Distraction Displays: Mass Breeding Bird Atlas 2

British Columbia Needs Some Help - (and not just with hockey)

From The Department of "Eh"

So, now that you are all trained atlasers, the province of British Columbia would like a little help, please.

See below for a killer opportunity to Atlas BC.

 

 

10 June 2011 – If you can get to British Columbia, the BC Breeding Bird Atlas has some exciting ideas for your summer holidays! One is an offer from Canadian Mountain Holidays to take you heli-hiking in the spectacular Rocky Mountain Trench for free! All you have to do is get to the base camp near Golden, BC and agree to do point counts and general bird atlassing while hiking along magnificent alpine ridges. If space is available, you may even get a free stay in one of Canadian Mountain Holidays' lodges. And that's not all we're offering… If you'd rather escape to a remote northern BC lake for some birding, we could send you off on a free float plane adventure for a week or two. All we ask is that you do some serious atlassing in return. We also have funds available to help cover your expenses while birding almost anywhere in British Columbia as long as you're atlassing. These offers are valid for June and the first half of July; for more information, contact Dick Cannings at dcannings@birdscanada.org.

Baby Turkey Vultures: by Matt Kelly

From The Department of Heavenly Objects

 

Atlas Returns From Vacation

From The Department of Travel and Leisure

 Atlas came back from a short but very nice vacation to Belize. For those of you looking for a winter escape, or an affordable and easy immersion into tropical birding, let me suggest Belize.

To whet the appetite, the photo at left is taken at the Jabiru nest which is about 30 minutes from the airport. The big thing in front is not a Jabiru, you need to zoom in and look to the left of the mammal's ear/sunglasses to see the nest. The mammal is also known as Margaret Rubega, UCONN professor, friend of The Atlas, and CT. State Ornithologist.

Belize is easy - english as a first language, same electricity/plugs, good cell service, fairly quick flight, very ecotourist friendly, and buckets of birds. We saw 140+ species in 4 days, and we are not listers.

Anyway, Mass Audubon runs trips to Belize with Dave Larson and sometimes with Rene Laubach (how much fun would that be!). Rumor has it that there may be a special trip next year with Mass Audubon and Dave Sibley to raise money for the bird conservation programs at Mass Audubon. Sounds like fun to me - more details as they emerge or email me if you want more information!

Bugs and Bluebirds

From the Department of Pest Control

Winter here at Atlas Central is a quiet time, but we do receive frequent visitors in the form of Western Conifer Seed Bugs.  These introduced insects can often be found around windowsills and other portals during cold weather.  In the springtime, they use their long proboscises to pierce maturing conifer cones and suck the juices from the seeds inside, but during winter they search for a sheltered place to rest for a few months and do not eat.  They don't hurt people and are not particularly harmful to our native flora (as far as we know).  They're just looking for a warm place to spend the winter months.  Still, they are an introduced species, and there will always be those who cannot abide the presence of insects indoors.  Smashing the creatures makes a mess, so if you're bugging out over these little visitors, why not let your feathered friends do the clean-up for you?

Focus on Feeders!

From the Department of Free Lunches

Is your life sad and empty with no Atlasing to do?  Consider participating in Mass Audubon's 2011 Focus on Feeders!  During February 5 and 6, all you have to do is record the high counts of each species of bird that comes to your feeder.  You'd be doing that anyway, right?  Your data helps Mass Audubon understand winter bird trends and make informed decisions to better protect the nature of Massachusetts.  Make a social event out of it!  Invite your friends over for tea and watch the feeder, or bust out your camera and brush up those photography skills.  Enter your best photos for a chance to win the annual Photo Contest!  Follow the link above to the Focus on Feeders website, and learn more about how to participate.

Photo credit: Matthew Kamm.  Used with permission.

Houston Texas Police Department Ducks

From The Department of Law Enforcement, Public Safety and General Merriment

The Houston Police Department is training some new cadets, and some young ducks have gotten in the action.

Link to a video on their blog .I am not sure what is more odd, that they have ducks on full parade, or that they have a blog. If you Google ducks Houston you'll get some better video, but I thought their blog had a certain charm.

One duck is quite dark, and one still has down on his head - hence the very very loose tie in to the breeding bird part of the breeding bird atlas.