Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Birding 2024 Jun
Birding 2024 Jun
Birding 2024 Jun
content exclusively
for members
Additional
online content
for everyone
Contents
vol. 56 | no. 3 | june 2024
4 About the
Contributors
Book Bulletin
The Latest Book & Media News
and U.S. East Coast
Georgia Silvera Seamans
8 Spectacles
Summer Spectacles
68 Featured Photo
This warbler is a hybrid, but what 48 The Woman
Painting the
Getting the most from kind of hybrid? Read finder James Skies of Mexico
your summer Birding Lees’s analysis of this rare find, The reintroduction of Scarlet
Frank Izaguirre beginning on p. 60. Macaws in Veracruz
Jesús Antonio
10 Primary Thoughts
Investing in the Future Features “Chucho” Moo Yam
18 A Birding Interview
Breaking the 10,000-bird
32 Codebreakers
Swainson’s Warbler
barrier and beyond Tips for finding and
with Peter Kaestner photographing this secretive skulker
Gene Koziara
60 Featured Photo
The Dundas Valley Hybrid Warbler
A rare encounter with an American
Redstart x Magnolia Warbler hybrid
James Lees
• Birding wonders never cease
62
in Southeast Arizona: specialty
Book & Media Reviews birds, thrilling vagrants, overall
Analysis & Appreciation diversity. But birders may be
of the Birding Literature overlooking the region for the joy
edited by Rebecca Minardi of searching for and photograph-
■ A Memoir of Injustice ing nesting desert birds, like these
and the Beauty of Birds Crested Caracaras. Read Tucson-
a review by April D. Campbell based photographer Mike Henry’s
About Birding Magazine ■ Birding is the members’ magazine of the American Birding Association
(ABA), published eight times per year. Six regular issues appear bimonthly, and two special themed issues appear
annually. Coverage in Birding extends to all topics having to do with the awareness, understanding, and apprecia-
tion of wild birds and their habitats. Identification, conservation, and basic biology are major thematic emphases
for Birding. The ABA especially welcomes content that addresses the human dimension of bird study.
Birding Online ■ Birding and the ABA provide a wide array of digital resources for the association’s mem-
bership, as well as for the broader birding community. Go to aba.org/magazine for access to current content and
select content from previous issues. For access to all periodical publications ever published by the ABA, including
North American Birds, visit our searchable online archives, aba.org/archives; an ABA member account is required
for full access. Other digital resources provided free of charge by the ABA to the birding community include the
American Birding Podcast, the ABA ID Vault, the Virtual Bird Club, What’s This Bird LIVE, Listing Central, and
offsite ABA social media channels at X, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.
Instructions for Contributors ■ Birding welcomes inquiries and submittals from all members of the
birding community. We solicit content on anything having to do with wild birds and their habitats, and we partic-
ularly favor contributions that focus on North America, the joy of birding, and nature study in the digital era. Bird-
ing covets contributions from voices and perspectives that have been historically underrepresented in science and
nature study. If you are interested in contributing, an excellent first step is to acquaint yourself with Birding and
the ABA membership. Browse Birding Online (aba.org/magazine) to view recent content. Then contact Editors Ted
Floyd (tfloyd@aba.org) and Frank Izaguirre (fizaguirre@aba.org) with an idea or proposal, and we’ll go from there.
DIRECTORS
George Armistead • David Bates • David Bell
Sara Pruneda-Beesley • Julie Davis • Karyl Gabriel
Willie Hendrickson • David McQuade
Jeff Rusinow • Magill Weber
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Wayne Klockner
FINANCE
Deb Barnett
OPERATIONS
Kelly Smith
DEVELOPMENT
Carl Bendorf
MEMBERSHIP & COMMUNICATIONS
Maggie FitzGibbon, Membership & Communications
David Hartley, Membership & IT
Supporting local guides and conservation through nature travel Greg Neise, Website
LeAnn Pilger, Membership
PROGRAMS
Laura Guerard, Young Birder Programs
Jennie Duberstein, Young Birder Camp Director
Holly Merker, Young Birder Camp Director
Katinka Domen, Travel & Events
Kelly Smith, Birders’ Exchange
Nate Swick, Education & Digital Content
PUBLICATIONS
Ted Floyd & Frank Izaguirre, Birding
Peru • Brazil • Ecuador • Honduras • Guatemala • Tanzania • India • Sri Lanka • Borneo • and more! Michael L. P. Retter, Birding Specials
Michael L. P. Retter, North American Birds
John Lowry, Advertising
Ed Rother / ER Graphics, Design & Production
Wildlife Tours
Bettie R. Harriman (2006–2007)
Richard H. Payne (1999–2006)
Allan R. Keith (1997–1999)
Summer
ized and rewarding skill. And of course,
baby birds are very cute when you
find them, and it can feel so satisfying
when you make out the contours of a
Spectacles
well-hidden nest.
In addition to all the excellent bird-
ing opportunities summer offers, it’s
one of the best times of year for enjoy-
ing other aspects of natural history.
After a morning full of birding and
nest-searching, sunny late mornings
Getting the most from your summer Birding are a great time to search meadows
and any area with blooming flowers
for interesting insects. Many birders
A
s I write this, birders across the Summer birding presents an excel- focus on butterflies or dragonflies, but
ABA Area are preparing for the lent opportunity to make interesting don’t ignore flies in the order Diptera—
exaltation of spring birding, discoveries, improve skills, and gen- they are incredibly cool and varied. At
but those same birders won’t read these erally just enjoy the night, there is limit-
words until the spectacle is just about bird breeding season, less opportunity to
over. Once the thrill of spring migration when birds are liter- enjoy the spectacular
winds down, some birders tend to feel ally making more diversity of moths
a bit deflated, like the best of the year’s birds. While par- and other nocturnal
birding is now passed and fall migra- ticipating in official insects like mant-
tion is still a long way off. surveys and routes isflies and anything
and other formal op- in the order Ephem-
More Birds.
arizonabirdingguides.com
and uncommon species like Con-
necticut Warbler, and some birds leave
their nests as early as the beginning of
July, so the window between the end Better Photos.
of spring migration and fall migra-
tion can be as short as just one month,
barely any time to enjoy the myriad
Your List.
opportunities for summer birding
and other natural history pursuits.
Early fall migration is also an under-
documented phenomenon that gives
birders a chance to find many species
that often slink away before birders
are even really paying attention to fall
migration. Add to this that it’s a good
time to study and learn about molt. The
summer birding period, with all its joys
and opportunities, begins and ends all
too quickly.
Frank Izaguirre
Editor, Birding
Investing in
to teach myself, given the absence of
any connection with an experienced
birder or local bird club with guided
walks. Fortunately, my new-found love
the Future
of birds and birding overcame any oc-
casional frustration. And finally, my
mother introduced me to a birding
colleague from work, and so began my
introduction to the small but dedicated
central New Jersey birding community.
I improved as a birder faster when I
Raising the next generation of could benefit from others’ experience
and advice.
birders and conservationists As I learn more about the ABA’s
programs and services for the birding
community, I’m most excited by the
M
y pre-teen beginnings as floored by every new bird I found and Young Birder Camps and Young Birder
a birder were intense: The can still remember my first Eastern of the Year Mentoring Program. If only
thrill of discovery drove me Towhee, Black-and-white Warbler, and I could have participated in those when
into the field almost every day at dawn, Rose-breasted Grosbeak. But those be- I was getting started! These programs
even on schooldays. Fortunately, the ginnings were not without some frus- offer youth not only exceptional oppor-
woods, fields, and streams of central tration. I was completely on my own. tunities to enhance their birding skills,
New Jersey were just beyond the back but also the chance to meet others of
door, and I took full advantage of them.
Wandering those suburban wilds, I was B eing hampered by an incomplete
field guide and woefully subopti-
mal optics was challenging, but those
similar age and level of commitment to
birds and birding. There’s real power in
bringing young people together over a
shortcomings were soon alleviated by shared passion.
sympathetic parents, nonbirders them- I witnessed this dynamic firsthand
Wayne Klockner
selves. What was missing was a peer, earlier this year when I traveled to
Ocean City, Maryland let alone a birding mentor, to energize San Diego to attend the launch of the
my birding experience and accelerate ABA’s newest Young Birder Camp,
wklockner@aba.org my learning to identify birds. For my Camp Surfbird, in partnership with
first few years of birding, I was content San Diego Audubon. The camp brought
together boys and girls for
a long weekend of birding,
learning, storytelling, and
mingling with attendees at
the San Diego Bird Festival. I
joined the group on their last
afternoon for some birding
at the mouth of the San Di-
ego River after their pelagic
trip. We shared excitement
10 b i r d i n g june 2024
primary thoughts
More Birds.
louisianabirdingguides.com
Better Photos.
Your List.
Good birding,
Wayne Klockner
ABA Executive Director
june 2024 a b a . o r g / m a g a z i n e 11
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Celebrations
riverine sites in northeastern Tanzania,
along the Ruvu, Wami, and Rufiji river
basins.
iseritan@aba.org
O n Mon., Feb. 13, 2023, longstand-
ing Australian member of the
ABA, Chris Doughty of Melbourne,
Australia, observed a small breeding
14 b i r d i n g june 2024
celebrations
Help us celebrate the ABA
2024 Bird of the Year, the
Golden-winged Warbler!
Share your stories and into one shot. Elisa notes, “We found bringing his eBird life list from 398 to
sightings, with or without it interesting that the leucism only 423. He reached #400 with a group
accompanying photo- affected the melanin in their feath- of Gray Go-away-birds, spotted in a
graphs, in this column. ers, meanwhile the carotenoids in the tree in Pilanesberg National Park and
Your Golden-winged War- crown appeared unaffected. The strik- Game Reserve. Other lifers included
bler Celebrations needn’t ing, red-on-white contrast was beauti- Secretarybird, Southern Cordonbleu,
be numerical milestones, ful. I hope they pass on their unique Green-backed Camaroptera, and Red-
although we certainly colors!” billed Quelea.
welcome those, too.
— Ioana Seritan
Associate Editor X avier Gitre of Blacksburg, Virginia,
was visiting family in Austin,
Texas, when he and his father decided
inset:• Xavier Gitre had to wade
barefoot into the Rio Grande
to take a one-day excursion to South to catch sight of his 600th lifer,
Texas to celebrate his 16th birthday a Bare-throated Tiger-Heron.
early. Thanks to Santa Margarita Ranch Photo by © Xavier Gitre.
tour guides Ryan Rodriguez and Justin
LeClaire, Xavier hit his 2023 goal of
bottom left: •Xavier Gitre enjoys
his 16th birthday present: a one-
reaching 600 lifers on Wed., Dec. 27,
day excursion to South Texas.
when he saw the Bare-throated Tiger-
Photo courtesy of © Xavier Gitre.
Heron. Xavier says, “It was definitely
memorable—as soon as Ryan pointed
at the bird from behind an island, we
popped off our shoes and socks and
10 minutes into the walk. The bird waded ankle-deep in the Rio Grande
went around the trunk and out of sight. until the bird was visible. That truly
While Elisa waited for another look, her redefined the ‘sweet 16’!”
mom said, “I think there are two.” She
said, “No way.” Elisa whipped out her
binoculars and, sure enough, there was
another leucistic individual pecking at
S amuel Hodge of Marstons Mills,
Massachusetts, went on a South
African safari on Wed., Jan. 17, 2024,
a branch in the same tree. Luckily, the before participating in an honor band
pair crept close enough together to get festival in Johannesburg. Along with
seeing cool mammals like elephants,
giraffes, hippos, and rhinos, Samuel
saw tons of birds. He got 25 lifers,
june 2024 a b a . o r g / m a g a z i n e 15
celebrations
bottom: •
During a trip to South Africa in
Jan. 2024, Samuel Hodge saw a group of
Gray Go-away-birds in Pilanesberg National
Park and Game Reserve, bringing him to 400
world birds. Photo by © Samuel Hodge.
16 b i r d i n g june 2024
celebrations
june 2024 a b a . o r g / m a g a z i n e 17
birding interview
Peter Kaestner
I had a good friend in Fort Lauderdale
suggest that my life would be richer if I
had a career different from birds, and he
was right. I cannot imagine how things
could have worked out better. Represent-
ing the U.S. overseas and helping Ameri-
Peter Kaestner has seen more birds than anyone. For 36 years, as a diplomat in the
can citizens abroad were extraordinary
U.S. Foreign Service, he took postings all over the world—from Papua New Guinea honors, and moving to new countries
to Afghanistan, Colombia, India, the Solomon Islands, Brazil, Guatemala, Namibia, and learning new languages every couple
and Germany—and kept birding, birding, birding. In 1986, Kaestner became the first of years was intellectually stimulating.
person to have seen at least one representative of each of the world’s bird families. Living in a foreign country also allowed
While living in Colombia, he discovered a new species, the Cundinamarca Antpitta, me to become a local expert and get some
which is scientifically named Grallaria kaestneri in his honor. In Feb. 2024, Kaestner of the harder birds. As a result, I ended
set a mind-blowing record, reaching 10,000 on his life list with the sighting of an up with 8,600 birds by the time I retired
Orange-tufted Spiderhunter in the Philippines. from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016.
In this action-packed Birding interview, Kaestner tracks his course from hyper-
competitive young birder to super-spirited diplomatic birder to uber-focused in- Birding: In the 1970s and 1980s, how
ternational birder, and gives thanks to the birding community, his wife, and a cat did you approach birding in unexplored
named Kirtland. corners of the world without even ba-
—Noah Strycker, Associate Editor sic information or resources like field
guides?
PK: It wasn’t easy. In addition to the lack
B
of field guides, there were very few lo-
irding: Now that the me- helped me along my journey. Thank cal birders. There were some classic
dia attention has died you all. I could never have done it alone: books that provided information, such
down, what do you savor Birding is truly a team sport. as A Guide to the Birds of South America
most about crossing the by Rodolphe Meyer de Schauensee, and
10,000-species threshold? Birding: Who or what put this fire in Rand and Gilliard’s Handbook of New
Peter Kaestner: As I am writing this your belly? Guinea Birds. I purchased an authorized
on Mar. 21, I feel that I am in an Andy- PK: In the summer of 1955, my brother, facsimile copy of Rand and Gilliard before
Warhol-inspired 15-minutes-of-fame Hank, with whom I share a lot of DNA,
Groundhog Day. The requests for inter- saw a Vermilion Flycatcher in Mexico
views have not let up. For heaven’s sake, City. That bird sparked his lifetime pas- •Peter Kaestner has been birding the
birding made the friggin’ front page of The sion, and, by extension, mine. (I was born world nearly all his life. He has seen
New York Times! While my head is still in 1953.) In a hyper-competitive family more bird species than any other hu-
spinning, I made an important realiza- with six all-American athletes, goals and man. Photo by © Kimberly Kaestner.
tion. I am pleased to have played a role in achievement were always a part of our
showcasing birding to millions of people. upbringing. I recall competing to identify
The sentiment that I savor most is new car models in the fall as we drove to
gratitude. First, I am indebted to my church. Snap-identification of birds was
wife, Kimberly, for supporting my pas- routine. Not only did you need to be cor-
sion. Her insistence that I immediately rect, but you also had to be first. Because
return to Asia was key to achieving my of the eight-year difference in our ages,
goal. She cannot imagine the depth of Hank was my mentor as I grew into a
my love for her. Second, I am thankful birder. Birds are such an integral part of
for my oldest brother, Hank, who men- my being that there was just no way that
tored me as a young boy and who has I would not have become a birder.
stood as a standard bearer for success in
our family ever since. Birding: After graduating from Cornell
But my gratitude extends to the entire University with a biology degree, why
birding community, to the countless pursue foreign service?
birders, ornithologists, and others who PK: I figured I would see more birds by
18 b i r d i n g june 2024
birding interview
ant. One way I found locations of poorly PK: I will definitely bird differently
known birds was to research the type in the future. While I was a diplomat,
locality where the species was discov- finding new birds sometimes just
ered using scientific publications. meant a weekend road trip. I even saw
a lifer in Cairo from the hospital room
Birding: How far would you go to see a of an American injured in a terrorist
bird? Do you ever get weary of the chase? bombing! Now that I am retired, find-
PK: One of the most difficult birds I’ve ing birds is more challenging, especially
seen was the Blue-bearded Helmetcrest, because most of my wants-list birds
a bird restricted to a remote part of the live in Southeast Asia. I am not in-
Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in north- dependently wealthy, so my sprint to
ern Colombia. The quest involved 24 10,000 is not financially sustainable.
hours of climbing from about 5,000 feet As a Rockjumper tour leader, I do
to 14,000 feet and back over three and travel regularly, which helps a lot.
a half days. Diego Calderón, Colombia’s Also, my brother, Hank, and I try to go
• In a hyper-competitive family, Peter super guide, took me up. birding somewhere every year, and
Kaestner’s lifelong passion for birds
was sparked by his older brother,
While I’ve been to the ends of the Earth his generosity greatly reduces my
to see birds, I’ve done few long-distance expenses.
Hank. The two of them, shown here
circa 1963, still try to go birding some-
twitches. In 2020, I traveled from Bal-
where together every year. Photo
timore to southeast Arizona when an Birding: Which taxonomic list do you
Eared Quetzal showed up. After dipping prefer—the IOC World Bird List, the Cle-
courtesy of Peter Kaestner.
the first time, I returned to Arizona two
months later and finally got a poor view,
moving to Port Moresby in 1982. One thanks to lots of good information from • Peter Kaestner is grateful for an
very helpful source was Alden and Good- the birding community in Portal. Not understanding wife. Kimberly Kaest-
ers’s Finding Birds Around the World, only was the quetzal a lifer, but it also ner only once nixed a birding trip—on
which had general locality information completed the trogon family for me. the morning of their July 1987 wed-
for hundreds of birding destinations. I have never tired of birding, and hope ding—and was happy to accompany
I also benefited from the generosity of and pray I never do. her husband to Mio, Michigan, to see a
international birders and ornithologists. Kirtland’s Warbler in 1994, years after
For example, in 1981 Ben King gave me Birding: Will you go birding differently she’d ticked one there at her bachelor-
a copy of a still-unpublished manu- now that you’ve reached 10,000? ette party. Photo by © Peter Kaestner.
script of the birds of India, and I found
my last bird family (Conopophagidae in
Oct. 1986) using information from Rob-
ert Ridgley. In 1982, I had the great for-
tune to meet Brian Finch, an outstand-
ing field birder, in Port Moresby, Papua
New Guinea, where, for three years, we
had many amazing adventures. Brian
also shared photographs of the plates
of a yet-to-be-published field guide to
the birds of New Guinea he was writing
with Bruce Beehler.
One strategy was to focus on local en-
demics, and then pick up the more wide-
spread birds along the way. For example,
while on a business trip to Chengdu,
China, in 1987, I went to Mount Omei on
the weekend to look for its endemic lio-
cichla. In addition to the liocichla, I saw a
couple of localized parrotbills and many
other birds on the mountain, including a
spectacular male Lady Amherst’s Pheas-
june 2024 a b a . o r g / m a g a z i n e 19
birding interview
left: •
Guiding organized bird tours is
Checklist of the Birds of the World) and interest! I did work in the mid-1990s in
hard work, but the interviewee enjoys
should produce a harmonized list that an office of the U.S. State Department’s
sharing his knowledge and experiences
will eliminate the differences between Bureau of Oceans and International
with others—including members of this
IOC and eBird lists. Australian orni- Environmental and Scientific Affairs,
Bird Bonanzas tour to eastern Zaire
thologist Les Christidis, who chairs the which tackled terrestrial conservation
(now Democratic Republic of the Congo)
IOU working group, estimates that the issues like the Convention on Inter-
in Aug. 1978. Photo by © John Gerhart.
list will be finished in early 2025. national Trade in Endangered Species
of Wild Fauna and Flora, the Ramsar
right: •
In Feb. 2024, Peter Kaestner
Birding: What are your wildest bird- Convention on Wetlands, and the Con-
became the first person to cross the
10,000-species threshold when he saw ing experiences in places that few ABA vention on Biological Diversity. I helped
(and photographed) an Orange-tufted members visit? renegotiate the U.S.–Canada Migratory
Spiderhunter in the Philippines. PK: I have had so many adventures, Bird Treaty, which has been very suc-
Photo by © William Suerte. some of which put my life (and those cessful. Since I’ve retired, I’ve worked
of others) in jeopardy, that I could fill a pro bono with the Colombian govern-
book. One of the most death-defying ment to promote bird tourism, helped a
ments Checklist of Birds of the World, or was a trip to Kolombangara Island in local Colombian nonprofit organization
something else? Does it matter? 1984, where I got lost for two days, protect critical habitat in the eastern
PK: First, it does matter to have agreed- sleeping in a forest full of venomous Andes, and become an ambassador for
upon lists. Not that long ago, world centipedes. I nearly fell down a 10-me- American Bird Conservancy.
birders reported totals using whatever ter waterfall, and tobogganed down a
personal taxonomy they wanted. Bird steep, muddy slope on my belly. I was Birding: A cat named Kirtland? How did
tour leaders often pointed out potential eventually able to find my way out of the that happen?
splits—and, in the old days, clients just forest before being located by two dozen PK: I have been truly blessed to have
added those birds to their life lists. These trackers who had been flown to the is- a very understanding wife. The only
days, most big listers use either IOC or land—averting a diplomatic incident. time Kimberly nixed a birding trip was
eBird/Clements. I prefer IOC because it the morning of our July 1987 wedding,
contains more species. At this writing, Birding: Along with your diplomatic when she thought a pre-dawn twitch
I have 162 more birds on the IOC list duties, have you tried to promote con- to northern Michigan with my brother,
(10,012) than eBird (9,850). servation in the places where you’ve Hank, would not be a good idea. It just
There is important news on this front. worked? happened that Kimberly had visited
The International Ornithologists’ Union PK: As a diplomat, I was constrained. For Mio, Michigan, for her bachelorette par-
(IOU) has established a working group to instance, I was elected the Chairperson ty and had seen the Kirtland’s Warbler.
create a global checklist of birds. This ef- of the Namibia Bird Club, but my am- When we arrived in Bogotá in 1988, we
fort involves the major world checklists bassador would not allow me to serve in adopted a cat and named him Kirtland so
(except the Howard and Moore Complete that capacity, citing possible conflict of the kitty would be a constant reminder
20 b i r d i n g june 2024
birding interview
With the world’s biggest country list In addition, the number of species is
(over 1,900 species), excellent birding increasing, mainly through taxonomic
infrastructure, and world-class guides, revisions. Finally, with the expansion
you cannot go wrong. I would start at of the popularity of birding and the
Santa Marta, hit the three Andes ranges, development of eco-tourism infra-
and then do Mitú. A mega-tour could structure around the world, local birders
yield almost 1,000 species in a month. and guides are excellent, and they are
While in the Andes, Ecuador would be contributing to bird knowledge through
another great stop, with super birding portals like eBird.
in the eastern foothills and the Mindo There are challenges, of course,
area. Costa Rica also offers a good intro- including bird trapping, habitat loss,
duction to Neotropical birding, as it has invasive species, and climate change.
great birding infrastructure, but it only On the other hand, birders are more and
has about half the birds of Colombia. more environmentally conscious, and
Your next stop would be Africa. organizations like BirdLife International
Birding is generally easy due to open and American Bird Conservancy are
savanna habitats and excellent tourism making progress internationally. Many
infrastructure created for wildlife view- local nonprofit groups are making a dif-
• The Cundinamarca Antpitta, a new ing. Namibia is my favorite African des- ference on their own turf. International
species the interviewee discovered
tination. The nearby Republic of South birding travelers can help increase the
while living and working in Colombia,
Africa adds loads of endemics. value of birds to the stewards of the
is named for him—Grallaria kaestneri.
A third must-visit place for a budding landscapes. I am optimistic that together
Photo by © Peter Kaestner.
world lister is Australia. Any country we will find ways to protect our planet
that derides cockatoos for being so com- and its most interesting inhabitants for
that Kimberly had gripped me off! By the mon that they constitute a nuisance is a future generations.
way, I did see the warbler in 1994. great place to go birding.
My last suggestion would be India.
Birding: Birding in a new spot, do you Excellent birding, a vibrant conservation • As a diplomat with postings around
take a group tour, go with a local guide, community, and an amazing culture all the globe, the interviewee led a sat-
or head out on your own? argue for the subcontinent. isfying life representing the U.S. and
PK: It all depends on what part of my helping American citizens abroad—and
life you are looking at. For most of my Birding: Are we in the Golden Age of saw tons of birds. Here he inspects
life, I birded on my own, especially international birding? U.S. government improvements to the
when I was living in places like Zaire PK: Absolutely. With an explosion of Hairatan Bridge connecting Afghani-
(now Democratic Republic of the Con- information and amazing tools, birding stan to Uzbekistan in Mar. 2014.
go), the Solomon Islands, India, Gua- has never been easier—or more popular! Photo courtesy of Peter Kaestner.
temala, Egypt, Colombia, Afghanistan,
and Brazil. After my retirement in 2016,
I’ve birded more and more on organized
tours. They are more efficient and take
much less preparation and logistical
organization. As a part-time tour leader
for Rockjumper, I spend a lot of time on
organized tours. One of the main rea-
sons why I am a guide (which is very
hard work!) is to share my knowledge
and experiences with others. I love the
social aspect of birding.
june 2024 a b a . o r g / m a g a z i n e 21
finding desert bird nests
T
here are many disciplines
within bird photography.
Some photographers welcome
the challenge of birds in flight
while others attempt to harness light,
experiment with composition, or use
an interesting subject. One of the most
fascinating aspects of birding and bird
photography is observing behavior at
or near nesting sites, and some pho-
tographers specialize in this pursuit.
Within the realm of bird nest pho-
tography, birders may not realize the
wealth of fantastic photo opportunities
nesting desert birds provide. In this
article, I provide tips and insights on
Mike Henry
Tucson, Arizona
mikeandmoaz@gmail.com
22 b i r d i n g june 2024
finding desert bird nests
june 2024 a b a . o r g / m a g a z i n e 23
finding desert bird nests
how birders can find, enjoy, and photo- and flora protected by sharp spines just from predators as well as temporary
graph the magnificent world of nesting waiting to attach themselves to unsus- relief from the baking sun. For the
desert birds. pecting visitors. But it’s also one of the photographer, they also offer excellent
best places to observe and photograph opportunities to capture memorable
24 b i r d i n g june 2024
finding desert bird nests
top: •
Pyrrhuloxias, or “desert
cardinals,” build a cup-shaped nest.
The author found this one by watch-
ing a pair of birds return to the same
palo verde tree: Note the green bark.
See where the seam of the bird’s bill is
curved, which differs from the straight
seam (and orange-colored bill) of the
closely related Northern Cardinal.
bottom: •
A Cactus Wren stops at one
of its “waypoints” on a cholla cactus.
These gregarious, resourceful birds
can take nesting material from anoth-
er bird’s nest and use it on their own.
june 2024 a b a . o r g / m a g a z i n e 25
finding desert bird nests
26 b i r d i n g june 2024
finding desert bird nests
june 2024 a b a . o r g / m a g a z i n e 27
finding desert bird nests
28 b i r d i n g june 2024
finding desert bird nests
• A male Purple Martin and its chick hang out inside birds as they’re building and tending to
a saguaro nest. This subspecies of Purple Martin their nests. They’ll often disappear into the
travels north to nest and raise their young during the scrub while searching for twigs, feathers,
monsoons in the Sonoran Desert. The author found and other items, only to reappear moments
this location adjacent to a busy two-lane road. later, resting on the same perch before fer-
rying the material home. The best images
tell a story without needing a caption.
june 2024 a b a . o r g / m a g a z i n e 29
finding desert bird nests
30 b i r d i n g june 2024
finding desert bird nests
june 2024 a b a . o r g / m a g a z i n e 31
CODEBREAKERS
Editor’s Note: The Codebreakers series provides tips and tricks
by top birding experts on how to find some of the ABA Area’s most
difficult regularly occurring birds. I hope you enjoy! —Frank Izaguirre
Swainson’s Warbler
Tips for finding and photographing
this secretive skulker
S
wainson’s Warbler is one of the most difficult of
all the eastern warblers to view clearly, frustrating
countless birders every breeding season. This is true
even though, on spring breeding grounds, Swainson’s
Warbler is often not hard to find in appropriate habitat due
to its resounding song. The song can be confused with
that of the Louisiana Waterthrush, especially in southern
Appalachia, where they are more likely to use habitat in
the same geographic area. But, in general, hearing and
identifying a Swainson’s Warbler in appropriate habitat
during the right time of year is doable. A key difference
between the songs is that the Louisiana Waterthrush
song usually ends with various short weak chaotic
chip notes, while the Swainson’s Warbler song
ends in a more organized way with a few
rapid downward notes.
Gene Koziara
Atlanta, Georgia
gene.koziara@yahoo.com
32 b i r d i n g june 2024
codebreakers : swainson’s warbler
june 2024 a b a . o r g / m a g a z i n e 33
codebreakers : swainson’s warbler
left:• A Swainson’s Warbler strikes a the first week in April. Anytime seems through, I backtrack doing the same
pose beside a butterweed flower. This to be a good time to visit them, but my thing, and note where the overlap
individual is whiter below than oth- preference is the first three weeks of is and what birds are likely clos-
ers and may have spent more time in April. This species can then be found est in proximity so I can work from
the open sun on its wintering grounds singing into July. As a rule, I do most of the road. I don’t want to venture into
than the yellow-tinged birds. It was my spring warbler photography early the swamp-adjacent habitat, which
photographed in early Apr. 2021. in the season, before young would be is generally quite muddy with thick
Photo by © Gene Koziara. expected on the nest and often before vegetation. I have friends who are
nest-building would likely be complete, into snake photography, but I try to
right:• A rare photographic treat,
because this minimizes disturbance avoid snakes! I’m scanning those loca-
the tongue of this singing Swainson’s
while increasing chances for getting a tions for lighting options and potential
Warbler is visible. This individual was
high-quality photo. For warbler pho- perches before I make a decision about
photographed in early Apr. 2023.
tography in general, there is also less which bird to photograph, including
Photo by © Gene Koziara.
obstructing vegetation earlier in the which side of the road to work on. I
season, improving the likelihood of don’t want to pick a bird whose ter-
I don’t hike around swamps, so I don’t open views and images. ritory seems to range too far from the
typically encounter Swainson’s Warblers Upon arriving by vehicle to such a road, nor one where the lighting and
in that habitat when I’m not looking for location, I normally will slowly drive perch selection is not as good.
them! For me, over time and regardless the habitat as completely as possible
of which habitat I’m in, it has become a
thrill to simply hear a Swainson’s War-
bler singing away with its boisterous
with windows down, noting locations
of singing males. I may stop for several
minutes when I hear a new bird sing to
I n either Appalachia or the lowlands,
when photographing Swainson’s
Warbler, low light will probably be an
song, even if I don’t get to lay eyes on it. get a sense of what his territory might issue. I try to have shutter speeds of
For the lowland habitat, my recom- be. Assessing these areas and their po- at least 1/500 when I am photograph-
mendation is to visit during the earlier tential for photography can help pho- ing warblers. Depending on your lens,
part of the breeding season. Here in tographers determine which locations this may necessitate a higher ISO than
Georgia, some Swainson’s Warblers ar- have the best chance for encountering you normally use when photographing
rive on their lowland breeding grounds, the bird singing prominently on a perch birds. This can result in noisy, grainy
around swamp edges or stream systems with unobstructed views. images. I like to use my 600 F4 lens
with adjacent muddy edges, as early as Then, after completing that run- for most warblers, not only for reach,
34 b i r d i n g june 2024
codebreakers : swainson’s warbler
provide sharper
images in the lower lighting situations
where Swainson’s Warbler is usually
encountered. Watching the bird care-
fully and anticipating where it may
perch also makes the tripod helpful,
june 2024 a b a . o r g / m a g a z i n e 35
codebreakers : swainson’s warbler
36 b i r d i n g june 2024
codebreakers : swainson’s warbler
Acknowledgments
Many thanks to Peter Pyle for his review
of this manuscript and comments on the
plumage of these birds. Thanks also to Greg
Neise and Nathan Goldberg for their addi-
tional review.
june 2024 a b a . o r g / m a g a z i n e 37
deep listening
Editor’s Note: This article was translated from its original Spanish by Frank Izaguirre.
Deep Listening in
Buenos Aires
Getting to know the
Great Kiskadee & Monk Parakeet
🇦🇷
L
istening is an exotic thing Birders are often attuned to the sound-
these days. Just contem- scape of their environment, even in
plating with your ears. No places they may not think of as the best
screens. Sitting, lying down, for birding. My hope with this article
standing. Being present. Remaining is that by describing the act of deep
silent and appreciating what’s going on listening, even the best earbirders can
around you. come to a more profound appreciation
Is there wind? What kind of sounds of their local avian soundscape, with all
can I distinguish? Are they from nature, its familiar voices.
or are they industrial sounds? Do I rec-
ognize any bird songs?
These are some questions we can ask
ourselves when we focus on listening.
A s a person who enjoys birding very
much, and as a composer interest-
ed in sound ecology, I experienced over
time that the practice of exercising the
sense of hearing consciously—that is,
practicing deep listening to our acous-
Julia Tchira
tic environment—is very useful to bet-
Buenos Aires, Argentina ter get to know the birds that surround
us. And what a joy when you discover
julitch@gmail.com the birds you live with on a daily basis
through sound!
38 b i r d i n g june 2024
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june 2024 a b a . o r g / m a g a z i n e 39
deep listening
40 b i r d i n g june 2024
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june 2024 a b a . o r g / m a g a z i n e 41
connecting with jamaica
Toponymy,
specimen from the island, hence the specific epithet.
There have been Red-tailed Hawk nesting pairs in
my neighborhood of Greenwich Village, New York
City, for more than a decade. I have watched the pairs
Migration &
court and mate, defend their territory, and incubate
and care for their young until fledging.
After learning about the Latin name for Red-tailed
Hawk, I became curious about some of the names of
its subspecies as well. The subspecies of the Red-
Pigeon Peas
tailed Hawk I see in New York City, whose range
includes the Caribbean, is the eastern subspecies
(B. j. borealis). The northern variant is B. j. abieti-
cola, a toponymous name meaning to “dwell in fir
trees.” Toponymous names are based on places. The
abieticola subspecies breeds in the boreal forests of
Canada, which include balsam fir and other conifer-
Making etymological ous evergreens.
Y
tures and geography.
ou could say I was born to birding, Growing up, I often heard the following saying:
though I came to love birds as an “chicken merry hawk deh near.” It is a cautionary
adult. I was oblivious of the Carib- proverb about the importance of being mindful. As
a child, I was not curious about the specifics of the
bean connection to one of my favorite
hawk. When I learned about the connection between
birds until my 30s. The bird species that sparked the Red-tailed Hawk and Jamaica, I wondered if I
this connection—the commonly known Red- had seen Red-tails my whole life and not noticed
tailed Hawk—also shares its Latin name with my them. Or maybe, sadly, I ignored them. After all, I
wasn’t a chicken. I didn’t have to choose between
home country of Jamaica: Buteo jamaicensis. This eyes down to scratch for food on the ground or heads
discovery fueled my curiosity to find out what up to watch out for aerial predators. All I had to do
other birds shared an etymological link with the as a human was to focus on good behavior. When I
moved to New York City in 2009, I did not consider
region of my origin that can be found in my home
myself a birder. But Red-tails here and back home
of New York and the general eastern U.S. made me reconsider myself as a bird person. After
all, I also remember being on the lookout for the “John
Learning the etymological histories of some bird
Crow,” a.k.a. the Turkey Vulture, because this bird
names has helped me stay connected with my home
was an omen. Everybody wanted a glimpse of the
country of Jamaica while increasing my apprecia-
“Doctor Bird,” the endemic hummingbird also called
tion and enjoyment of the birds I can find in my
Red-billed Streamertail, which is the country’s na-
new home, New York City. I want to share these
tional bird.
stories because I feel they may inspire other birders
to learn about places they have connections with
through bird name etymology.
Georgia Silvera Seamans
42 b i r d i n g june 2024
connecting with jamaica
june 2024 a b a . o r g / m a g a z i n e 43
connecting with jamaica
above: •
The author has not yet con- I don’t typically chase
nected with a Prothonotary Warbler, rarities, but there have
which sometimes appears in New York been a few times I couldn’t
City as a rarity, but learning about the resist and have twice
etymological history of its name has missed seeing a Protho-
helped her take an added interest in the notary Warbler in Central
species. Photo by © Jean Shum. Park. This warbler is like
a Pantone fan deck for
right: •
When the author, who is origi-
yellow and gray. The bird
nally from Jamaica, learned that the
doesn’t remind me of
scientific name of the Red-tailed Hawk,
citrus so much as other
a species she regularly encounters in
fruits I grew up eating.
New York City, is Buteo jamaicensis, she
The warbler looks like the
became interested in learning about the
black seed and yellow aril
etymological history of birds she regu-
of ackee. I’m also reminded
larly sees as a way of feeling connected
of an open passionfruit
with Jamaica. Photo by © Jean Shum.
whose black seeds are
covered in juice-filled yel-
yellow feathers. The warbler was de- low arils. A Prothonotary
scribed from a Louisiana specimen in Warbler perched in a tree
1779 and placed in the genus Protono- looks so much like a ripe June plum. species first described by Gmelin,
taria, according to Jobling an homage this time from a type specimen from
to the yellow robes worn by members
of the Byzantine court. The specific
epithet citrea is derived from the Latin
S outh Florida has another species
with a Caribbean place name:
the Gray Kingbird, Tyrannus domini-
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Gmelin is credited with scientifically
naming more than 290 bird species. T.
“citreus,” a reference to the citrus tree. censis. This kingbird was yet another dominicensis looks different from “my”
44 b i r d i n g june 2024
connecting with jamaica
local kingbird, the Eastern Kingbird, or them Linnaean scientific binomials, cousin raised pigeons for homing and
Tyrannus tyrannus. The former has a preempting Latham ’s 1790 Index Or- racing purposes. I think he also liked
pale gray face and head, is stouter, and nithologicus. tending to them. My cousin would
has a larger bill and a shorter tail. eventually donate his pigeons to our
Learning these things, I became
interested in Gmelin as a historical
figure, the person associated with bird
I bring Gmelin’s bird observations
back to New York City, this time
with a less direct Caribbean asso-
neighbor. Our yard abutted sugarcane
fields—a classic example of suburban
development from agricultural land.
names in connection with Jamaica and ciation, though one I am making the Mongooses would leave the cane fields
elsewhere throughout the Caribbean. leap to connect, as you will see. He and cross the stream to prey upon the
The Gmelin family was well known in described a now-common resident of pigeons in the coop. The small Indian
the pharmacy business in seventeenth this city, the pigeon, in 1789: Columba mongoose (Urva auropunctata) was
century Tübingen, Germany. Writing livia. The specific epithet, livia, derives first introduced to Jamaica in 1872 to
in 1929, Otto Raubenheimer, a phar- from the French livide, meaning “of control rats, which were devastating
macist, praised the Gmelins: “That this a bluish-leaden color,” and the Latin cane crops. In addition to preying on
family of scientists originated in an lividus, defined as “of a bluish color, pigeons, mongooses hunt native spe-
apothecary shop, which is still in ex- black-and-blue,” making the pigeon’s
istence today, in the university town name morphonymous. The most com-
Tübingen, Württemberg, in the seven- mon pigeon color morph is the blue- • Although the connection may
teenth century, is a credit to pharmacy, bar (wings). seem odd, Rock Pigeons in New York
of which our profession can justly be A cousin of mine kept pigeons in City remind the author of a favorite
proud. It is the ambition of every Ger- my childhood backyard in Jamaica, as Jamaican dish—rice and pigeon peas.
man pharmacist that his son, or one did a neighbor across the street. My Photo by © Jean Shum.
of his sons, shall be his
successor, a rule which
deserves adoption in our
own country.” The prolific
and influential Johann
Friedrich Gmelin was
born on Aug. 8, 1748, and
died at the age of 56.
There is nothing in
Raubenheimer’s bi-
ography that suggests
Gmelin studied birds,
although he named many
of them. He earned an
M.D. in 1769 and became
a professor of medicine
in 1780 after completing
a Ph.D. in 1790. Gmelin
published the thirteenth
edition of Carl Linnaeus’s
Systema Naturae. It
was with this publica-
tion that he entered the
world of birds. Systema
Naturae included birds
described by ornitholo-
gist John Latham, author
of A General Synopsis of
Birds. Gmelin included
Latham’s species in Sys-
tema Naturae, assigning
june 2024 a b a . o r g / m a g a z i n e 45
connecting with jamaica
cies. The Jamaica Observer reported the pea and the pigeon’s eye. Have Jobling, J. A. 2010. The Helm Diction-
that mongooses might be responsible you noticed the small iris and pupil to ary of Scientific Bird Names: From
for the potential extinction of en- large sclera ratio of famous illustrated Aalge to Zusii. www.avesdecostarica.
demic birds such as the Jamaica Petrel pigeons (think of the work of Rose- org/uploads/7/0/1/0/70104897/
(Pterodroma caribbaea). mary Mosco and Mo Willems)? Don’t scientific-bird-names.pdf.
And here is my final, regional con- see the likeness between the pigeon Largen, M. J. 1987. Bird specimens
nection, if I may be so bold: Rice and and its namesake pea? Doesn’t matter; purchased by Lord Stanley at the
(pigeon) peas is a popular dish in Ja- rice and peas are delicious. When my sale of the Leverian Museum in 1806,
maica. The pigeon pea, Cajanus cajan, mum makes rice and peas now, she including those still extant in the col-
is an Afro-descendant food possibly substitutes kidney beans, which is lections of the Liverpool Museum.
named for the resemblance between the alternative Jamaican restaurants Archives of Natural History
use, too. Maybe a stretch, but as I bird 14(3): 265–288.
in my chosen home of New York, I Monaco Nature Encyclopedia. https://
have familiar birds around me to har- www.monaconatureencyclopedia.
ken memories of my birth country, com/sabal-domingensis/?lang=en.
through their arcane etymology. Raubenheimer, O. 1930. Gmelin, a Ger-
man family of pharmacists, chemists
Works Referenced and botanists. The Journal of the
Jamaica Observer. 2009 (May 16). American Pharmaceutical Asso-
Jamaica and invasive species. ciation 19(3): 259–265. https://
https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/ doi.org/10.1002/jps.3080190315.
2009/05/16/jamaica-and-invasive- Wilson, H. W., Jr. Palm Warbler,
species/. Setophaga palmarum.
Jobling, J. A., editor. The Key to Scien- Birds of the World. https://
tific Names. In: Birds of the World. birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/
Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca NY. palwar/cur/introduction.
46 b i r d i n g june 2024
connecting with jamaica
june 2024 a b a . o r g / m a g a z i n e 47
the macaws of mexico
Editor’s Note: This article was translated from its original Spanish by Frank
Izaguirre. For his excellent and continuing contributions to Birding, Jesús Antonio
“Chucho” Moo Yam has been named the magazine’s Latin America Correspondent.
I
n Mexico’s vast forests, one woman macao in Mexico. She led captive-breeding
has dedicated her life to protecting and controlled-release projects to restore
the parrots and macaws that call these vitality to forests with the distinctive
lush lands home. Dr. Bertha Patricia flights and calls of these majestic birds,
Escalante Pliego is among the country’s to paint Mexican skies with their beauty
foremost ornithologists in the areas of once more. But she arrived at this work in
taxonomy and bird systematics, but above a peculiar way, with a species not closely
all she is a passionate conservationist, and related to the parrots.
has emerged as a leader and model in the
fight to save the parrots of Mexico. Her ef- The Imperial Woodpecker and
forts show that, despite many challenges, Its Ancient Forests
modern-day conservation initiatives can In 1998, Dr. Escalante and her team relent-
still succeed. lessly searched for the mythical Impe-
Dr. Escalante was the first woman in rial Woodpecker, Campephilus imperialis,
Mexico to earn a Ph.D. degree in ornithol- throughout the mountains of Mexico. There
ogy, which she received from The City was a need to establish an organization to
University of New York. One of her most locate places where the bird could be liv-
notable accomplishments is the success- ing. Thus arose the group Asociación Civil
ful reintroduction of Scarlet Macaws, Ara Bosque Antiguo in the state of Jalisco, near
the Mexican Pacific Coast in the town of
Bolaños: The association’s mission was to
find the woodpecker in the isolated moun-
text and photos by tains of that territory. Dr. Escalante and her
team searched this area, where large pines
Jesús Antonio “Chucho” Moo Yam
provided ideal habitat for this species.
Pomuch, Campeche, Mexico Despite many expeditions throughout the
high mountains, the team could not find the
blink_jamy@hotmail.com great woodpecker. But, with the organiza-
tion and the nature reserve in operation,
48 b i r d i n g june 2024
the macaws of mexico
june 2024 a b a . o r g / m a g a z i n e 49
the macaws of mexico
Lilac-crowned Parrot
• Among the many parrots in the group of 115 birds seized in Iztapalapa on May
15, 2023, were Lilac-crowned Parrots, Amazona finschi. They were rescued at
about two to three weeks old and were dehydrated, overcrowded, malnourished,
stressed, and hypothermic. They had respiratory illnesses and were tended by
volunteers and veterinary doctors specializing in birds. When the parrots started
to fledge, species could be determined. At three months of age, they moved to
the Reserva Ecológica Nanciyaga to continue their rehabilitation in a better
climate and wider environments. In aviaries of 8.2 feet x 8.2 feet x 8.2 feet (2.5
m x 2.5 m x 2.5 m), they received ample space and environmental enrichment
consisting of branches of native trees in which they like to forage. The presence
of parasites, as well as the birds’ weight and behavior, are carefully monitored.
They are released when approved by authorities.
50 b i r d i n g june 2024
the macaws of mexico
june 2024 a b a . o r g / m a g a z i n e 51
the macaws of mexico
for the macaws to gain acceptance by tivities. Working with experienced One day something beautiful oc-
the local community. The aim was to researchers, he has achieved a great curred with the people. Residents
counteract the potential human threats status as a knowledgeable bird guide. of the area noticed a macaw on the
to successful reintroduction, because ground, a little lost, with lesions.
people posed the greatest risks to Commitment to There were people chasing the bird
these birds. Through environmental Indigenous Communities to steal her, but others captured
education, festivals, and the efforts of Dr. Escalante and her team understand the bird and then called the park
private institutions, the macaws were the importance of working closely with rangers here to hand her over. For-
accepted by the Native communities, the Indigenous communities that share tunately, after rehabilitating the
and they are protected by the vil- their territory with these birds. Through bird for a few days, she was able to
lagers themselves. Local people have educational and awareness-raising pro- return to the forest again. It was so
even been involved in the project as grams, the team has established strong nice, the way people were already
park rangers, jam producers, and bird ties to promote environmental conser- taking ownership of the project,
guides. The return of the macaws has vation and respect for local wildlife. that they know that at the end of
revitalized the birding scene and cre- While in one of the macaw shel- the day the legacy of the macaws
ated opportunities. ters waiting for the rain and cold to is for them and their children.
Esteban Cortéz, a resident of pass, “Dr. Paty,” as she is affectionately
Catemaco, Veracruz, has become a local known, sat with the whole team at the As she sipped her coffee, Dr. Escalante
icon as a guide. Thanks to the macaw table and talked about how the com- shared more details. At the beginning,
reintroduction project, he found in munity has embraced the project and the most difficult part of the project, like
birding an alternative to his job ac- the macaws: any project surrounded by urbanization,
52 b i r d i n g june 2024
the macaws of mexico
Mexican Imperial
Woodpecker
• In 1998, Dr. Escalante led a team to search
for the extinct Imperial Woodpecker in the
large pine forest mountains of Mexico, which
led to the creation of the group Asociación Civil
Bosque Antiguo. Although they were unable
to rediscover this gigantic woodpecker, the
association’s mission was repurposed for the
reintroduction of Scarlet Macaws in Veracruz, a
goal which initially seemed nearly as far-fetched.
In that way, the Imperial Woodpecker brought
life to another lost and beloved bird. These
Imperial Woodpeckers belong to the National
Autonomous University of Mexico’s Institute of
Biology’s bird collection.
june 2024 a b a . o r g / m a g a z i n e 53
the macaws of mexico
clockwise from left: “The project is really supported by a had to change their nests to protect
combination of my salary as a teacher them from different threats, and we
• The macaw reintroduction project and donors who are usually friends and created nest boxes. The nest boxes
has benefited the local community.
acquaintances, and sometimes some al- were not good at first, so we had to
Esteban Cortéz has established himself truistic foundation,” said Dr. Escalante. study the conditions better for them
as a local bird guide, helping visitors The Reserva Ecológica Nanciyaga to occupy them successfully, but
see and enjoy the birds. has a wildlife unit dedicated to the in 2019 we had eggs. By 2020, the
reintroduced macaws, and has also nest boxes worked well, and every
• The community captures and become an oasis for other parrots in year we have between nine and 13
prepares to return an injured macaw.
Mexico. chicks in them.
• Parrots must be fed every three
hours in order to recover successfully Project Successes and On May 15, 2023, big news attracted
from illegal wildlife trafficking. the Fight Against Illegal the attention of hundreds of Mexicans
Wildlife Trafficking concerned about environmental pro-
Because innovation comes with tection: the seizure of 114 parrots in a
was to get the community behind it. challenges, this project has had to police operation against drug cartels in
The reintroduction project also must pioneer many methods to overcome Mexico, highlighting the involvement
be committed to maintaining the rein- obstacles and achieve its positive of cartels in illegal wildlife traffick-
troduced birds—for instance, attending results. When asked about her suc- ing. Many Latin Americans consider
to the cages used to help birds adapt to cesses, Dr. Escalante said: having wildlife as pets a status sym-
the climate. Maintenance is quite ex- bol. ABA Area birders may have some
pensive because it covers the salaries In 2018, we were able to document sense of the threat of wildlife traffick-
of park rangers and veterinarians, as for the first time the first Scarlet ing in Mexico and elsewhere in Latin
well as the costs of medicine and even Macaw hatched in the wild, proudly America, but they may not appreciate
surgery for macaws injured by people Veracruzano: We named that bird the severity of the threat to certain
outside the community engaged in il- ‘Huentli,’ which means ‘brother’ [in species—especially parrots, but also
legal wildlife trafficking. Nahuatl]. To be more successful, we some migratory birds, such as Painted
54 b i r d i n g june 2024
the macaws of mexico
Mottled Owl
• The macaw reintroduction project is not only about parrots:
It also helps other species. This Mottled Owl, Ciccaba virgata,
was rehabilitated in Mexico City by a veterinary medicine
student who rescued it from someone who had kept it as a
“pet” and wanted it to be released into the wild. The bird’s
flying ability is limited, so he lives in an aviary measuring
20 feet x 10 feet x 10 feet (6 m x 3 m x 3 m). He has been in
rehabilitation for about five months and is close to being moved
to a flight aviary, after which he will be ready for release.
june 2024 a b a . o r g / m a g a z i n e 55
the macaws of mexico
Red-crowned
Parrot
• This is a Red-crowned Parrot,
Amazona viridigenalis, also sometimes
called Tamaulipas Parrot, which
belongs to a group of eight parrots
of this species that arrived after the
rescue of 115 illegally trafficked parrots.
He suffered from overcrowding,
hypothermia, malnutrition, and initial
dehydration, but has recovered. The
bird will remain in Reserva Ecológica
Nanciyaga for a few more months, but
there is hope that the authorities will
allow the bird to be moved to San Luis
Potosí for release in its natural range.
56 b i r d i n g june 2024
the macaws of mexico
Buntings, which spend part of their and the first at 6am. At the one-month
lives north of Mexico. point, there were four feedings: 6am,
Dr. Escalante showed great courage 11am, 4pm, and 9pm. Each feeding
by taking on the risk of rescuing these lasted between three and four hours,
114 parrots victimized by criminal depending on the number of volunteers
activity. Her team worked tirelessly to and doctors available.
provide medical care and rehabilitation When asked about the rigors of the
to the abused birds, managing to save care involved in resuscitating these
the vast majority and return them to birds, Dr. Escalante said:
their natural habitat.
At the beginning, the biggest chal- We have been told that this effort
lenge was that most of the birds were is titanic, and indeed it has been an
chicks and had to be fed every three exhausting, instructive, comforting
hours. Also, the number of species in experience to help innocent beings
shelter was not accurately known, who are in deplorable conditions in
because the birds had been taken from illegal trafficking. Here you can see
their nests when they were very small, the stressful situations and suffer-
even hours after hatching. It was be- ing that are completely unnecessary
lieved that there were 17 Blue-headed for the birds. Many of the infections
Parrots, 96 Red-fronted Parrots, and and injuries suffered by these birds
one Yellow-headed Parrot. are animal cruelty that completely
“In the first few weeks, the chicks violates the five freedoms of animal
began to fledge, and we were able to welfare dictated by the OIE (World • Ricardo Baxin Xolio first saw Scarlet
identify them better, detecting that, Organization for Animal Health). Macaws being released when he was
instead of three species, we had seven These are a consequence of the a teenager in high school. He was
species represented, and 115 specimens treatment of traffickers. We hope so fascinated by these birds that he
instead of 114,” said Dr. Escalante. The that our effort will be appreciated studied biology and eventually joined
seven total species were Red-lored and considered for future situations, the macaw reintroduction project,
Parrot (78 chicks), Mealy Parrot (17 as these species require it. Their where he is now second in command.
chicks), Lilac-crowned Parrot (two ju- populations are very decimated
veniles and six chicks), Red-crowned and therefore they are in danger of
Parrot (eight chicks), Yellow-headed extinction in our country. We owe As she continues this tireless work,
Parrot (one adult and one chick), restitution for the damage caused to Dr. Escalante leaves a legacy inspiring
White-fronted Parrot (one chick), and these wild species. wildlife conservation not just in Mexi-
Yellow-naped Parrot (one juvenile). co, but everywhere. Her team’s unwav-
Several of these birds have core ranges ering commitment to protecting parrots
Caring for These in Mexico, such as Red-crowned Par- and macaws has encouraged many to
Precious Patients rot and Lilac-crowned Parrot. Most are join the cause, ensuring a brighter fu-
Caring for these avian patients is de- in a vulnerable category, according to ture for these iconic species and for the
manding and exacting. Upon arrival, their protection classification by the ecosystems they call home.
all patients were administered subcu- International Union for Conservation Such is the case of Ricardo Baxin
taneous hydration with Hartmann’s of Nature. Xolio, a native of the area, who as a
solution, which is often used to restore teenager in high school witnessed the
fluid levels and salt balance, as well as Education, Art, Legacy release of macaws. He was so fasci-
oral hydration with electrolyte serum As a passionate advocate for environ- nated to see them fly through the skies
and glucose. Afterwards, only sick birds mental education, Dr. Escalante has of his town that he later studied biology
received this treatment. Special food devoted significant efforts to raising and, upon graduation, joined the macaw
is provided for fledgling parrots (por- public awareness of the importance of reintroduction project. But his passion
ridge), and adults and juveniles (pellets). conserving endangered birds. Through has gone beyond even that.
Measurements are taken and food is conferences, murals, workshops, and He is now studying for a second
given every three hours. After the third outreach campaigns, she has inspired bachelor’s degree, this time in vet-
week, the 3am feeding was eliminated, new generations to take action to pro- erinary medicine, to gain knowledge
leaving the last one of the day at 11pm tect biodiversity. to further support the macaws. He is
june 2024 a b a . o r g / m a g a z i n e 57
the macaws of mexico
Acknowledgments
It’s vital to recognize the role of all the
volunteers who, with their effort, cour-
age, and dedication, managed to ensure
that 99% of all specimens survived. This
is good news, but it doesn’t always hap-
pen with such efforts. For these birds to
survive, it took Dr. Patricia Escalante’s
leadership and boldness to take on the
risk of caring for all those parrots as
well as the hard work of her team mem-
bers, who went hours without sleeping
and eating to make sure all birds were
healthy and safe. Dr. Escalante can be
contacted at tilmatura@ib.unam.mx.
Learn more about the project at
bosqueantiguo.org.
Thanks as well to Juan Carlos Or-
raca, President of Vuela con Loros
(vuelaconloros.org), and Anna Back-
ström, also of Vuela con Loros, for their
coordination of volunteers and dona-
tions to the Scarlet Macaw Reintro-
duction Project in Los Tuxtlas. Thanks
also to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Ser-
vice for their support on site in Nan-
ciyaga. Additionally, thanks to all the
following for their medical volunteer-
ing: Ariadna Acosta Carrillo, Sebastián
Armando Andrade Sánchez, Víctor
Anzaldo Valdovinos, Andrea Artea-
ga, Isaí Chávez Morales, Loida Chávez
Morales, Diana Fabiola Cortés Tenorio,
Verónica Díaz, Mariemma Escorcia,
Marcela Priscila Franco Ochoa, Iztala
Garibay, Mariana Hernández, Andrea
Velouria Juárez Murguía, Adela Labra
Dávila, Miriam Lobato, Axel Martínez,
Ulises Martínez, Mónica Muñoz, Lili-
top: • Volunteers feed parrots. currently in charge of the rescued specimens ana Alexia Ruiz Dávalos, Anhet Alin
The care of birds recovered in the Reserva Ecológica Nanciyaga, and the Torres Torres, Dulce María Vázquez
second in charge of the macaw reintroduc- Machorro, and Abigail Villegas. Fi-
from illegal wildlife trafficking
tion project. nally, thanks to all of the following for
is extremely demanding.
In a world where biodiversity loss is an their social service work: Obed Bustos
alarming reality, the story of Dr. Escalante Ávila, Belen Eunice De La Cruz Men-
bottom: • Community involvement and her team of volunteers reminds us that doza, Kirsten Abigail Freyre Castro,
in the reintroduction of Scarlet change is possible when passion is combined Daniela García González, Jacqueline
Macaws has been an essential part with action. Her courageous leadership in the Jiménez Berrum, Cesar Eduardo Jurado
of the program’s success. Here, conservation of Mexico’s birds is a beacon of Badillo, Karla Denisse Lira López ,
hope for the future and a reminder of the re- Jorge Luis Lucho Polito, Andrea Nancy
artists of all ages participate in
sponsibility we all share to protect that future. Moreno, Ángeles Ramo, Carlos Yahir
mural painting to celebrate the May we all take inspiration from her and her Ramírez Sánchez, Fernanda Santiago,
return of these majestic birds. team, and do our part to paint the skies. and 128 others.
58 b i r d i n g june 2024
the macaws of mexico
Red-lored Parrot
• Some parrots, such as this Red-lored Parrot,
Amazona autumnalis, fell behind in their
rehabilitation, but are now moving forward.
The main problem for this one was a respiratory
infection due to the conditions in which it arrived.
The bird was given medicine and evaluated with
laboratory tests, but the bacteria present were
resistant to antibiotics. A specialized porridge
diet was donated by volunteers. The bird’s sad
plumage showed “stress bands,” which are black
stripes indicating that a bird is not being well
fed. Fortunately, this bird’s behavior is good,
and its plumage will improve when it molts. Very
likely, it will be released. Of all birds received,
only one can never be released into the wild,
having lost its sight from infection.
june 2024 a b a . o r g / m a g a z i n e 59
featured photo
Featured Photo
the yard and on one of the trails that cut
through the area where it had headed. At
that point, I reviewed the photographs and
began to realize that I may have just seen
Hybrid Warbler
fantastic on computers, and I asked her to
help me put together a graphic. I thought
it would be best to put several images
together and add details to explain my
A rare encounter with an American identification and thought process. Nicole
Redstart x Magnolia Warbler hybrid cut out the background from several im-
ages and arranged them on a blank screen.
This was a really fun exercise as we went
I
am very lucky that my office and work Thrushes were evident, as well as quite a through the details, and I wrote down what
are situated in the heart of the Dundas few species of wood warblers. I had just observed.
Valley Conservation Area, a 2,965-acre My attention was drawn to a bold and
(1,200-hectare) Carolinian forest managed
by the Hamilton Conservation Author-
ity on the edge of Hamilton, Ontario. The
brightly colored warbler. With the naked
eye, it almost gave the impression of a
male Kirtland’s Warbler with a strong
T he American Redstart piece of the
puzzle was the easy bit. The tail pat-
tern of this bird was that of an American
area is situated in a major migration cor- gray head and bright but plain yellow Redstart, something I am very familiar
ridor, with birds following the edge of Lake underparts. Unfortunately, before I lifted with, as we have a healthy breeding
Ontario tending to continue through the my binoculars, it flew to my left and into a population right here in the Dundas Val-
Hamilton harbor, and then up the Dundas much larger stand of cedars. I stood think- ley. From below, there was a very large
Valley and down toward Lake Erie. ing about what it may have been for a few black band across the end of the tail with a
minutes, then suddenly the bird flew back point in the middle. The rest of the tail was
60 b i r d i n g june 2024
featured photo
reason why the main streaks are miss- Québec, Canada. Both of these species’
ing is that American Redstarts have a breeding ranges overlap in large parts
plain body. The head pattern fits a Mag- of Canada and some parts of the U.S. I
nolia Warbler perfectly, with a white also found several American Redstart x
line beginning at the front of the eye, Yellow-rumped Warbler records, which
getting thicker as it extends back. There did not fit with this bird.
is a white line under the eye, and lack of It’s worth noting the time when this
white line on the upper eye. The pink bill bird was migrating through southern
may best be characterized as anoma- Ontario. On that day, there were seven
• From the front, this bird looks like a
lous and relating to the bird’s status as American Redstarts and two Magnolia
Magnolia Warbler, but from the back it
a hybrid. Warblers. Because it was early Septem-
displays American Redstart characters.
You may ask, “so why a Magnolia and ber, we were seeing your typical earlier
not a Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) as the warblers passing through heading south.
formative plumage) bird of either species, other parent?” Even though the vibe of Yellow-rumped Warblers are the last
indicate that this is an adult. Because this bird in the field was Magnolia, I had warblers to come through in October and
the bird lacks much of the orange and to eliminate any other parent possibili- November. However, American Red-
black of definitive basic (after hatching ties. Really, when I got down to the finer starts and Magnolia Warblers appear in
year) male American Redstarts, it could details, only the head pattern was similar early September.
be a female. Interestingly, however, adult to Yellow-rumped (Myrtle). I think be-
Magnolia Warblers of both sexes lack this
much black to the head plumage in basic
plumage (fall), so the black feathering
cause the throat was white, it made some
people jump to the conclusion it must be
a Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle). Often
O f course, I was unable to get a DNA
sample from this bird, or hear it
sing. These are only my personal conclu-
must be a contribution of redstart genes, with hybrids, most markings can be eas- sions based on what I observed in the
and it thus seems just as likely if not more ily explained, clearly coming from one of field and from closely examining my
so that this is an adult male. That the the two parent species, although some- photographs after the event. I worked
pattern of black in the head is similar to times a part of a bird can be a different for the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust for
Magnolias in breeding (alternate) rather color or pattern that does not match ei- 11 years, and came across many hybrid
than winter (basic) plumage appears to be ther parent. These areas can make it a bit ducks and geese in that time. Wildfowl
just another wonder of how plumage can confusing, and that’s why you really have tend to hybridize far more regularly
be expressed in hybrids. to focus on the ones that you can say for than other birds. Hybrid songbirds are
Interestingly, the bird seemed elon- sure belong to an obvious species. much rarer to see, although some species
gated, more like a Redstart than a Mag- On this hybrid, there was no yellow in like Blue-winged and Golden-winged
nolia Warbler would be. The wings were the crown or rump, which are strong and warblers (as well as Townsend’s and Her-
interesting, as this bird showed both key features of Yellow-rumped Warbler, mit warblers in the Pacific Northwest)
Redstart and Magnolia patterns. First, and no streaking on the back at all. Also, hybridize regularly. We have both Blue-
there was a strong yellow bar across the there was no gray or streaking on the winged and Golden-winged warblers
outer primaries, shown by adult Red- shoulders. The secondary pattern did here in the Dundas Valley and encounter
starts. The markings on the secondary not fit with this bird, as there was also their hybrids fairly frequently.
coverts were consistent with a Magnolia no white between the bill and the eye. Apart from those, this is the first hy-
Warbler pattern, but some of the white Additionally, Yellow-rumped Warbler brid warbler I have seen here. It was a
was yellow. The shoulders and back of (Myrtle) shows an obvious white line on fascinating bird, and I am very grateful
the warbler were black and the rump the top and bottom of the eye; this bird that it came back long enough for me to
appeared all dark. The chest color of yel- only had lower markings like a Mag- grab my camera. These images, no mat-
low perfectly matched that of a Magnolia nolia. The chest pattern and beginning ter how poor, helped with the identifi-
Warbler, as did the pure white undertail of the streaks does not fit with Yellow- cation, and its acceptance into the eBird
coverts that started around the legs. The rumped Warbler. database, where it had not previously
distinct breast streaking of the Magnolia I looked at other reference materials. been reported. I am fairly sure that I will
Warbler was almost all there. I researched to see if there were other never add a new taxon to eBird again, so
If you compare this bird to a male or hybrid American Redstart x Magnolia this really was a red-letter day.
bright adult female Magnolia Warbler, Warbler records, but I struggled to find
you can see the large black clump under much. There seem to be two previous Acknowledgments
the throat from which stripes emanate. records of hybridization between Mag- Many thanks to Peter Pyle for his re-
This is evident on this hybrid, as is some nolia Warbler and American Redstart: view of this manuscript and additional
of the body streaking. I presume the Ottawa County, Ohio, U.S., and Laval, comments on the plumage of this bird.
june 2024 a b a . o r g / m a g a z i n e 61
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62 b i r d i n g june 2024
book & media reviews
to the murder of George Floyd. Cooper’s The Political Hatching of rate power and inequality but opposed
refusal to prosecute “Central Park Karen” the Migratory Bird Treaty tightening antitrust laws. He was against
astounded many African-Americans lynching but used disparaging names for
a review by M. Ralph Browning
(including myself). After all, baseless certain people.
accusations by women have led to the Though readers will not find mention
lynching of many Black men and boys in
A Connecticut Yankee of birds until briefly on page 148 and
both the North and the South. Emmet Till’s Goes to Washington: reference to the MBTA until page 170, it
horrific death for supposedly whistling Senator George P. McLean, is by now apparent that McLean’s po-
at a white woman in a store in 1955, just Birdman of the Senate litical abilities, savvy, wherewithal, and
a year before my birth, remains seared in by Will McLean Greeley perseverance were what finally drove the
our collective memory. But for Cooper, this RIT Press, 2023 treaty to reality. According to the U.S. Fish
was the right thing to do, and his explana- 350 pages, paperback and Wildlife Service: “The MBTA pro-
tion for why he did not seek retribution is vides that it is unlawful to pursue, hunt,
remarkable reading. The last chapter ad- Will McLean Greeley’s biography, A Con- take, capture, kill, possess, sell, purchase,
dresses the existing social and racial bar- necticut Yankee Goes to Washington: barter, import, export, or transport any
riers hindering birders of color and Coo- Senator George P. McLean, Birdman of the migratory bird, or any part, nest, or egg
per’s work in promoting birding in young Senate, on his great-great uncle George or any such bird, unless authorized under
people as both a bird walk leader and as Payne McLean is quite unlike Mark a permit issued by the secretary of the
host of the televised nature program, Ex- Twain’s satire about a different Connecti- interior.” As with most political issues,
traordinary Birder with Christan Cooper cut Yankee. This work contains a plethora people on the Hill are slow to act unless
on National Geographic. In this chapter, of footnoted accounts documenting the under the threat of bodily harm. So, when
Cooper returns to Alabama, the land of his life and times of McLean, who ultimately McLean came on board as a U.S. senator in
ancestors, to participate in the Black Belt became the governor of Connecticut and 1911, he first pushed for stronger hunting
Birding Festival. His ambivalence about finally a U.S. senator. Part of the chroni- laws. In 1912, the senator from Connecti-
the South is palpable, but his short stay in cling of McLean’s political career were his cut focused his energy on the protection
Alabama ended on a positive note—chas- efforts to pass the Migratory Bird Treaty of migratory birds. The next year, he
ing Chimney Swifts in Selma. Act of 1918 (MBTA). To birders, conserva- joined forces with John Wingate Weeks,
I greatly enjoyed reading Cooper’s new tionists, and to everyone really, McLean’s a fellow senator from Massachusetts.
memoir. While his writing lacks the lyrical greatest achievement was the passage A measure in 1913 to protect migratory
beauty of a Camille Dungy or J. Drew Lan- of the MBTA. Without the treaty, we all birds seemed promising, but it still had to
ham, Cooper more than makes up for this might be eating fast-food thrushes, with be signed off and voted on by not just the
with his exuberant storytelling, infectious or without hummingbird fries. House of Representatives and the Sen-
enthusiasm for birds, and his willingness From most of the biography, we learn ate but by the Supreme Court regarding
to probe difficult realities. I especially en- that McLean (1857–1932) traversed a constitutionality of the act, and it needed
joyed his discussion on how he came to see beginning that evolved from journal-
the Common Grackle with new eyes thanks ism to law school and that led to a public
to a young child: “To recognize something service career as a representative and
as beautiful, sometimes all it takes is a then senator in Connecticut, a U.S. district
change of perspective.” Amen. Better Liv- attorney, the governor of Connecticut, and
ing Through Birding is an important ad- a finally a U.S. senator. Politically, McLean
dition to the growing lexicon of works by was a Republican as defined in the early
naturalists and birders of color. It offers twentieth century. Though he considered
something for everyone; whether you’re himself an ardent progressive, McLean’s
a diehard lister or casual birdwatcher, gay voting record was not always in agree-
or straight, Black or white, the lessons ment with his own label. For example, he
imparted are universal. Perhaps the great- opposed women’s right to vote, but Gree-
est takeaway for me was the importance ley almost apologetically seems to blame
of forgiveness. Whenever we can forgive the politician’s wife for his lack of pro-
others, we forgive ourselves, removing a gressiveness. Oddly, she and other women
burden that helps us move forward to take reportedly were not in favor of women
on with greater fortitude the tough issues having this right. Politically, McLean also
threatening our planet. Forgive we must. did not always lean in a predictable direc-
For ourselves and for the birds. tion. For example, he talked about corpo-
june 2024 a b a . o r g / m a g a z i n e 63
book & media reviews
the approval of the sitting president. The with local and national conservationists categories: Widespread, Water Birds,
biographer provides us with, dare I say, like Mabel O. Wright and friend Theodore Desert Birds, and Mountain Birds. But if
an exciting story nicely presented in 25 Roosevelt the reason for the monicker you want more, there is more. The guide
pages in chapter eight. During the ap- “Birdman of the Senate”? Roughly eight zeroes in on 11 habitats defined by eleva-
proximately seven years from 1911 to the percent of the biography points to these tion and water availability. You’ll learn
passage of the 1918 act, migratory birds answers. The remaining pages mostly about species variability from valley
remained fodder for those in the process dwell on the life of an early twentieth- scrub to pecan fields, from foothill groves
of commercial management of bird feath- century politician. Thanks to Will Greeley, to foothill thornscrub, and from mountain
ers, their meat, and their eggs. How many readers have the opportunity to have a interior chaparral to Madrean pine-oak
birds succumbed to the hand of man dur- detailed look into a politician’s life, wit- woodlands. And an elevation chart will
ing those seven years is probably phe- ness the slow grinding wheel that was (is) let you know which species of humming-
nomenal. Also phenomenal is the length government, and gain an understanding bird can be found at which elevation. The
of time the government took to ratify the about the passage of the MBTA. guide covers the 17 hummingbird species
MBTA. The biographer did not mention found in the state.
Louis Marshall, who was successful in Perhaps best of all, the chief identify-
convincing the Supreme Court to uphold A Guide to a Great State ing characteristics of a bird—those that
the treaty as constitutional. a review by most help distinguish it from other simi-
Subsequent chapters continue with Meg Scherch Peterson lar birds—are at your fingertips. Confused
McLean’s remaining political career and by sparrows? Not to worry. Highlighted
his words and wishes. Other measures, in boldface are key features: the gray bill
Birds of Arizona
bills, or merely discussion on conserva- and yellow lores of White-throated Spar-
by Richard Cachor Taylor
tion issues apparently never occurred in row, the orange bill of White-crowned
McLean’s remaining years in office from R. W. Morse Company, 2022 Sparrow, and the black crown and flesh-
1918 to 1929. He did will a 3,200-acre 494 pages, paperback colored bill of Harris’s Sparrow. Color
game refuge in Connecticut but otherwise ABA Sales–Buteo Books 15336 photographs display crucial features. But
took little to no credit for the passage of what I like best is how the photographs
the MBTA. During his senatorial watch, Richard Cachor Taylor’s latest guide, are paired. Photos of species that are eas-
numerous national wildlife refuges and Birds of Arizona, distills the essence of ily confused (say, Hepatic and Summer
a few national parks and monuments two mega data sources, the Arizona/New tanagers) are displayed on a single page
were established. Although busy, McLean Mexico Birding Listserv and the Cornell so comparison is relatively straightfor-
missed about 40 percent of roll calls to Lab of Ornithology’s eBird, into a birder- ward. No need to switch back and forth
vote in the Senate; he presumably would friendly format. between species on bird apps. Each entry
have been in favor of protecting habi- And on that count, this pocket guide includes a section labeled “Noteworthy”
tat. Barely mentioned by Greeley is that delivers. Measuring a neat four by six with the kind of detail you might get on
Senator McLean served as chairman of inches, this guide will tuck easily into the a bird walk with an experienced birder.
the committee on forest reservations and pocket of your birder’s vest or the glove
game protection. The position, which compartment of your car. It’s meant to be
was for two Congresses, might have been used—and useful—in the field. I plan on
an opportunity to further conservation bringing it along on my next birding trip
agendas, though Greeley did not say so. to Arizona. May that be soon!
Did McLean favor the additional public Seasoned birders will appreciate that
lands, the national refuges and parks, es- recent Mexican specialties, regardless
tablished during his watch? What he con- of abundance, are included. Handy one-
tributed while chairing the congressional inch range maps show not only regular
committees are but a few questions unan- geographic and seasonal occurrences, but
swered. After all, the title states McLean also “color dimes,” small circular dots on
is “The Birdman.” Why? Other than the the map that record a bird’s sighting out-
MBTA that McLean and Weeks so suc- side its usual range.
cessfully drove to law, readers are left New birders (and even non-birders)
wondering. Was McLean a birder? What will appreciate that Taylor supplies an
kinds of birds most attracted his interest? answer to the question, “Hey, I’m here, so
Was his disdain for overhunting, his favor what birds are here?” Common birds are
of bag limits, and his brief encounters conveniently grouped into four simple
64 b i r d i n g june 2024
book & media reviews
Some entries read like insider stuff, to- Adam Welz, argues convincingly that in a particular location, either migrate,
tally unique to Arizona. human actions coupled with an alarming hibernate, estivate, survive as seeds, or do
Recently, I listened to an Arizona lack of attention to global environmental whatever temporary escape their evolu-
State Parks and Recreation podcast that consequences are resulting in a rapidly tion has provided. Many bird species are
featured Taylor. I was amazed by how increasing climate breakdown, caused, global migrants, and you might think all
down-to-earth the author was, how will- as was the case with the mythical Eden, they have to do is to fly away to a better
ing to share information about birds, and by human boldness and overstepping. habitat should their habitat decline or be
how over-the-top enthusiastic he was As the present century unfolds, nature eliminated. Well, maybe. But for many
when talking about Arizona sightings of will continue to change dramatically species it doesn’t work that way. You
Ruff, the territorial expansion of Crested throughout the planet, a change for the cannot escape if there is nowhere to go.
Caracara, the iridescence of hummingbird worse for thousands if not millions of Welz provides a convincing and carefully
feathers, and the first record of Elegant species including most bird species. Mil- researched array of examples showing
Trogon in Arizona in 1886. lions of humans will also be the worse for that global climate breakdown is accel-
Taylor, in fact, conducted an eight-year it. The fundamental cause is that humans erating at a pace where huge numbers of
study of Elegant Trogon and authored cannot effectively come together for the species are threatened. And it is compli-
Trogons of the Arizona Borderlands in sake of the planet. Let that sink in. This cated, not simple.
1994. He also wrote two more guides: A is not a fun book to read, but it should Most birders now know that bird
Birder’s Guide to Southeastern Arizona be read by anyone who is empathetic numbers in North America have declined
(published by the ABA and updated in to nature and what is happening to na- by almost 30 percent over the past 50
2018) and Birds of Southeastern Arizona ture as climate change worsens. Many years for a total loss of three billion birds.
in 2010. So, he knows his birds. bird-focused examples are presented But the public, including many birders,
For me and no doubt for thousands throughout the book. In nine chapters, are slow to notice that such declines
of birders, the lure of birding in Arizona Welz makes a carefully reasoned, urgent, mean they are witnessing ongoing ex-
continues to beckon. Species diversity and scary case for what he terms global tinctions in progress that are expected
dazzles. The Arizona Bird Committee of climate breakdown. to accelerate. Still, for much of human-
the Arizona Field Ornithologists lists 571 Global diversity patterns have changed ity, extinction, if a worry at all, seems
species as of January 2023. As writer dramatically throughout Earth’s long like “tomorrow’s worry,” not today’s. We
Mel White put it in Audubon magazine history. Among such changes include five still see Evening Grosbeaks on occasion,
back in 2016, “Eventually, every birder major extinction events, such as the fa- though their total population may now
must visit Arizona. From the Chiricahua mous Cretaceous asteroid that eliminated be reduced to barely 10 percent of what
Mountains in the southeast to the world’s all large dinosaurs about 66 million years it had been. Many elderly birders might
largest ponderosa pine forest in the north ago. Profound climate change, directly say that not a single bird species has
to wetlands along the Colorado River, the or indirectly, was the cause of all five gone extinct during their lifetimes. But
rewards are practically endless.” I can’t extinction events. The sixth major ex- human lifetimes are short in terms of
wait to return. tinction is now ongoing, and we humans global dynamics. Consider two examples
are the cause. The easiest way to disrupt that Welz explains, both of which show
Extinction in the global ecosystems and bring about large- how rapid climate change is moving spe-
Anthropocene scale extinctions is to rapidly change the cies toward extinction.
a review by John Kricher global climate (which is exactly what the Southern Yellow-billed Hornbills are
Cretaceous asteroid strike did). Rapid common in the Kalahari Desert of South
global climate change pulls the adap- Africa. They may not be for much longer.
The End of Eden:
tational ecological rug out from under A recent study involving forty hornbill
Wild Nature in the Age whole ecosystems, indeed whole biomes. nest boxes suggests they are declining
of Climate Breakdown In the case of human actions, climate im- rapidly. Like most hornbill species, the
by Adam Welz pact is augmented by continued habitat female of the pair walls herself into a tree
Bloomsbury Publishing, 2023 loss from economic actions such as, for cavity (or nest box) by applying mud that
288 pages, hardcover example, replacing huge areas of tropical hardens, “trapping her” until she breaks
forest with oil palm plantations and lit- out when the young bird is ready to
The metaphorical title of this somber tering the oceans with millions of tons of fledge (there are typically two eggs laid,
book obviously refers to the biblical story plastic waste. but usually only one young fledges). This
of Eden, which provided an early lesson Above all else, organisms must be leaves the male of the pair to do 100 per-
about ill-advised human boldness and adapted to the climate in which they cent of the foraging to feed both female
overstepping. The South African author, reside. Some, not adapted to all seasons and young. This breeding system has
june 2024 a b a . o r g / m a g a z i n e 65
book & media reviews
eration of knots. Thus, the birds fledge ing what was once a stable savanna into
smaller in body size than was usual, in- an ecologically far less diverse system. Of
cluding their beak dimensions. The young Rattling Cisticolas.
migrants dutifully fly to their African The final chapter, symbolized by the
coastal wintering grounds, but smaller head of Medusa (the threatening mytho-
beak length reduces their ability to feed logical beast with multiple nasty serpents
as they cannot probe as deeply in the mud growing from its head), brings climate
for clams. Thus, the birds fare worse than breakdown into sharp and pragmatic
was historically the case in their non- focus. Welz raises the issue of “nature’s
breeding range. Their population in the rights,” an issue brilliantly championed
region has dropped by 80 percent over long ago by Aldo Leopold in A Sand
four decades. Red Knots face a double County Almanac. Why is climate change
whammy, one on their breeding grounds so difficult for the world’s multiple na-
and one on their wintering grounds, that tions to confront and fix? Would it be as
puts them on an extinction path unless difficult if humanity could conceptualize
they can somehow adapt by changing mi- nature—the trees, the bugs, the birds—as
gration timing or food gathering behavior. having existential “rights” as we afford
The “field marks” of ongoing extinc- to ourselves in society? Alas, such a view
tion are such characteristics as steadily remains far too long a reach for most of
declining populations, changing dispersal today’s citizenry, cultures, and, more
worked for hundreds of generations. Not patterns, and increased vagrancy. Climate to the point, its various governments.
anymore. Rising air temperatures in the breakdown does not hit as abruptly as an Instead, we are committed to a strong
region now exceed the heat tolerance of asteroid, but it is hitting, and what Welz philosophical dualism between us and
male birds. Male hornbills remain ther- is suggesting is that climate breakdown is nature. We use nature for “resources,”
mally neutral at air temperatures as high gaining in speed and impact by the day. food and fiber and whatever else we
as 34.5ºC (94.1ºF). But as climate change The Rattling Cisticola is one of many deem important. Indeed, we continue, for
drives air temperatures above their ther- bird species of the genus Cisticola, and it what we argue are pragmatic reasons, to
mal tolerance zone, males are forced to happens to be uncommonly common in plunder nature.
spend considerably less time foraging and parts of Namibia. In a chapter titled “Fer- Holistic attitudes about nature have
instead idle in shade during the heat of tile Air,” Welz masterfully explains the been constantly overwhelmed by human-
the day in order to reduce heat stress. The complex ecology of savanna ecosystems ity’s historical cultural focus on political
result is that they cannot adequately for- and how they have been changing with boundaries, extraction of resources, and,
age and provide for the female and young. increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide of course, the dependency on continual
Between 2008 and 2020, the breeding and global warming. In this case, a once capitalistic-modeled economic growth.
rate has dropped from 1.1 young produced diverse and fertile savanna of mixed I discussed this issue in a previous book,
per nest to 0.4, so far fewer young are shrubs, grasses, and scattered trees has The Balance of Nature, Ecology’s Enduring
produced annually. But hornbills live a rapidly been reduced to a monotonous Myth (2009). Rather than use Medusa as
long time. Birders on a tour of the region low diversity ecosystem of grassveld, a symbol, I invoked Marley’s Ghost from
will likely see the species commonly for made up of thorn-covered dry shrubs Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. I am confi-
some years to come, even as heat stress that are now almost the exclusive real dent that Welz would agree that meta-
continues to reduce reproductive success. estate of many, many Rattling Cisticolas. phorically “Marley’s ghost is staring us in
Once the older birds perish it will then There are no longer cheetahs, grazing the face.” We have very little time left to
become clear that the species is declining mammals, or the diverse bird commu- alter course regarding carbon manage-
to extinction, at least for that area. nity that once typified the region. The ment, energy usage, and conservation of
Are Red Knots extinct? No, not yet. But reason is that climate warming is driv- ecosystems. Being pessimistic is, at least
as Welz explains, Eurasian populations ing changes in a complex process called at this point, more and more akin to being
are seriously stressed by increasingly ecological succession. Be warned, reader, realistic. Welz tries, as did I, to end on an
early Arctic insect emergence, caused, of you must be patient with this book. Some encouraging note, but he was obviously
course, by accelerating global warming of the topics that Welz explains so skill- struggling. I was too.
in their Arctic tundra breeding grounds. fully are nonetheless somewhat complex, Reading Welz’s tightly and well-
Birds now arrive well after insect emer- and this is one of them. Welz describes in written book should disabuse anyone of
gence, meaning that there is much less detail how global warming is altering the feeling indifferent to what is happening
available insect food to feed a new gen- pattern of plant photosynthesis, convert- now in nature. But how many will read
66 b i r d i n g june 2024
book & media reviews
it? How many weeks will it be on various breakfast by a well-traveled birding cou- birds, not ornithology, and certainly not
bestseller lists as it deserves to be? Will ple, and of course we began talking about politically-charged conservation issues.
it be on any bestseller lists? Some birders birds. The gentleman, proud of his global Just birding and listing. Go out, find bird,
choose to be myopic or downright oblivi- life list, had an agenda that he forcefully tick, period. The man told me that he
ous about the threats that climate change expressed when he saw from my badge couldn’t care less if a bird species went
presents to nature as they eagerly focus that I was a member of the ABA board. He extinct after he saw it. This conversation,
their bins only on their targets, the birds asked why the ABA was now embracing now over two decades old, is still vivid
de jour, while giving little or no attention bird conservation and what was I plan- in my memory and remains disturbing.
to the very features of the ecosystem ning to do about it as a board member. He Why? Because there are likely more folks
that contain and sustain birds . . . and was appalled. In his view, conservation with his viewpoint, and it is scary to
the planet. At an ABA convention back was the Audubon Society’s job. The ABA wonder how many. So, to borrow the Inca
in 2000, my wife and I were joined for stood for birding, period. Not “watching” Dove’s lament, is there “no hope?”
The Latest Book & Media News • Rebecca’s Bird Book Bulletin
june 2024 a b a . o r g / m a g a z i n e 67
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n a Sept. 2023 morning, James Lees of Hamilton,
68 b i r d i n g june 2024
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