Glossy Ibis band update
written by Drew Weber
Looking through about 30 pictures of the Glossy Ibis allowed me to piece together the band number- 116-50010. I submitted this info to the Bird Banding Lab. Unfortunately the bander hasn't submitted their banding data yet but hopefully I will hear back soon.
Banded Glossy Ibis
written by Drew Weber
At Conejohela Flats today, a young Glossy Ibis was hanging out on Avocet Point. Ignoring the seven birders walking around the flats, it foraged non-stop in shallow water from the time I arrived at 8:30am until I left at 12:30 pm.
The most interesting thing about this bird was that it was not only banded on one leg with a U.S. Fish and Wildlife band, but the left leg also had a band. Since the left band had only three numbers, it was much easier to read. 011.
This Glossy Ibis was banded by New York Audubon, which is trying to study the behaviour of herons that roost near Staten Island. They have banded several ibises, as well as Great Egrets and Double-crested Cormorants to see where they are dispersing. Check the Meadowlands blog for more info on this.
I'll post more details on the origin of the bird when I get them.
Donate to Conservation: Sharpe’s Longclaw
written by Drew Weber
The crew at 10000birds.com has started an effort to raise money for a survey of an endangered and endemic bird in Kenya; the Sharpe's Longclaw. The longclaws belong to the same family (Motacillidae) as the American Pipit and wagtails. According to BirdLife International, there are only between 10,000 and 20,000 Sharpe's Longclaws remaining.
The Sharpe's Longclaw has an extremely restricted range, basically limited to the remaining grasslands in sw Kenya which are quickly disappearing due to development. As you can see in the range map below, the Sharpe's Longclaw is very vulnerable to even small amounts of development in its territory.
The surveys are going to be conducted by 26-year-old Kenyan Dominic Kamau Kimani. He has been birding since he was young and has previously worked on research related to birds and wildlife conservation.
A fund called the “Small African Fellowship for Conservation” has been set up and the goal is to raise $2,000 to fund two things: a survey of suitable longclaw habitat and an educational program to take to local schools about habitat conservation for the Sharpe's Longclaw.
If you can contribute anything to this cause, click on the widget below to easily add your dollars to a good conservation fund. A couple dollars from lots of people will help reach the goal.
Sharpe's Longclaw- photo © Charlie Moores
I and the Bird #81
written by Drew Weber
The latest collection of recent bird blogs is up at the Marvelous in Nature. 
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