hello tweeties,

i have written and published a detailed summary of the USFWS report, The State of America's Birds, that was released yesterday afternoon. According to this report, nearly one third of America's 800 native bird species are endangered, threatened, or in significant decline, thanks to habitat loss, pollution, climate change, competition from invasive species and other threats. this summary includes data graphs from the report, video, and a list of things you can do to help, and also includes links to the original report and other related reports. i would also appreciate it if you could vote this story up using the slashdot badge;

http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2009/03/the_state_of_americas_birds_20.php

the most recently demystified mystery bird, thanks to Joseph Kennedy, was an upended pair of Northern Pintail, Anas acuta;

http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2009/03/todays_mystery_bird_for_you_to_199.php

i also would like to draw your attention to one mystery bird, submitted by a reader, that was so mysterious that i asked shorebird expert, Dennis Paulson, to write an analysis. thankfully, his teaching made an impression upon me (one of his master birder students) since we agree that this bird is probably a Lesser Yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes;

http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2009/03/todays_mystery_bird_for_you_to_211.php

today's mystery bird, thanks to Richard Ditch, can be seen here;

http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2009/03/todays_mystery_bird_for_you_to_163.php

cheers,

GrrlScientist
Devorah
http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/
Roosting high up a tree somewhere in Central Park, NYC