Birds on NPR Science Friday-3/28
National Public Radio will be doing a segment on birds today (Friday, March 28) from 2-3 PM Eastern time for which I will be talking about some bird conservation issues and opportunities along with some colleagues from around the U.S.
You can listen in via the web at:
http://www.sciencefriday.com/program/archives/2008 03282
A new citizen science initiative focused on learning more about one of North America’s most rapidly declining birds, the Rusty Blackbird, is now online at eBird. We hope to be able to encourage all Rusty Blackbird observations to be submitted through this easy-to-use online system so we can understand more about the species migratory dynamics. Read Matt Medler’s Rusty Blackbird blog entry below for more information.
Don’t forget to sign the Save Our Boreal Birds petition if you haven’t already at:
Jeff
P.S. Here is a note from Ray Brown about another upcoming event for anyone in the Boston area:
Our guest list for the Party for Bird Conservation is filling up fast and I want to urge all Massbirders who’d like to attend to RSVP to this address as soon as possible so that we can save a spot for you. The party will take place next Tuesday, April 1, from 6:30-8:30pm at the Hampshire House in Boston.
The party will benefit the Massachusetts Important Bird Areas program, and items for raffles and silent auction will include original bird art work by Barry Van Dusen, a raptor-banding day with Norman Smith from the Blue Hills Trailside Museum, tickets to a Red Sox game, and much more. Admission and scrumptious hot and cold hors d’oeuvres are free, and there’ll be a cash bar.
Joining IBA director Wayne Petersen at the event will be other notable birders and authors, including Dr. Jeffrey Wells , author of the new Birder’s Conservation Handbook; David Clapp, tour leader and former director of Mass Audub on’s South Shore Sanctuaries; and Mike O’Connor, author of the hot-selling Why Don’t Woodpeckers Get Headaches?.
Dress is casual; RSVP is required. Please see our website (talkinbirds.com) or Mass Audubon’s site (Massaudubon.org) for full details, including directions and parking. Closest T stops are Charles/MGH and Park Street.
Thanks and best wishes,
Ray
Ray Brown’s TALKIN’ BIRDS Sundays 9:30-10am 95.9FM South Shore, MA 1180AM Southern R.I. Live On-line: 959WATD.COM Listen anytime: talkinbirds.com
| Comment |
March 28th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
I was unable to connect by phone during the NPR Science Friday airing. There was a reference to a time set when everyone was supposed to turn out their outside lights so migrating birds would not be confused. This would make more sense if CAR DEALERS were asked to observe this first. I live ‘out in the country’ in Central MN, about 6 miles from a town. We have ‘lost’ our northen lights and a good portion of our night sky to 2 dealerships causing LIGHT POLLUTION. Along the way, during evening hours trips to Mpls/St Paul it becomes all too apparent that a large percentage of light polluters are CAR/RV DEALERSHIPS. Even during off-business hours, retina-searing displays of their ’security lighting’ can be seen on the horizon long before you’re there. While we are all asked to conserve energy and buy dimmer light bulbs, who is putting any lids on these guys? One hopes there is an extra attempt to approach these people during your lights out campaign, or it is a useless effort. In this day of motion detectors, there is not a real ’security reason’ for all the blazing lighting. Our state has apparently no limits to artificial lighting.