt3pmZy_vSisLYRTAL-i9R9vPoN8aBVZCbQpNSH1WDF2pfuEeiP-QLn8iDQpp3RmvZDWgn9ZTk5QCGk7LijwrL5A9aUNFNZALnRyRKFy/s1600-h/RUTU+24+May+07.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI4TMtJ6JmFJzvyBvQlLMzEQUxhs3Uaeto1MnjDt3pmZy_vSisLYRTAL-i9R9vPoN8aBVZCbQpNSH1WDF2pfuEeiP-QLn8iDQpp3RmvZDWgn9ZTk5QCGk7LijwrL5A9aUNFNZALnRyRKFy/s400/RUTU+24+May+07.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069944063152865378" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;" ><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >Sanderling weight gain (grams) tracked throughout the stopover period (early May to early June) on Delaware Bay; 1997 to 2007</span><br /></p> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfMLqLN4-eRAoVXiXemRgkZUcKq6hsqzegthL6Ypt8Ya8maY1PtaHv8vzm2Vo1QG6TtfeDqIo1csvutozs16eHEcn6FJCSMexZZEzXBA78Hk_EoIr-Iu3a3t2QoMNA-0ZNex-Of4tXSOjJ/s1600-h/SAND+27+May+07.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfMLqLN4-eRAoVXiXemRgkZUcKq6hsqzegthL6Ypt8Ya8maY1PtaHv8vzm2Vo1QG6TtfeDqIo1csvutozs16eHEcn6FJCSMexZZEzXBA78Hk_EoIr-Iu3a3t2QoMNA-0ZNex-Of4tXSOjJ/s400/SAND+27+May+07.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069944063152865394" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">A juvenile Red Knot with traces of breeding plumage<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2UbR4J3-A6R8Qccq9B39YPLviOsDJ7giA6vHXlrH7ljKpQ1zFKcGe2vrvQbxf1eo0Go5CT4Li83ixzj2uhFZ6lvzz-QwWXqClb2L657GdykQ7e7IUKa-gs88zO2yUi5QGthyphenhyphenkcOq6b6J7/s1600-h/A+juevenile+red+knot+with+traces+of+breeding+plumage.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2UbR4J3-A6R8Qccq9B39YPLviOsDJ7giA6vHXlrH7ljKpQ1zFKcGe2vrvQbxf1eo0Go5CT4Li83ixzj2uhFZ6lvzz-QwWXqClb2L657GdykQ7e7IUKa-gs88zO2yUi5QGthyphenhyphenkcOq6b6J7/s400/A+juevenile+red+knot+with+traces+of+breeding+plumage.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069717954599567266" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">A Red Knot banded in Chile; Red Flag with engraved letters "MH"<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi513hgjInxW_Lz9tjjxl5JXPNDbh9Pk1VT6xdkWvvkYkAc_Deq5MYnDDt-SssWUNTMdzbfQVH59wzQO6k09XgeJBTlplgJrWgl9ErHKGZipmdPfqXNGKAb5wQAnmpOoWSuaB4ZJ1b_m4-n/s1600-h/A+red+knot+banded+in+Chile.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi513hgjInxW_Lz9tjjxl5JXPNDbh9Pk1VT6xdkWvvkYkAc_Deq5MYnDDt-SssWUNTMdzbfQVH59wzQO6k09XgeJBTlplgJrWgl9ErHKGZipmdPfqXNGKAb5wQAnmpOoWSuaB4ZJ1b_m4-n/s400/A+red+knot+banded+in+Chile.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069718422751002546" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Black-necked Stilt and Red</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Knots in Mispillion Harbor by Alice Ewing<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnjdL2vEXRx7fWDWDcJTQwgCMv8ITzQpQ7zEy_Q0KAuQ97jp1d_lxNChOYRdm0P6f_IKSP8vLRVWp-jnPVZVLbZq0JhV2ipfA2Pyz_Kp3y0bKC0Od9KpT2fZ2sllEjhEeTFNUnCavpEBdl/s1600-h/Black-necked_Stilt+and+red+knots+in+Mispillion+Harbor+by+Alice+Ewing.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnjdL2vEXRx7fWDWDcJTQwgCMv8ITzQpQ7zEy_Q0KAuQ97jp1d_lxNChOYRdm0P6f_IKSP8vLRVWp-jnPVZVLbZq0JhV2ipfA2Pyz_Kp3y0bKC0Od9KpT2fZ2sllEjhEeTFNUnCavpEBdl/s400/Black-necked_Stilt+and+red+knots+in+Mispillion+Harbor+by+Alice+Ewing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069719066996096962" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Clive and his sister Angela banding Knots at Stone Harbor Point</span><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQ2-e5RMbE0odIx1tL6JvrX3A_0VYMDhggQGVWMH7aDG2kpDGomm3sUJrjChLrELfoug17j4AHLm4gD6G1akpgTGwaDmhnVwvyUAFAdPstppyhjpfePOY0E6pxNbLCbNGk__z6Jf0wgfK/s1600-h/Clive+and+his+Sister+Angela+working+on+knots+caught+at+Stone+Harbor+Point.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQ2-e5RMbE0odIx1tL6JvrX3A_0VYMDhggQGVWMH7aDG2kpDGomm3sUJrjChLrELfoug17j4AHLm4gD6G1akpgTGwaDmhnVwvyUAFAdPstppyhjpfePOY0E6pxNbLCbNGk__z6Jf0wgfK/s400/Clive+and+his+Sister+Angela+working+on+knots+caught+at+Stone+Harbor+Point.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069719449248186322" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> Roosting sanderlings by Alice Ewing<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguua609S_8_DLVR7HxX4bb_rpO7556SX_r7K0y4smWeDnB7J0DCZdqecY58z-9l-T9GCPymKSqzGnbUTRx7y-TvORaCVVpK-KsEfEeHizdUoqBJ-hSM-Za7fUZKhkomTLrs9OOfTEAvtfk/s1600-h/Heavey+and+light+sanderlings+by+Alice+Ewing.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguua609S_8_DLVR7HxX4bb_rpO7556SX_r7K0y4smWeDnB7J0DCZdqecY58z-9l-T9GCPymKSqzGnbUTRx7y-TvORaCVVpK-KsEfEeHizdUoqBJ-hSM-Za7fUZKhkomTLrs9OOfTEAvtfk/s400/Heavey+and+light+sanderlings+by+Alice+Ewing.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069719810025439202" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Horseshoe crabs spawning on Reeds by Alice Ewing<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_oAx31JorbKLk4SMH638_6GbNtXxkwSOt207zDvcsnxdCDjhOS6tjUYi728EjTxZysavw8QCzTSmceI_ljTwxm5gdqug3BZbVEFBdAYEpsWZnuoagKiUti3gMz8PrhSmwXS7lGDW-57RF/s1600-h/Horseshoe+Crabs+Spawning+on+Reeds+by+Alice+Ewing.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_oAx31JorbKLk4SMH638_6GbNtXxkwSOt207zDvcsnxdCDjhOS6tjUYi728EjTxZysavw8QCzTSmceI_ljTwxm5gdqug3BZbVEFBdAYEpsWZnuoagKiUti3gMz8PrhSmwXS7lGDW-57RF/s400/Horseshoe+Crabs+Spawning+on+Reeds+by+Alice+Ewing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069720252407070706" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">One Red Knot weighing 212g and another weighing 95g<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVB-vLMBDq02wAgWGrfGY_FLabT9ZFalG1mdanbIut9i_GwdTrUUhRBa30E3S5AOtIh-H64MHwQn7VgZiHmXQUHVit41QHZEKAEmb06ToFqn6sgp4Be__Bm_to936JOYm2own-Myvr94iB/s1600-h/One+red+knot+weighing+212+grams+and+another+weighting+95+grams+.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVB-vLMBDq02wAgWGrfGY_FLabT9ZFalG1mdanbIut9i_GwdTrUUhRBa30E3S5AOtIh-H64MHwQn7VgZiHmXQUHVit41QHZEKAEmb06ToFqn6sgp4Be__Bm_to936JOYm2own-Myvr94iB/s400/One+red+knot+weighing+212+grams+and+another+weighting+95+grams+.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069720634659160066" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Shorebird Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15385844029270323237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755285369371889348.post-17705860261307480572007-05-28T16:47:00.000-04:002008-12-11T16:25:48.716-05:00Delaware Bay, New Jersey, USA - Tuesday, May 22, 2007<span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:100%;" >Victor Ayala, Mandy Dey and I bounced about in the small aluminum skiff trying our best to count red knots, ruddy turnstones, sanderlings, semipalmated sandpipers and dunlins and having a difficult time of it.<span style=""> </span>During the previous few hours, the sea had grown nasty around Egg Island point, probably the most remote place on the Delaware Bay.<span style=""> </span>The boat rolled and pitched in the high, steep waves that were driven by a stiff breeze from the southeast blowing against the tide.<span style=""> </span>Most sailors fear wind against tide conditions in Delaware Bay and we were trying to deal with that as well as scanning the shoreline for birds.<o:p></o:p></span> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:100%;" ><o:p> </o:p>Our goal was to do a ground count while Kathy Clark, Ron Porter and Humphrey Sitters counted from an airplane probably also suffering a bad time from this wind.<span style=""> </span>Our entire team was spread out along the bayshore today trying to conduct counts simultaneously with the team in the airplane so we could, with the help of USGS biologist Jon Bart, develop a more robust estimate of the shorebird population on the bay.<span style=""> </span>The count of red knots has dropped significantly over the last 15 years and is now at an all time low.<span style=""> </span>We don’t consider our counts to be estimates of the total population because we don’t know what proportion stopover in the bay (although we are closing in on that number with our resightings project).<span style=""> </span>Moreover, even when peak numbers are present, some may not have arrived, while others may have already departed.<span style=""> </span>The counts do, however, provide a key indicator of the condition of the Delaware Bay stopover as do the other species counts.<span style=""> </span>For example last year a sudden drop in the number of ruddy turnstones created a great deal of concern.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:100%;" ><o:p> </o:p>Our aerial counts are carefully designed so that they not only tell us the peak numbers of each species as accurately as possible but also a measure of the degree to which numbers vary across the stopover season. These are not just sample counts from which the total is estimated by extrapolation. These are counts of all shorebirds using the Delaware Bay. Moreover they have been carried out in exactly the same way with the same principal counter (Kathy Clark), at the same time in relation to the tide every week for the whole 6-weeks of the spring shorebird stopover for over 20 years. This consistency of methods gives the counts great credibility. In sharp contrast, the latest figure for the number horseshoe crabs in Delaware Bay is 18 million. But no one has counted 18 million crabs; it is just an estimate with a very large degree of uncertainty. As such it is a poor basis for judging the condition of the crab population or determining harvest regulations.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:100%;" ><o:p> </o:p>Though we have every confidence in the aerial counts, no survey in incapable of improvement and all surveys should be verified using different methods. So this year we are carrying out sample ground counts at the same time as the flights.<span style=""> </span>These will be compared with the aerial counts and provide some estimate of the number of birds not seen from the air.<span style=""> </span>In theory counters standing on dry land should be able to count every bird present on a beach accurately.<span style=""> </span>However, for those bobbing about in a small boat, like Victor, Mandy and me off Egg Island, this may not be true.<span style=""> </span>We intend to do a better job next week. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:100%;" ><o:p></o:p>The aerial count of May 22 is intriguing.<span style=""> </span>As suspected, knot numbers were a bit lower than this time last year probably because adverse northeast winds held up their migration.<span style=""> </span>Kathy and her team counted 7,395 down from the May 23 2006 figure of 8,680.<span style=""> </span>Thankfully, turnstones were up to 18,535, 34% higher than last years May 23 peak of 12,178, but much lower than the May 24 count of 2005, when there were 42,995.<span style=""> </span>The next count should confirm the peak figure for most species so we are looking forward to its result with trepidation.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:100%;" ><o:p> </o:p>While we were busy counting the bay, Mandy Dey coordinated with other biologists to produce a US east coast estimate for red knots.<span style=""> </span>On the same day that Kathy Clark counted 7,395 knots, Brad Winn counted 2,155 in Georgia, Bill Mace and Katherine Goodenough counted 125 in South Carolina, Barry Truitt and Bryan Watts counted 5,939 in Virginia, and Dave Allen and Sue Cameron reported a preliminary count of 125 in North Carolina.<span style=""> </span>These figures total 15,763 which is comparable to last year’s figure of 15,494. In 2006 there was less coverage in South Carolina and the northern coast of North Carolina.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:100%;" ><o:p> </o:p></span><span style=""><span style="font-family:georgia;">The final chapter of the count saga will be told later this week.</span></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQKGsMNXeV7lZqe1xIrVokmdlXLav7cJgB2lGWCwcO8rWQO_faNmdOA64kbd_k5KxXCPx91NMX0pCPaQSnO2or0LvCmlB6iYUF2sHVVYWU_IKi4J00c4CrqTrubfNq_4Ie8ASctzDKnT5/s1600-h/Peak+count+of+Red+Knots+1997-2006.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQKGsMNXeV7lZqe1xIrVokmdlXLav7cJgB2lGWCwcO8rWQO_faNmdOA64kbd_k5KxXCPx91NMX0pCPaQSnO2or0LvCmlB6iYUF2sHVVYWU_IKi4J00c4CrqTrubfNq_4Ie8ASctzDKnT5/s400/Peak+count+of+Red+Knots+1997-2006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069716597389901698" border="0" /></a><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-style: italic;">Victor looking out over Egg Island</span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_e5BhHNHjeL0EyqyHqFlzovqlqWyb14uJFbMRsly6gOEn3wOS7eZODJEimF7lfrMOt0kH0S9CarstfiwpYiSKrK97OgHdXqT40yLp85gC3pxRZ0YKS6DWwn7Gw-APnid8H_Ot-WKXMGq/s1600-h/Victor+looking+out+over+Egg+Island.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_e5BhHNHjeL0EyqyHqFlzovqlqWyb14uJFbMRsly6gOEn3wOS7eZODJEimF7lfrMOt0kH0S9CarstfiwpYiSKrK97OgHdXqT40yLp85gC3pxRZ0YKS6DWwn7Gw-APnid8H_Ot-WKXMGq/s400/Victor+looking+out+over+Egg+Island.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069717129965846418" border="0" /></a><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /></p>Shorebird Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15385844029270323237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755285369371889348.post-69383063626689662972007-05-24T13:57:00.000-04:002008-12-11T16:25:51.545-05:00Delaware Bay, New Jersey, USA - Monday, May 21, 2007<div align="left">Tom Virzi, a PhD candidate at Rutgers working on Oystercatchers, called to tell us that there were 1,600 knots near the Fish Factory near Forsyth Refuge. It was a fortuitous call. Humphrey, who has focused on the red knots using the Atlantic Coast at Stone Harbor, as well as Clive and I were confused by the lack of knots in Stone Harbor. In fact Jim Fraser of Virginia Tech found very few knots on the Atlantic Coast of Virginia as well. Over the last four years we have gradually unraveled the mystery of the Atlantic Coast knots.<br /><br />Originally we thought they were actually knots coming from the Delaware Bay that went to the ocean coasts and marshes to seek new prey because of the decline in horseshoe crab eggs. But recently we published the more likely scenario that the Atlantic birds represent the southeast US wintering knots, primarily the ones from Florida. In other words, the knots coming to the Delaware Bay shore are mostly birds from South America, who make an arduous and long migration that leaves them depleted and in need of recharging on the bay. They are also the main segment of the red knot population and the group that has fallen by over 70% in the last ten years. The Florida knots in contrast, fly a shorter distance and appear to focus more on mussel spat and small clams all along the Atlantic Coast. But good spat and clam areas shift. Some years Stone Harbor is good, sometimes Virginia is good. This year it appears that the area around the Fish Factory is good.<br /><br />Clive, Mark, Sue Rice visiting from USFWS and I hopped in the small aluminium boat with some trepidation. The wind howled at 25 knots and we were uncertain if we could find the area that Tom described in nasty weather. We did and within a few hours we had thoroughly scanned the flock for alpha-numeric flags. The distribution paralleled our resightings in the Stone Harbor knots, a disproportionate number of birds caught and flagged in Florida and the Atlantic Coast. The presence, however, of some Chile, Argentine and Delaware Bay flagged birds tells us we don’t have this figured out completely.<br /><br />The distinction between these populations is key to understanding the plight of the red knot. The key indicator on the Delaware Bay is the ability of shorebirds to gain weight. Many factors complicate the assessment of weight gain besides the availability of horseshoe crab eggs especially when you are using captured birds. For example if you make several catches and see a clear gain in the flock weights you can depend that practically all birds are gaining weight. But if a new flock arrives from South America then the flock weight will decline dramatically because you have the influx of new low weight birds. Individual birds may have gained weight but the average weight of birds caught will have fallen.<br /><br />Despite these and other complications the assessment of weight-gain is key to monitoring the health of the Delaware Bay stopover. For years the ability of birds to gain weight declined and large numbers of birds left the bay without sufficient energy to get to the Arctic or breed successfully. This caused the population to decline. Now that the population is so low, many of the remaining birds are gaining weight simply because there are fewer birds competing for the depleted resources. Understanding the distinction between South American and Florida wintering helped us understand the vital importance of horseshoe crab eggs to red knot, especially the long distance migrants.<br /><br />In this blog we will present the weight gain data that we use to assess the birds’ progress. Each data point is an average weight for the birds caught that day. Despite all the complications it is clear why the birds are here.<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><em>Lisa LaCroix from the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife releasing a Sanderling</em></div><div align="center"><em> </em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihmQMOmS2V8ZZQJDx0Kx34qC5Pjm_sh3ISp_NTpbgIhPMQqa6wReub_i5z6Bqq0p6Lq3VQxRIptEHG6vZaZYXi-ZzM_nUVTM3eKXlsFTpwkH3hBhXL8E5XnGQV4md1ueCi2vgde_7lMVer/s1600-h/IMG_0189.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068190522495188850" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihmQMOmS2V8ZZQJDx0Kx34qC5Pjm_sh3ISp_NTpbgIhPMQqa6wReub_i5z6Bqq0p6Lq3VQxRIptEHG6vZaZYXi-ZzM_nUVTM3eKXlsFTpwkH3hBhXL8E5XnGQV4md1ueCi2vgde_7lMVer/s400/IMG_0189.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><em></em> </div><div align="center"><em>Mixed group of shorebirds feeding on the beach at Fortescue</em></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQVVehgeyRN84nB0tOOf0855saJqezZryEoz-_AsjZJGuoSyT9HthrM_wmT2SyHCqZlYeNxvnr41u76O-TLiUJiP6FLzsLemMcE-Azmy3K5DmTvVdaPC4uxuU82GIqS8j9Mp1hg3tjZ8VW/s1600-h/IMG_0206.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068190449480744802" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQVVehgeyRN84nB0tOOf0855saJqezZryEoz-_AsjZJGuoSyT9HthrM_wmT2SyHCqZlYeNxvnr41u76O-TLiUJiP6FLzsLemMcE-Azmy3K5DmTvVdaPC4uxuU82GIqS8j9Mp1hg3tjZ8VW/s400/IMG_0206.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><em>Kimbles Beach at low tide</em></div><div align="center"> </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7r70S-J4lqcDkBWwbo4fE7dH9CzOcjIrprUhjPfEt-a5erByV1nTpCWmPQEwj_AiissdtoyKqT088AkqStGe0g7isvfFIBev1wTo_aeBNXkVjn7LO0OOFHBMxaa7b9bOAG0P0AtKWRg9/s1600-h/IMG_0215.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068190393646169938" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7r70S-J4lqcDkBWwbo4fE7dH9CzOcjIrprUhjPfEt-a5erByV1nTpCWmPQEwj_AiissdtoyKqT088AkqStGe0g7isvfFIBev1wTo_aeBNXkVjn7LO0OOFHBMxaa7b9bOAG0P0AtKWRg9/s400/IMG_0215.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center"><em>Mandy Dey and the count plane flying overhead</em><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmhl-hGRvkc3yEk4fM67hDV8kbX3dp2SlhYhya2s5Ck7ob0EFco00FoxR2zcdDA059Wyxh8q33WGTlsgYVnnPxooovgkz2CsSBG23Vu3vfKTmV-RWoPgl5YBf3y8NvwEBsNd9Kn-5JkUOO/s1600-h/IMG_0231.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068190264797151042" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmhl-hGRvkc3yEk4fM67hDV8kbX3dp2SlhYhya2s5Ck7ob0EFco00FoxR2zcdDA059Wyxh8q33WGTlsgYVnnPxooovgkz2CsSBG23Vu3vfKTmV-RWoPgl5YBf3y8NvwEBsNd9Kn-5JkUOO/s400/IMG_0231.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><em>A flock of Red Knots flying towards the catching area</em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF9cNVerrnXXscWSUDvJLNuYP1C_MDP49GRw-Kk5K-a6qeScHi2I4arICl5qoXGzM7gEK0Rp2Sb35YVGXwt7ZQk3-hRoXP1EO2HRd65KgmelORIui3aRIYBJv4T02MfghNmg4ov4u8kn7z/s1600-h/IMG_0244.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068190187487739698" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF9cNVerrnXXscWSUDvJLNuYP1C_MDP49GRw-Kk5K-a6qeScHi2I4arICl5qoXGzM7gEK0Rp2Sb35YVGXwt7ZQk3-hRoXP1EO2HRd65KgmelORIui3aRIYBJv4T02MfghNmg4ov4u8kn7z/s400/IMG_0244.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><em>Laughing Gulls and Red Knot</em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijMUM3mqLfglJC2KJCwIZEAOxjL8BVHUrnXiEwQ_HKha-SuT4VrIKnDNwJ-GG74uEBjwmNDk4IvvEGSytL2YsmxMLUeHyvUDG6nzar5AzRJGd25NhCoZ_Bx2b1SKGkZdhSgGkDTZiTp3le/s1600-h/IMG_0260.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068190114473295650" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijMUM3mqLfglJC2KJCwIZEAOxjL8BVHUrnXiEwQ_HKha-SuT4VrIKnDNwJ-GG74uEBjwmNDk4IvvEGSytL2YsmxMLUeHyvUDG6nzar5AzRJGd25NhCoZ_Bx2b1SKGkZdhSgGkDTZiTp3le/s400/IMG_0260.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><em>A mixture of shorebirds and gulls taking a break from frienzied eating</em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8AccuBVjvOW4p6rlzU4Ry9TVV3PQK9i1EEqFTeGBNxgs05jJCHXNUhH1hEurINBrSslVTDXEndHBccOaV28nORoUWPNULMKObg4o52ho4cOrtlk8jTAq9nt1WuUflMgcG4W0VbEhpT_Sy/s1600-h/IMG_0270.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068190024278982418" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8AccuBVjvOW4p6rlzU4Ry9TVV3PQK9i1EEqFTeGBNxgs05jJCHXNUhH1hEurINBrSslVTDXEndHBccOaV28nORoUWPNULMKObg4o52ho4cOrtlk8jTAq9nt1WuUflMgcG4W0VbEhpT_Sy/s400/IMG_0270.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><em>Banding Red Knots on a bug-infested beach at Fortescue</em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYUjHOwx0AFtlokRql4KHPwmdW1_KbyrCsdvwdQhIeXQZZ4Afv_q_hjIv6j0q4_qOmWjovdIK0vJZL3qz3msb_e6ZrPC2-LIzG5q8wtDCotGpKhnbmvZcHL4LPLCfEnuY5nkTtOHriTxV/s1600-h/Processing+Red+Knots+on+a+bug+infested+beach+at+fortesque.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068189942674603778" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYUjHOwx0AFtlokRql4KHPwmdW1_KbyrCsdvwdQhIeXQZZ4Afv_q_hjIv6j0q4_qOmWjovdIK0vJZL3qz3msb_e6ZrPC2-LIzG5q8wtDCotGpKhnbmvZcHL4LPLCfEnuY5nkTtOHriTxV/s400/Processing+Red+Knots+on+a+bug+infested+beach+at+fortesque.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div><em>A dense swarm of gnats at Fortescue</em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgujeosXIzkGFKRW1rDCFXrC6MiYyxreFvz5j2her5TmG7UECdGK39HvIVthNnDgDqNOyU2BG_9xlU4U8pgTu-MbvgtcI2uVYd5e06oebWzk3Y5ppZOZt1h2LUIojiX3ib9-c8pkgokmjLA/s1600-h/IMG_0183.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068189843890355954" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgujeosXIzkGFKRW1rDCFXrC6MiYyxreFvz5j2her5TmG7UECdGK39HvIVthNnDgDqNOyU2BG_9xlU4U8pgTu-MbvgtcI2uVYd5e06oebWzk3Y5ppZOZt1h2LUIojiX3ib9-c8pkgokmjLA/s400/IMG_0183.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><em>A Red Knot has an individually inscribed flag attached</em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkOGko7bCpHPe4QdUBLQeWtuqD6LJws89NGB5DEP6dAev9u3n05-yHml-CsBfaOY9xAqp6s1OJxmPxmgugPn1yVLnjtaa-dU6CaEbqvWwWm4Ab_JqPnS6Q3J7j2hWsQWJK_nrDZ1DTtjq-/s1600-h/A+Red+Knot+is+flagged.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068189392918789858" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkOGko7bCpHPe4QdUBLQeWtuqD6LJws89NGB5DEP6dAev9u3n05-yHml-CsBfaOY9xAqp6s1OJxmPxmgugPn1yVLnjtaa-dU6CaEbqvWwWm4Ab_JqPnS6Q3J7j2hWsQWJK_nrDZ1DTtjq-/s400/A+Red+Knot+is+flagged.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><em>Mark Peck scanning for flagged Red Knots near Brigantine</em></div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgErb85cV31qtMyhBF0nKi4qRaSzbx8BlLdQEsJe_v5cglvpMa67O02vJifE5OSphGXRsDDwAM093o3sMdXsgnO9ajKVV7lKYdUfVTeha9yr_CXt7TlU96sAY0_Cr1xIwGO8-WraSlwlh5P/s1600-h/IMG_0152.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068188701429055186" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgErb85cV31qtMyhBF0nKi4qRaSzbx8BlLdQEsJe_v5cglvpMa67O02vJifE5OSphGXRsDDwAM093o3sMdXsgnO9ajKVV7lKYdUfVTeha9yr_CXt7TlU96sAY0_Cr1xIwGO8-WraSlwlh5P/s400/IMG_0152.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>Shorebird Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15385844029270323237noreply@blogger.com0