Ruby-crowned Kinglets (Regulus calendula) photo by Larry Jordan
Check out my latest West Coast Beat Writer post over at 10000 Birds. Watch the Ruby-crowned Kinglets (Regulus calendula) bathing in my water feature. They are energetic little birds with a big personality!
Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) photos by Larry Jordan
In an effort to raise awareness about bird conservation in California, Audubon California this year will again recognize their Bird of the Year. And while they selected the seven finalists for the award, you the public will have the final say. I implore everyone to go to the Audubon California Bird of the Year page and vote for my favorite bird, the Burrowing Owl. Click on photos for full sized images.
If we all vote several times for the Burrowing Owl, perhaps it will get enough votes to be declared the 2012 Bird of the Year.
This Species of Special Concern has been declining for many years and unless we make things change, I fear that they may disappear in California in my lifetime.
Winning the “Bird of the Year” designation would surely cast some much needed light on the plight of the Burrowing Owl and perhaps, change its destiny.
Please take a few minutes to go to the Audubon California website and vote for the Burrowing Owl. I would love you for it and so would they!
To see more great bird photos, check out The Bird D’pot and Wild Bird Wednesday!
Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) photos by Larry Jordan
The Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) is another irruptive bird species like the Red-breasted Nuthatch which is still hanging around my house. I am getting these finches at my feeders and at the water feature now. Could this be another Pine Siskin irruption year like the 2008 – 2009 winter?
Pine Siskins are distributed across much of Canada and at higher elevations in the western portions of the United States. Periodically, they will irrupt into parts of the East and into areas of lower elevations in the West1.
It is hypothesized that these irruptions occur due to variations in the bird’s food supply on their wintering grounds. When Pine Siskins irrupt into the southern ranges of the map above, food abundance in their typical wintering grounds may be low. You can read a very interesting report on the “Biennial Irruptions of Pine Siskins Across North America” at the Audubon website. They mapped their information form Project FeederWatch and the Christmas Bird Count data.
Time will tell if we have another irruption on the horizon but for now, let’s just watch the bathing beauties. Click on photos for full sized images.
Let’s see if I can get some of that water in those axillars
Like water off a duck’s back
What are you looking at?
Don’t I look pretty now?
Hey, what about me? Is it my turn yet?
For more bird fun and great bird photos, check out The Bird D’pot and Wild Bird Wednesday!
References: 1Audubon’s Biennial Irruptions of Pine Siskins Across North America
Big Bird (Muppetus aves maximus) photo Todd Plitt, USA Today
Why would ABC choose Big Bird? He is a unique and talented creature who has helped educate generations of children, appeared on countless television shows and movies, and even has his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His lovable, innocent, and curious personality has helped endear him to millions of children and adults all over the world1.
If Big Bird was chosen as the Bird of the Week, why does he look so worried?
I’ll tell you why.
For over a year, the House GOP has been trying to cut funding for National Public Radio (NPR) which is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) which also funds the Public Broadcasting System (PBS). Last May, the Republican-controlled Congress passed a bill stripping NPR of federal funding, but it stalled in the Senate, where Democrats retain control.
NPR receives about 2 percent of its annual budget in the form of grants from the CPB. In addition, it receives about 36 percent of its annual revenue from station fees and membership dues for news and information, cultural and entertainment programing. Support from the CPB accounts on average for 15 percent of funding for the more than 1,100 public radio and television stations around the country2.
Talk about irony, here’s a question for you. What do these people have in common: William F. Buckley, Walter Cronkite, B. B. King, Yo-Yo Ma, Colin Powell, Gloria Steinem and Steven Spielberg? Give up? They, along with Big Bird have each been awarded the “Living Legend” award by the Library of Congress!
The Library of Congress is the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution and serves as the research arm of Congress. It is also the largest library in the world, with millions of books, recordings, photographs, maps and manuscripts in its collections.
The Library of Congress sponsors privately endowed programs that honor achievement in the humanities and creativity. Through these awards and prizes, the world’s greatest repository of human creativity honors those who have advanced and embodied the ideals of individual creativity, conviction, dedication, scholarship and exuberance3.
Established during its Bicentennial celebration in 2000, the Library of Congress’ “Living Legend” award is selected by the Library’s curators and subject specialists to honor artists, writers, activists, filmmakers, physicians, entertainers, sports figures and public servants who have made significant contributions to America’s diverse cultural, scientific and social heritage. The professional accomplishments of the Living Legends have enabled them to provide examples of personal excellence that have benefited others and enriched the nation in a variety of ways4.
Now the House of Representatives under Republican rule, want to end funding to public broadcasting all together. If you saw Mitt Romney in the debate last week, or even if you didn’t, you probably know by now that he promised to cut funding for PBS if elected.
Here is a message from PBS president Paula Kerger
As far as I’m concerned, NPR is the only place I am assured of getting real news. The truth about what’s happening in the world. If public broadcasting goes away, these stations will be subject to trying to please their sponsors like all the rest of the commercial broadcasting networks. That is not good for you and I.
and contact your congressman in support of public broadcasting in the United States.
Big Bird’s popularity is just another example of the positive impact of birds on society and culture. Can we allow yet another endangered species to become extinct? Urge congress to never take away our public broadcasting system by taking action now!
References: 1American Bird Conservancy, 2Reuters, 3Library of Congress, 4Library of Congress, Living Legends
Links to more information on the GOP attempts to de-fund public broadcasting:
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