Rare Chatty Songbird Spotted in California

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Rare Chatty Songbird Spotted in California

 

June 20, 2005 — By Associated Press

FRESNO, Calif. — A chatty songbird thought to have disappeared from the

Central Valley 60 years ago has been spotted nesting in a patch of restored

habitat along the San Joaquin River.

 

The least Bell's vireo, a little gray songbird that fits in a closed fist, was

once widespread in the Central Valley. It disappeared from the area as the

riparian habitat it favors was ripped up to make way for development and

agriculture. About 90 percent of the valley's historic riverside vegetation has

been lost, said Al Donner, spokesman for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

 

The bird was put on the federal endangered species list in 1986, when there were

only about 300 pairs left in the low-lying shrubbery along creeks and streams in

southern California.

 

Linette Lina, a seasonal biologist at the San Joaquin River National Wildlife

Refuge west of Modesto, first recognized the vireo by its distinctive song on

Friday.

 

" It's unlike any other song out there, " she said. " They're little birds, but

they sing loudly, and a lot. "

 

Dropping her equipment, Lina focused her binoculars on the bird -- a male

perched on a branch about 30 feet away, singing and shaking his tail feathers.

As she called her supervisor about the discovery, a female joined him and did a

copulation dance.

 

Further investigation showed the nesting pair was feeding two baby birds, which

were just learning to fly, said Lina, who does bird counts and observation for

the Point Reyes Bird Observatory Conservation Science.

 

Other bird monitors were called to verify, and they were able to record the

birds and confirm the species on Tuesday.

 

The area where they were found had been a ranch, which was bought in 1998 and

restored over the last three years by Fish and Wildlife with help from the state

of California.

 

Source: Associated Press

 

 

Those who control the past, control the future; Those who control the future,

control the present; Those who control the present, control the past.^

[Guest guest]

That's good news.

 

Jo

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" fraggle " <EBbrewpunx

 

Monday, June 20, 2005 7:36 PM

Rare Chatty Songbird Spotted in California

 

 

Rare Chatty Songbird Spotted in California

 

June 20, 2005 â? " By Associated Press

FRESNO, Calif. â? " A chatty songbird thought to have disappeared from the

Central Valley 60 years ago has been spotted nesting in a patch of restored

habitat along the San Joaquin River.

 

The least Bell's vireo, a little gray songbird that fits in a closed fist,

was once widespread in the Central Valley. It disappeared from the area as

the riparian habitat it favors was ripped up to make way for development and

agriculture. About 90 percent of the valley's historic riverside vegetation

has been lost, said Al Donner, spokesman for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service.

 

The bird was put on the federal endangered species list in 1986, when there

were only about 300 pairs left in the low-lying shrubbery along creeks and

streams in southern California.

 

Linette Lina, a seasonal biologist at the San Joaquin River National

Wildlife Refuge west of Modesto, first recognized the vireo by its

distinctive song on Friday.

 

" It's unlike any other song out there, " she said. " They're little birds, but

they sing loudly, and a lot. "

 

Dropping her equipment, Lina focused her binoculars on the bird -- a male

perched on a branch about 30 feet away, singing and shaking his tail

feathers. As she called her supervisor about the discovery, a female joined

him and did a copulation dance.

 

Further investigation showed the nesting pair was feeding two baby birds,

which were just learning to fly, said Lina, who does bird counts and

observation for the Point Reyes Bird Observatory Conservation Science.

 

Other bird monitors were called to verify, and they were able to record the

birds and confirm the species on Tuesday.

 

The area where they were found had been a ranch, which was bought in 1998

and restored over the last three years by Fish and Wildlife with help from

the state of California.

 

Source: Associated Press

 

 

Those who control the past, control the future; Those who control the

future, control the present; Those who control the present, control the

past.^

 

 

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