Subject: [Tweeters] Quibbling over the absence
Date: Thu Aug 1 12:07:01 PDT 2019
From: Dave Slager - dave.slager at gmail.com

Tweeters,

These kinds of observations are useful but can be site-specific or
yard-specific, which is why I like to look at Breeding Bird Survey
trends. The BBS has been conducted the same way at the same locations
since the 1960s and covers a large geographic area. Anyone can check
online trends for whatever species you like.

BBS species list to look up trends:
https://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/bbs/specl15.shtml

Map of the bird conservation regions (BCRs):
http://nabci-us.org/resources/bird-conservation-regions-map/

BBS trends for a couple of species recently mentioned:

Barn Swallow:

Decrease of about 3.5% per year in the Northern Pacific Rainforest
region, or 2% per year in Washington. That's a massive decrease when
you compound the annual rate across 50 years.

Common Nighthawk:

Decrease of about 2.6% per year in the Northern Pacific Rainforest
region, and approximately stable populations across Washington as a
whole.

This kind of trend info is a good reminder to consider covering a
Breeding Bird Survey route and/or contributing to eBird. It also
provides a broader context for interpreting things observed at smaller
scales like individual yards.

Good birding,
Dave Slager

On Thu, Aug 1, 2019 at 11:33 AM HAL MICHAEL <ucd880 at comcast.net> wrote:

>

> I think Doug's response shows just how site-specific impacts can be. We have lived in Olympia, in reasonably rural; areas, for 39 years. Much has changed.

>

>

> We lived in one house for 25 years. We had a house and barn. In the beginning we had Barn Swallows. They nested over the front door, two breeds a year, for about a decade. Then, they vanished. We did nothing to prevent access to the sites, they just left and we never saw Barn Swallows again in the neighborhood.

>

>

> We had Western Bluebirds for four years, early on, and they abandoned us even though the nest boxes remained and the pasture remained open.

>

>

> Tree Swallows were the commonest nester in the boxes but gradually declined until by 2015 we might have one or two broods total.

>

>

> As the yard landscaping grew, the chickadees switched from all Black-capped to a mix with Chestnut-backed.

>

>

> We did have starlings, but the nest boxes were too small for them. In only one year, out of 25, was there an issue with House Sparrows. They were rare in the area.

>

>

> Something other than development and loss of nesting sites was chasing the swallows away. Since we were there for so long, we could see that the succession in plants changed the habitat. The first year, after the Scot's Broom was mowed, we had a Killdeer nest in the pasture as it was rather open with lots of bare ground. Soon as the grass came in, they moved to road shoulders and the railroad right-of-way. I don't think we appreciate how much our local area changes. Which is not to diminish the effects of pesticides, cats and dogs, knocking down of mud nests, and more crows going after cup nests.

>

>

> We need to have long-term data sets, even if it is just a decades-long collection of routine observations.

>

>

> Hal Michael

> Science Outreach Director, Sustainable Fisheries Foundation

> Olympia WA

> 360-459-4005

> 360-791-7702 (C)

> ucd880 at comcast.net

>

> On August 1, 2019 at 8:01 AM Doug Schonewald <dschone8 at donobi.net> wrote:

>

> Tweets,

>

> An interesting topic for sure. Valid points taken on both sides. I have a little different take on the diminishing of both swallow and the nighthawk species in the Sea-Tac area.

>

> First the nighthawks. I can't help but believe that the populations of Sea-Tac nighthawks were anthropogenically increased beyond what nature could offer them. Their population was increased to the point they were a common evening occurrence over the neighborhoods and city. As Ed said they had ample nest sights on building roofs. Their population was also centered in a place where they were easily viewed by both birders and the portion of the general population who are not birders but are always happy to see wildlife in the city and suburbia (as long as it doesn't create a mess on their property). I also agree with Ed that the likely demise was the large increase in crow populations. Open nests on the roofs of building is simply food for baby crows. Burgeoning populations of starlings, feral pigeons, and house sparrows competing for nesting space is a part of the equation as well.

> In Moses Lake, where I've lived for over 30 years, We too enjoyed the summer nighthawks on their evening feeding forays. Since the recent influx of crows (the last 10 years of so) into Moses Lake we have seen no nighthawks outside of migration periods. In addition, we used to have lots of neighborhood nesting robins, kingbirds, and orioles. Today there are almost none. Robins continue to try, but we watch, helplessly I might add, as crows rob the nests and haul off the hatchlings to feed their own young. The same happened this year to the only nesting kingbirds in the neighborhood. The orioles have given up completely. We haven't had nesting orioles in our neighborhood for at least 4-5 years.

>

> The demise of the swallows next. Their populations were also anthropogenically increased by human structures offering ample nesting sites. They were a daily feature everywhere. Again came the nest raiding crows, but they were not the only ones causing problems. As property values skyrocketed many 'rural' small farms were sold off for development. The older homes, barns, and outbuildings were torn down and pristine new houses and apartments were built in their place. These new buildings had neither nook or cranny for swallows to use for nesting. Most people who bought those homes did not welcome the swallows with open arms. The droppings and nesting debris were not welcome additions to their new home's decks and porches. Mud nests were knocked down as they were built on porch lights, or any other place the BARS could find to build a nest. In addition, there was no need (in the Suburbians' minds) for bird houses for the VGSW. They too became a nuisance and left a mess. Another nail was added to the proverbial coffin when it became profitable enough for developers to buy up older homes, tear them down, and build multi-story townhouses and apartment buildings so that 4-6 families could live in the same space that 1-2 families used to live on. Again, the new townhouses and apartments had neither nook or cranny for nesting sites. The residents of these newer buildings also had no patience for the mess the birds would leave. The crows didn't help but they weren't the only culprit. Starlings, feral pigeons, and house sparrows compete for any nesting space available.

> The same is true in Moses Lake. As the older homes disappear and new ones replace them we're seeing fewer and fewer swallows. The one exception is some of the older business buildings where we now see a few nesting VGSW (where we seldom saw them previously). I can't help but believe that as those older building deteriorate with time that a few nooks and crannies have opened up. I've tried to put up nest boxes for the VGSW, but they are quickly occupied by the burgeoning house sparrow population. Nesting platforms for Barn Swallow have met with no success. I imagine that if a robin has a tough time fledging young with their nest hidden in a conifer, then barn swallows would meet with even less success with a nest out in the open. I've taken them down as there is no sense in feeding crows, and the swallows would be better served by going out of town to raise their family.

>

> Personally I think it is unfortunate that personal observation is ignored. I understand the need for documented science. At the same time, I have to wonder, in this situation, if documenting populations of swallows, nighthawks, and crows populations by observation, and the personal observations of crow depredation on nestlings would be considered science? It would seem a perfect opportunity for a citizen science project. Even so, if crow populations were shown to be a problem with the nesting success other birds it still doesn't discount, nor measure, the myriad of other anthropogenic problems generated by people; lack of nesting sites, destruction of nests, lack of nesting materials, and so on and so on.

>

> Doug

>

> --- ednewbold1 at yahoo.com wrote:

>

> From: Ed Newbold <ednewbold1 at yahoo.com>

> To: Tweeters Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>

> Subject: [Tweeters] Quibbling over the absence

> Date: Thu, 1 Aug 2019 05:39:18 +0000 (UTC)

>

>

> Hi all,

>

>

>

> The biologists who are working in the Wildlife Dept and federal bureaucracies trying to figure out which species to help and then doing the heavy lifting to get these conservation efforts underway are some of the greatest heroes of our time and they are carrying out a daunting, nearly impossible task. Kim Leonard and Kelly McAllister are to be vociferously thanked whenever the opportunity arises. I am totally in awe of both, and others in those jobs, they are truly my heroes.

>

> Before they can move person-hours and spend tax-money, they need hard data and scientific proof. Absolutely, and more power to them in that quest.

>

> But I have a friendly quibble with a statement Kelly made to tweeters--not the one about rodenticides, which was typically very helpful, but that, and I'm paraphrasing, before he signs on to the idea that there have been major anthropogenic losses, he would need to see some pretty good data.

>

> That's a totally valid point for anyone in his position but it shouldn't blind the rest of us, who are only trying to understand what is going on, to changes that may have occurred in the absence of rigorous data-gathering.

>

> The Common Nighthawk is in my opinion a most dramatic example, where an entire breeding population of Puget Sound, Willamette Valley and Lowland BC roof-nesting birds was obliterated between the early 70s probably and 1981. I have testimonials from various people who were alive at the time, saved to my computer, that I could share. A memory is "anecdotal," but at this point it's digital. If you remember breeding Nighthawks in Seattle and you are not demented or a liar, (I'm only demented) that can scientifically be compared to the fact that there are no breeding Nighthawks in Seattle now.

>

> We are currently losing Barn Swallows. Driving around Beacon Hill, I have memory-imprints of many of the traditional sites which I would always see occupied year-to-year for much of my 36 years on the Hill. I remember fall gatherings on the Hill of multiple birds. Now other than the Jeff Park birds, I'm not sure there are any. I think Crows drove out the Nighthawks--I won't go through my reasoning--but the culprit with Barn Swallows is more inscrutable, and I haven't searched the literature which I suspect is inconclusive anyway. Violet-green Swallows are also collapsing, although there seem to be a few families left on the Hill. As with Nighthawks, I presume no one has ever collected data on Seattle's upland Swallows in a scientific fashion--or any fashion--over the appropriate time period.

>

> If anyone has evidence to prove I am being overly gloomy, there is nothing I would rather be than proven wrong.

>

>

>

> Thanks all,

>

>

>

> Ed Newbold, ednewbold1 at yahoo.com on residential Beacon Hill where the yardlist has, unprecedentedly, for two years not had a Barn Swallow on it.

>

>

>

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