Re: [Maine-birds] Re: Baltimore orioles

When I first visited Costa Rica, I walk up the road from the pension where I was staying toward the Monteverde Cloud Forest while waiting for lunch.  Among the first birds I noticed were hairy woodpecker, cedar waxwing, Baltimore oriole, and dusky-capped flycatcher (a Myiarchus flycatcher that breeds in SE Arizona).  I wanted to ask, "Where the heck am I?"  Kentucky and golden-winged warblers were also common here.

Many of our neotropical migrants winter in southern Mexico and Central America, although the hairy woodpecker and waxwing are resident in these mountains.    This is not only a small area physically compared to their breeding grounds in North America, but many of these migrants prefer middle and high elevations in the mountainous areas.  This preference again cuts down the physical size of their wintering area.

This elevation in Central American just happens to be optimum for growing coffee and grass for cattle and horse ranches, and forests here have been cut for that purpose since the middle of the 20th Century.  It was the reason there was a noticeable decline in migrant birds beginning in the 70's.  Wood thrushes, Tennessee warblers, olive-sided flycatchers, and perhaps Baltimore orioles were once much more common than today. 

No control over the wintering grounds?  Maybe, but the US has no stellar record of championing social justice in this part of the world either.  And in a way has contributed to the current situation.  Conservation and social justice go hand in hand.  In the latter part of the last century I even gave presentations about this issue.  Today since the terrorist activity, I'd probably have a police record :).  Not a topic for this forum, but if you'd like to hear more write me off-line.

One way we can help is to visit neotropical bird lodges and spend some money there.  What a boring chore, huh?  :)   Here's an example:
http://www.brucebartrug.com/oil/single-gallery/1055763 .  You need to click the little button at the bottom of the image, click here.

Cheers,
BAB

On Thu, Jun 7, 2012 at 7:21 AM, Hank & Linda Nevins <fridge6@tidewater.net> wrote:

Thank you, Bruce!  Hearing this from someone nearby makes me feel that at least I'm not doing anything to cause the orioles not to come - but your possible cause is much scarier as we have no control over their wintering sites.  Thanks again!

----- Original Message -----

From: Bruce Bartrug

To: maine-birds@googlegroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, June 06, 2012 8:23 AM

Subject: Re: [Maine-birds] Re: Baltimore orioles

To gauge the number of orioles breeding in Maine, the best source would the compilations of the annual Breeding Bird Survey.  There are several BBS routes in Maine, and the results of these would show a decline if one exists.  Seeing large quantities of orioles, or lack of same, during migration isn't an indication of relative abundance.  That said, I have noticed a decline in this species in Beautiful Downtown Nobleboro as well.  Ten years ago we would have two pairs singing and visiting oranges.  This year we didn't put any oranges out because I haven't heard one singing.

One must remember orioles winter in Central America, a rather small area which has had some significant changes in land use in the last 50 or 60 years.  If you're looking for reasons for a general decline, this would be the place to start.

BAB

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