March 11, 2007: “Extinct” Warbler Found in Thailand

A Large–billed Reed Warbler was cuaght and banded by Philip D. Round during a research project in the Phetchaburi Province of southwest Thailand. This species has been presumed extinct for over 130 years. Read a summary of Mr. Round′s Journal of Avian Biology report at Thai Birding Website for more details.

February 7, 2007: Extremely Rare Vultures Discovered in Cambodia

A breeding colony of Slender-biled Vultures were found in a remote region of Cambodia. The species was believed to have been extripated from Southeast Asia. The only other known breeding colony is located in India. An expedtion into this remote section of jungle has discovered new populations of other critically threatened and endangered species. Check out the Environmental News Network for more details on this exciting find!

October 1, 2006: Ivory-billed Woodpecker Discovered in Florida

In a peer reviewed article, Auburn University has published evidence that suggests Ivory-billed Woodpeckers are in the Choctawhatchee River of Florida.

September 1, 2006: NBP Completes Lakehurst Naval Base Survey

Under governmental authorization, NBP has been studying an array of avian species for several consecutive years at the Lakehurst Naval Base in NJ in accordance with biological survey protocol. Valuable data about the breeding status of state endangered species has been collected over NBP has also led a special public field trips to the base during which we were rewarded with views of Upland Sandpipers, Grasshoppers Sparrows, Blue Grosbeaks, and some Common Nighthawks displaying in broad daylight.

June 24, 2006: NBP in the 2nd NJ suburban Bio-Blitz

For 24 hours, Bio-Blitz participants indentified the birds, insects and especially beetles at Ash Brook Reservation in Scotch Plains, NJ. The soggy weather did not dampen the search efforts of the cooperative efforts of scientists and the general public. Over 700 species of flora and fauna were found in support of the Rahway River Association's and Union County Parks Dept. efforts to showcase biodiversity in urban areas. Visit theUnion County Parks website for more info on the event.

June 4, 2005: New Bird Discovered at Lakehurst Naval Base

During the annual Grassland Breeding Bird Survey, a member of NBP's survey team heard both the song and call of an unexpected species for the base. Further investigation by multiple team members led to the visual confirmation of a 1st spring male Summer Tanager. The bird pictured above and below is the individual found.

As the team continued to observe the bird, it proceeded to catch flying termites and feed them to a female Summer Tanager. This behavior, along with other observations, would indicate that the species is breeding on the base. This is the first documented record of the species on the base.

April 28, 2005: Ivory-billed Woodpecker Existence Confirmed

Research teams have positively identified at least one male Ivory-billed Woodpecker in the Big Woods of Arkansas. This is the first confirmed sighting of the species in the United States since the 1940's. There have been 15 seperate observations of the species in the same area over the past year! Visit the Cornell Lab of Ornithology for more information.

March 11, 2005: NBP receives support for Lakehurst Surveys

NBP has been studying under governmental authorization, while adhering to biological survey protocol, an array of avian species for several years at the Lakehurst Naval Base in NJ. NBP is pleased to announce the support of our ongoing wildlife studies by The New York Container Terminal (NYCT), located in Staten Island, NY.

Their interest in biodiversity will allow continued surveying on government lands for regionally important populations of threatened species such as Upland Sandpiper, American Kestrel, Grasshopper Sparrow, Henslow's Sparrow, Horned Lark and Eastern Meadowlark. Special thanks are extended from NBP and the conservation community to NYCT and Mr. Devine and Mr. Nixon of NYCT

February 28, 2005: Canadaian Eagle Poaching

Canadian officials are investigating the recent discovery of more than 3 dozen mutilated bald eagle carcasses near Vancouver, British Columbia. The birds were apparently killed so their legs and feathers could be harvested for black market sale. For more details, visit Animal Planet News.

February 20, 2005: NJDEP Announces New Acquisition

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has acquired the 1,038 acre Hyponex Corporation site in Sussex County, NJ. The preservation of this property is significant as it is located within the headwaters of the Paulinskill, contains varied wetlands, and supports several species of endangered plants. NJ's Acting Governor Richard J. Codey also noted that the site's wetlands "provide a critical waterfowl breeding and migration habitat". The property is to become a Wildlife Management Area. For more details, visit The Paulinskill Valley Trail Committee website.

February 17, 2005: Pandering to Pandas Pays Off

The Qinling subspecies of the giant panda has evidently returned to a region from which it was extirpated approximately 30 years ago. In northern Shaanxi province, there have been reported sightings of the panda. Dung found in the area has been confirmed by scatologists as being that of China's "national gem". An official reports attributes the recent range expansion to the government's habitat resotration efforts in the Qingling Mountains.

February 4, 2005: Scientific Community Mourns Loss

Longtime Harvard University professor Ernst Mayr passed away at the age of 100. He is described by William C. Kirby, a Harvard history professor, as "a leading mind of the 20th century". Kirby further states that Mayr "shaped and articulated modern understanding of biodiversity and related fields".

February 2, 2005: New Ecological "Hotspots" Identified

A recent concluded study has listed nine new ecological areas of concern, bringing the total to 34 global "hotspots". Among these newly identified "hotspots" are an area located on the United States/Mexico border and Mesoamerica, which fully encompasses many Central American countries including COsta Rica, Belize, Honduras, and others. Factors included in such a determination include a concentration of endemic species and significant degree of threat to the area. For more information, visit the Biodiversity Hotspots web site.

January 28, 2005: International Biodiversity Conference

In France, scientists have proposed an international focus on the issue of global biodiversity loss. An official statement from the conference noted that "biodiversity is a vital and poorly appreciated resource for all of humankind". The scientists at the conference agreed that "actions must be taken now to inventory, understand and protect biodiversity... to ensure food security, human health and the quality of life". World leaders have stated they will lobby the United Nations' Convention of Biological Diversity to convene a scientific panel to review the status of biodiversity around the world.

December 24, 2004: NBP Assist in Treating Oil Affected Wildlife

NBP staff has been involved with the treatment of birds infected by the Delaware River oil spill. Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research, Inc. has been coordinating the rescue, cleanup, and rehabilitation of wildlife affected by the spill. Almost 200 volunteers have been trained by Tri-State to assist with their efforts. NBP has been proud to contribute to this endeavor.

December 3, 2004: UPDATE: Delaware River Oil Spill

Initial estimates of the spill's severity were quite conservative. While it is unknown exactly how much crude was released into the river, more than 470,000 gallons of crude are "unaccounted for" at this point. This spill has affected thousands of birds and tainted 70 miles of New Jersey and Pennsylvania shoreline.

November 28, 2004: Delaware River Oil Spill

A ship has inadvertently released approximately 30,000 gallons of crude oil into the Delaware River last night. During a birding trip to National Park, NJ this afternoon, an NBP staff member watched workers setting up booms to protect tributaries on both the Pennsylvania and New Jersey sides of the river. Also noted was a considerbale lack of the usual waterfowl and gulls. Among the few birds in the area, many were directly affected by the oil. Official estimates indicate that while 50 birds have already died, at least 400 birds have been affected.

November 10, 2004: Can do Condors

Not far from Hooper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge, the first wild born California Condor in 22 years has finally fledged! This offsrping of 2 captive released parents hatched in a nest cave on April 9th. Since leaving the nest early September, the chick remained perched in close proximity below the cave. On November 4th, the bird stretched it wings for a flight of 150 feet. The parents will continue to care for this avian toddler until the age of 18 months.

September 24, 2004: Continued threats for Spotted Owl

The Northern Spotted Owl population has suffered an annual decline of almost 4 percent decline over the past 18 years. In Washington state, the annual decline over the same period has been more than 7 percent. A study indicates that wildfires and habitat competition from Barred Owl are too blame. With the further decline of this species and the discovery of additional threats to their population's stability, it is imperative that conservation efforts for this species are, at a minimum, maintained. See Matthew Daly's Associated Press article for more details.

September 23, 2004: Ancestral site fidelity?

In 1995, a juvenile female Red-Cockaded Woodpecker was banded in Arkansas' Ouachita National Forest. After the bird emigrated from the area, it was later discovered more than 200 miles away in Louisiana. The woodpecker successfully reared several clutches over the next few years.

Last week, Ouachita's wildlife program manager Warren Montague and biologist Jason Nolde observed that a banded Red-Cockaded Woodpecker had adopted a long abandoned RCWO cavity. A search for the banding pattern resulted in quite a surprise for Mr. Montague. This bird was banded in the Winn Ranger District in Louisiana and was the grand-daughter of the RCWO he originally banded in 1995 less than 2 miles away from this newly reactivated cavity.

This amazing account suggests that future generations may return to geographic areas from which ancestors fledged provided that desirable habitat can still be found at that location. The ramifications of this theory are significant for habitat preservation in areas where threatened or endangered avian species historically bred.

September 20, 2004: Plumsted yields hatchlings!