Blogger Migration

As of today, I am no longer living in Washington, D.C., but in Central New Jersey. I moved yesterday with the help of my parents. It took longer than expected to load the truck and make the drive thanks to a series of problems that were mostly beyond our control (jammed doors, elevators out of service, etc.). I am going to miss D.C., but I think this will be a good move.

So now that I am not in DC anymore, this blog probably should have a new name. I have some ideas, but I have not settled on anything yet. Blogging will be light this week while I get settled.

In addition to writing this blog, I was on the Board of Directors for the DC Audubon Society and maintained their website. While some site administration can be done at a distance, it is preferable to have the site's administrator and writers working in close communication with the board. If any DC-area birders would be interested in writing for the DC Audubon website, please let me know.

Rat Poison on the Metro

The FBI is investigating bird deaths outside of several Metro stations. Dead birds were found at Branch Avenue (15), Takoma (16), Rhode Island Avenue (2), Greenbelt (20), College Park, Naylor Road, and Anacostia. Rat poison is the likely culprit:

Etter said fire officials have confirmed that the birds at Greenbelt died from a rat poison called d-CON. Dead birds were also found at the College Park, Naylor Road, Anacostia and Rhode Island stations, officials said.

[...]

The D.C. Department of Health will do a necropsy on several dead birds found at the Anacostia station Monday, he said. Metro officials said substances like "popcorn kernels" were found near the dead birds at the Takoma station.

Details are preliminary, but Etter said witnesses reported seeing a man in a black pickup truck spraying material at some of the stations.

Metro spokeswoman Asato said the transit agency was not aware of maintenance work involving rat poison. After reports of dead birds started coming in at around noon, station managers throughout the system began checking the areas outside the entrances.

Branch Avenue and Takoma stations are temporarily closed for investigation, so make alternate arrangements if you need to use them.

Update: The stations are open again. Apparently the poison was spread by a Metro contractor for pigeon control.

Update on House Sparrows and Bird Feeders

About a month ago, a reader asked for ways to discourage house sparrows from wasting the seed at her bird feeders. Several readers responded with suggestions. On Thursday, Laura in NWDC wrote an update on her situation:

I built my own "magic halo" a couple of weeks ago out of two wooden rings (about 4 inches wider in diameter than the feeder) and fishing line. I attached long pieces of fishing line to the first ring at 3-4 inch intervals, and then attached the other end of each piece to the second ring, making a cylinder. I hung the cylinder from the hook the feeder is on so the cylinder surrounds the feeder. That was after removing the feeder from the yard for about a week and washing it thoroughly.

It took a week or so for the birds to rediscover the feeder, but this morning vindication arrived. Finches, nuthatches, chickadees and juvenile cardinals all enjoyed the bounty, darting right in through the fishing lines. The house sparrows swarmed the feeder like usual, but backed up in the air as soon as they saw the fishing line. They were terrified! They watched the other birds jealously but couldn't bring themselves to breech that fishing line barrier. I don't know WHY, but as long as it works, I'm happy!

Thanks to all the readers who commented with suggestions!

Loose Feathers #108

Piping Plover (US Fish and Wildlife Photo)

News and links about birds, birding, and the environment

• The Scotsman reports that removal of invasive tree mallow at a puffin colony has restored the colony after a series of disastrous breeding seasons. Tree mallow blocks the entrances to burrows where puffins nest.
  
• If you live along a major migration route for purple martins, you may see massive flocks of them at this time of year.
• Plover news: spring storms delayed the breeding season at Cape Cod; four nests on Long Island produced eleven chicks; a plover patrol volunteer from Massachusetts describes his work.
• An article from Newburyport chronicles the changing abundance of grassland birds in Massachusetts.
• Rescuers have pulled hundreds of penguins from oil slicks along the eastern coast of South America over the last few weeks. The slicks are due to spills and illegal dumping.
• The Endangered Species Act continues to be a center of controversy after more than 30 years on the books. The latest fights have erupted over political meddling in listing decisions.
• The red knot will not be listed as an endangered species despite clear evidence that it needs protection because other unlisted species are in greater need.
  

Birds in the blogosphere

• Aimophila Adventures: Wilcox Waders
• 10,000 Birds: Generations of Galliforms
• BES Group: Nesting of Collared Kingfisher
• Ben Cruachan Blog: Where have all the parrots gone?
• Search and Serendipity: Taxonomic and nomenclatural changes in the AOU 48th supplement (The new supplement is available here.)
  

Blog carnivals and newsletters

• Friday Ark #149
• Insects in the News #20
  
• I and the Bird #54
  
• Birds in the News #92
  

I and the Bird

I and the Bird #54 is now available at The Egret's Nest.