Maryland Bird Conservation Update - January 2021

Great Backyard Bird Count coming Feb 12-15

The 2021 Great Backyard Bird Count will be held from Friday, Feb. 12 through Monday, Feb. 15. This event, co-hosted by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Audubon Society, and Birds Canada, is a great opportunity for birders of all levels to contribute to our understanding of bird populations.

To participate, you will need to have a free eBird account, which is quick and easy to set up. During the count, observe and record birds using either the Merlin or eBird app for at least a 15 minute stretch. You can observe birds in your back yard but data submissions aren’t limited to around the house – checklists from anywhere are welcome for the event.

In 2020 there were over 250,000 participants worldwide who observed over 27 million birds! That seems like a high benchmark to beat but participation has been increasing year after year – let’s make 2021 the best year yet! You can follow along with the count’s progress using Cornell’s live map of eBird submissions.

For more information on how to participate, head to BirdCount.org for more detailed instructions.

February is National Bird Feeding Month

Celebrated since 1989, February has been designated as National Bird Feeding Month. February tends to be a period of harsh weather in many areas, which tends to be accompanied by a period of reduced food supplies, making the second month of the year a great time to spotlight the benefits of feeding birds. Studies show increased winter survival of birds that visit feeders, and the increased benefits to their health will continue to help boost birds’ nesting success during spring, especially where year-round feeders are available.

It’s important to keep feeders filled during winter months, and to include suet and peanuts as feeding station staples in addition to sunflower and thistle seeds to provide the extra calories birds need. Wild Bird Centers of America (WBCA) established the National Bird Feeding Society, which is the official host of National Bird Feeding Month.

“The benefits of feeding birds are significant, not just for the birds themselves, but also for those of us who feed them,” said George Petrides Jr, CEO of Wild Bird Centers of America. “What we give to nature, we get back in return. Feeding and caring for our backyard birds gives us a sense of discovery, purpose, and joy during the colder winter months.”

Bird feeders provide a stable food source, regardless of the weather, and when available habitats decline, bird-friendly yards help maintain birds’ health and increase bird populations. Feeders come in a wide variety of styles and sizes to fit outdoor spaces, small and large, and they are designed to hold different types of bird foods to attract and support a variety of bird species.

“Feeding birds is simple, fun, and relaxing for anyone to take part in, at any age,” added Petrides. “As more people learn and work from home, bird feeding is a perfect activity.” Bird feeding can provide a respite from the computer and TV screens, and help to eliminate elements of stress while deepening our connections with nature and habitats through birds.

The Maryland Birds & Business Alliance promotes businesses that support bird conservation, local tourism, and sustainable communities. Two Alliance members, Wild Birds Unlimited La Plata and Wild Birds Unlimited of Lexington Park, are focused on promoting bird feeding and birding. Please support Birds & Business Alliance members and encourage other wild bird stores and businesses to join the Alliance.

Scientists address myths over large-scale tree planting

Tree planting is a brilliant solution to tackle climate change and protect biodiversity, but the wrong tree in the wrong place can do more harm than good, say experts at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Scientists have proposed 10 golden rules for tree-planting, which they say must be a top priority for all nations this decade. The rules include protecting existing forests first and involving locals.
Forests are essential to life on Earth. They provide a home to three-quarters of the world's plants and animals, soak up carbon dioxide, and provide food, fuels and medicines.

The 10 golden rules are:

• Protect existing forests first

• Put local people at the heart of tree-planting projects

• Maximize biodiversity recovery to meet multiple goals

• Select the right area for reforestation

• Use natural forest regrowth wherever possible

• Select the right tree species that can maximize biodiversity

• Make sure the trees are resilient to adapt to a changing climate

• Plan ahead

• Learn by doing

• Make it pay

Click here to read the entire article at BBC Online.

Species Profile: Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis)

This summer denizen of Maryland’s woodland underbrush and winter lover of farm fields and ditches is a treasure to birders and non-birders alike.

Extirpated from logging in Garrett County in the early 20th century, the affable Winter Wren has made a remarkable comeback as forests have gradually been allowed to regrow and mature in this only county in the state where it breeds.

Elsewhere this small brown wren with its querulous cut-cut call and relentless chatter can be found energetically hopping about outside its April-September breeding season. The Winter Wren is most common in winter on the Eastern Shore. When breeding, it prefers moist coniferous forest with an understory of dense thickets, often close to water.

A relatively secretive wren, this tiny bird forages very low among dense vegetation, searching for insects among foliage on twigs and trunks. Winter Wrens also eat spiders, millipedes, snails and even tiny fish. They sometimes eat berries in fall and winter.

Active parents, the birds nest in a natural cavity close to the ground, including holes among upturned roots of downed trees, cavities in rotten stumps, old woodpecker holes, holes in streambanks, or even under porches. Like other wrens, males may also build several dummy nests. Both parents feed the typical 5-6 nestlings.

Formerly a species found in North America and Eurasia, the Winter Wren (formerly Troglodytes troglodytes) was split into 3 species in 2010:

• Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) breeds in the northeastern U.S. and much of southern Canada, and overwinters primarily in the southeastern U.S.

• Pacific Wren (Troglodytes pacificus) occurs in coniferous forests of the western U.S. and Canada.

• Eurasian Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) is the only wren species found in the Old World

The immediate future for Winter Wrens is secure in the state, but as the climate warms, their preferred pine habitat for breeding could change, rendering them a bird of a bygone era for future Maryland generations.

Partner Profile: Patapsco Heritage Greenway

In 2015, Patapsco Heritage Greenway celebrated the realization of a major goal when the Patapsco Valley became one of Maryland’s 13 certified Heritage Areas. In 2020, the boundary expanded northwest to extend from Granite and Marriottsville to Baltimore City including Daniels, Ellicott City, Oella, Catonsville, Ilchester, Relay, and Elkridge.

Maryland’s Heritage Areas are places to experience the authentic heritage of Maryland in a unique way that you cannot experience anywhere else. In Heritage Areas individuals, businesses, non-profits and governments form partnerships to preserve the best of Maryland’s historic sites and towns, unspoiled natural landscapes and enduring traditions.

The Patapsco Valley Heritage Area lies at the heart of a network of protected lands along the Patapsco River representative of Maryland’s Piedmont forest and industrial heritage. Included in this is the 36,000-acre Patapsco Valley Important Bird Area. Natural processes, natural beauty, and history combine to create a unique opportunity for neighboring residents and visitors from across the state and beyond, to understand and enjoy Maryland’s most dramatic river valley.

The Maryland Bird Conservation Partnership is proud to be part of this effort.

Birdy News and Tidbits

• Ask Kenn: How Many of the World's Bird Species Have Gone Extinct? - Audubon Magazine

• Sustainable Forestry For Cerulean Warblers - American Bird Conservancy

• $6 million in federal, state funds will shore up vanishing marshes along Atlantic Coast - U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

• The Bird That Builds Nests Right By Its Worst Enemy - The Atlantic