Little Egret

There is currently a Little Egret traveling up and down the eastern seaboard. It was first seen in Delaware back in May, then was relocated up in Maine at the end of June, and now has been found in Massachusetts. Is this the same individual or do we have three Little Egrets in the country. The Little Egret is an ABA Code 4 and comes from the Old World. It is very similar to our Snowy Egret. Some of the similar characteristics are the yellow slippers, and all white body. One thing I have recently learned about this bird, is its range has started to expand. Scientist believe that this bird will start to become more common in North America due to the expansion of its range in Europe. Currently the Bird migrates from Europe to Africa and India in the winter. Now when you are out in the marshes looking through Snowy Egrets, keep your eye out for this guy, you never know when you could find your own first ABA - 4 record!

Possibility of Including Hawaii into the ABA

Recently I came across some news about the possibility of including Hawaii into the ABA region. I find this terrific news, not only will I now be able to travel to Hawaii and count the birds for my ABA list I will also be able to help preserve the fragile ecosystem. Hawaii is an extremely fragile ecosystem which has seen multiple extinctions in the past few decades due to the introduction of non-native or invasive species. If Hawaii becomes accepted into the ABA region this will allow birders their first chance to really explore the islands, pumping much needed funds into the restorations and preservation of land.

When humans first arrived in Hawaii, there were more than 140 species of native birds. All 80 species of landbirds, 4 species of seabirds, and 29 species of waterbirds were endemic (found nowhere else in the world). Today, over half of these birds are extinct. Thirty of the remaining 66 native bird species are endangered - threatened with extinction. With the help of the fund received from bird watching tours and tourism the remaining birds will have a better chance of survival. I encourage all to support the possible chance of Hawaii being added to the ABA region. For more information on this subject read Ted Eubanks article on annexing Hawaii into the ABA

http://blog.aba.org/2010/11/annex-hawaii.html.

Margaret Peak Nature Preserve

Yesterday I woke up at 6:30 am to meet my grandmother at my parentshouse to embark on a quest to findmy very first Dickcissel. For the past month I have been receiving emails about how Dickcissels are now being found in every good suitable habitat. Now I have tried for this bird once thisyear with no luck, and once last year at this very location with no luck. But yesterday was a new day and I was able to find one female Dickcissel sitting up on a grassy weed right next to a song sparrow. The Dickcissel has now become my 510th ABA bird and my 428th ABA bird this year. Other notable birds for the day were throngs of Indigo Buntings, Cedar Waxwings, a calling Great Horned Owl, a pair of Willow Flycatchers, a pair of Pied-billed Grebes and one lone Grasshopper Sparrow calling from within the Soy Bean fields.