SongbirdSOS, Author at TheMessengerDoc.comTheMessengerDoc.com

Birding in a Pandemic

by Mark Bell

So, let me guess…

So, let me guess… you had been planning a once-in-a-life-time nature safari this summer to explore the hidden secrets of the Amazon rain forest of northern Peru, right? And then an unexpected global pandemic put those plans on hold and now you’re stuck at home staring out your kitchen window and you’re feeling isolated, not just from your fellow humans, but from the natural world. Am I close? Well, I’ve got great news for you, Nature is about to save you the trip to Peru and instead will be parading past your window in the coming weeks and throughout the summer months. Lucky you!

Hundreds of species of birds migrate from South and Central America on their way up to Canada’s Boreal forest, but I’d like to bring your attention to one species in particular that is summering alongside those of us who live in cities and small towns in the central and eastern states from Texas up to Minnesota and into southern Ontario and Quebec and out to the Maritime Provinces and states along the eastern seaboard. Unlike migratory birds that you will only see in passing during the migration season, the Chimney Swift will be staying close to home, close to your home.

Much like humans, Chimney Swifts have adapted their way of life to live mostly in cities and towns rather than forests. Who wants to live in a rotten old tree when there’s a perfectly good apartment building waiting for you? But unlike humans, the overall population of Swifts has dropped dramatically over the years. So much so that they are now considered a species at risk in many regions.

All birds are pretty spectacular when you get to know them, but the Chimney Swift has superpowers beyond the scope of most species.

All birds are pretty spectacular when you get to know them, but the Chimney Swift has superpowers beyond the scope of most species. First of all, they don’t spend any time on the ground. Unless it’s nesting season, these birds take flight in the morning after sunrise and they won’t land again until sunset. They are areal insectivores, so they take their breakfast, lunch and dinner on the fly, literally. There’s no hopping around looking for worms, or grabbing a bite at the feeder, no splashing about in birdbaths and certainly none of this bird-on-a-wire stuff. Swifts are up in the sky gathering food all day long. But don’t think that Chimney Swifts are all work and no play. More than most birds, the Swifts are community oriented, so you will often see them flying in small groups, sometimes in formation like tiny, feathered fighter jets. The constant chittering sound that they emit is probably some kind of air traffic control (“On your left! On your left!), but to our ears sounds more like the gleeful chatter of passing school kids on a Friday afternoon. (Remember when children used to go to school?) They really sound like they’re having a good time.

If you want to see a Chimney Swift, there’s a good chance that if you live in a city, all you need to do is tilt your head and look up in the sky and wait.

If you want to see a Chimney Swift, there’s a good chance that if you live in a city, all you need to do is tilt your head and look up in the sky and wait. If you see some Starling-sized birds making erratic bat-like movements, those are probably Chimney Swifts. You’ll know because you’ll be able to hear them chattering to one another. But if you want to see a Chimney Swift perform a magic trick that no other species can do, a miracle so beautiful and profound that you’ll half expect David Attenborough to show up and pontificate, well, for that you’ll need a bit of patience. And a chimney.

Not just any chimney will do, you’ll want to find one with good swift-potential.

Not just any chimney will do, you’ll want to find one with good swift-potential. The best place to start is an old church, a school or an older industrial building. Swifts need a certain amount of clearance inside the flue, so although they sometimes resort to small residential chimneys, they prefer the wider, more industrial kind. And if a chimney has a metal liner poking up, forget about it, Swifts prefer exposed-brick interiors. Also, if there are too many trees or other obstructions close to the chimney, that’s another deal-breaker; they’ll only settle for uninterrupted access.

Timing is everything. Within 15 minutes on either side of sunset is when the Swifts are most likely to enter the chimney they are occupying.

Timing is everything. Within 15 minutes on either side of sunset is when the Swifts are most likely to enter the chimney they are occupying. So don’t bother with the other 23 and a half hours of the day, but for that one half hour, keep your eye on the chimney. Stand where you can see it clearly silhouetted against the sky. Sometimes there will be a few fly-overs in the minutes leading up to their dramatic entrance, but more often than not they’ll appear out of nowhere. It often happens so fast you might be left thinking: “did I actually see what I think I just saw?” If you’re lucky, you might see one or two Swifts entering a chimney. But if you are REALLY lucky, you might encounter a roost, where dozens or even hundreds of Swifts will enter a single chimney. Bearing witness to such a beautiful phenomenon just might change your life.

Sadly, due to Covid-19, it is not possible right now to register your sightings on some of the conservation websites that are working to track these endangered birds such as the SwiftWatch program organized by Birds Canada. (although it is still a great resource for information on Swifts). https://www.birdscanada.org/bird-science/swiftwatch/

But eventually things will open up again, and you’ll be able to contribute your citizen science data there or locally where ever you live. In the meantime, there are other useful apps such as iNaturalist or eBird where you can register your findings. Or, you can simply look up and enjoy the show.

Mark Bell

Pesticides Make Migrating Birds Lose their Way

in Conservation / News by SongbirdSOS December 14, 2017 0 comments

Guest Blog post by Dr. Bridget Stutchbury

Pesticides are widely recognized as a risk to birds that forage in agricultural environments especially during migration. Since many current use insecticides are potent neurotoxins, we speculated that they could have behavioural effects in small songbirds landing in agricultural fields during their journey north if they consume tainted seeds or granules when they stop to fuel.

So we designed a study to test whether low level exposure to 2 widely used insecticides – imidacloprid (a neonicotinoid) and chlorpyrifos (an organophosphate) could disrupt the migratory ability of a wild-caught songbird. White-crowned sparrows, a common seed eater, were captured on migration and held in captivity at the Facility for Applied Avian Research at the University of Saskatchewan. After acclimation, we exposed the birds to either a low or high dose of either imidacloprid or chlorpyrifos at concentrations they could realistically encounter in the environment, and tested their orientation in a series of Emlen funnel migration trials before dosing, during the 3 day exposure, and during the recovery period.

What surprised us was how sensitive and rapid the effects were, particularly to imidacloprid.

The birds showed a significant loss of body mass and signs of acute poisoning (lethargy and loss of appetite). The migration trials also showed that birds completely failed to orient or changed their northward orientation, whereas controls continued to behave as expected. While the chlorpyrifos treated birds did not show toxicity in terms of weight loss, they too lost their migratory orientation. In the wild, we calculated that these effects would be seen if the birds consumed just a few treated seeds or granules mistaken as grit.

We were encouraged that most birds survived, and could recover following the cessation of dosing, but the effects we saw were severe enough that the birds would likely experience migratory delays or changes in their flight routes that could reduce their chance of survival or cause a missed breeding opportunity.

Since these chemicals are used over vast areas of North America and the timing of application directly overlaps with spring migration, the results of this study raises serious concern about the risk of increasing use of seed and granular pesticide treatments to millions of migrating songbirds.

*****

The study is a collaboration between Margaret Eng, PhD Candidate, Dr. Christy Morrissey, Avian toxicologist, University of Saskatchewan and Dr. Bridget Stutchbury, Biologist, York Unniversity.

********

Here is the article published in the peer-reviewed Scientific Reports. Stutch.Morrissey.Eng_et_al-2017_Sparrow toxicity IMI CPF_Scientific_Reports

Media coverage:

The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/nov/29/common-pesticide-can-make-migrating-birds-lose-their-way-research-shows

Daily Mail UK http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-5130721/Controversial-pesticide-linkied-songbird-decline.html

The Ortolan Bunting Will Finally Be Off the Menu in France!

in Conservation / News by SongbirdSOS December 13, 2017 0 comments

“We have won our battle against Ortolan Bunting trapping and the phenomenon is basically wiped out from Les Landes.”

THE MESSENGER took audiences into the fields of Les Landes, in south-west West France, to witness the illegal hunting of Ortolan Bunting, a practise that was decimating local populations. Now, the Ortolan Bunting will finally be off the menu in France! No other European songbird has declined as rapidly in recent years, with an overall decline of 84% since 1980 due to poaching and intensive agriculture – this, despite hunting of the species being forbidden by French law since 1999 when it became a protected species. Because the Ortolan dish is considered a cultural tradition, authorities had often turned a blind eye to the activities of poachers.

For the past 10 years, LPO (League for the Protection of the Oiseaux) the BirdLife International partner in France has been fighting this illegal practice on the ground, and also in the air, where alongside CABS (Committee Against Bird Slaughter), they have been identifying trapping sites and releasing the birds, before alerting the authorities. Until recently, these interventions were the only way to identify and prosecute the poachers, who operated with the blessing of local elected officials and hunting officials, and who claimed that the state “tolerated” these practices. Indeed the authorities wouldn’t file charges for installations of 30 traps or less. More on the practise and new developments in this article from Bird Life International.

The French Ministry of the Environment requested guidelines to study the Ortolans on a continental scale.

Frédéric Jiguet from Museum National D’Histoire Naturelle in Paris, (featured in The Messenger) partnered with other scientists from more than 12 countries across EU to conduct the study. He also worked in partnership with ONCFS (French Hunting & Wildlife National Office).

Frédéric Jiguet and his colleagues research work helped convince French Ecology Minister, Nicolas Hulot, to call for a definitive end to the hunting. This was followed up in the field with a high pressure from the police this past fall, so there are now very few poachers.

The main conclusions are that the numbers migrating by south-west France are estimated on average only 81,000 pairs (300,000 individuals including juveniles), with a recent decline estimated between -20% and -30%, while the overall trend of birds using the western flyway, or the eastern flyway, is a decline of lower amplitude estimated between -10% and -20%. The birds flying by south-west come mainly from Poland (probably 75%), the others coming mainly from Germany and Sweden, and also from Norway (where there are only astonishingly only 10 breeding pairs left) – so almost only from EU countries. The first pages of the report are a summary of overall results, then detailed parts on each techniques. (genetics, isotopes, geolocators). (see links below)

Andrea Rutigilano, an on-the ground warrior for CABS also featured in the film says, “We have won our battle against Ortolan Bunting trapping and the phenomenon is basically wiped out from Les Landes.”

Frédéric JIGUET sent us the links to this comprehensive research study about the Ortolan Bunting.

You can download the full Ortolan Bunting report in English at this link.

The report is also available in French here.

The Messenger Takes Flight in the UK!

in Conservation / News by SongbirdSOS October 18, 2017 0 comments

SongbirdSOS Productions Inc. and Films à Cinq are pleased to announce that our award-winning feature documentary THE MESSENGER directed by Su Rynard is taking flight in the UK. It is being released into UK cinemas, starting October 26^th. This cinematically beautiful and poignant documentary is essential viewing for anyone who cares about the environment and nature. THE MESSENGER explores mankind’s deep-seated connection to the world’s songbirds and the devastating impact humans have had on bird species. It is an enlightening introduction to the global scientific research being done to further bird conservation. The release of the film is timely, as more than a quarter of the UK Birds are in serious decline. *

The UK tour of THE MESSENGER starts at Purbeck Film Festival in Wareham October 26, before travelling to Nottingham, Oswestry, Suffolk, Manchester and Liverpool.

On her drive to make the film director Su Rynard commented, “Birds are our ‘early warning system’ and this was one of the inspirations behind the film. Since ancient times we have looked to birds to foretell the future. Changes in the flights or songs of birds can signal the coming of storms, the change of season, or the dawn of a new day. A decline in the numbers or health of birds points to changes in the environment. Now is a critical time for the world’s climate and ecosystems. Birds have something to tell us, and I wanted to amplify their message.”

Screenings will feature guest hosts, including the Wildlife Trust and the RSPB.

Bird & Wild, a Bird Friendly coffee company is providing goodie bags at select screenings. Bird & Wild is one of the UK’s only Smithsonian certified Bird Friendly® coffee roasters and it is on a mission to help protect migrating birds and support the RSPB, while offering triple certified, great tasting Fairtrade organic coffee, one cup at a time.

Canadian producer Joanne Jackson says ” We are excited to be working with Nottingham based PIPOCA for the UK release. Sally Hodgson from PIPOCA has tremendous experience releasing films that make an impact with audiences. We believe THE MESSENGER will find an enthusiastic audience in the UK, because as any committed ‘twitcher’ or nature lover will attest, the sport of Birdwatching is a very popular past-time in the UK.”

The Messenger will become available on DVD in the UK in December and can be pre-ordered online now. Up-to-date details on screenings and the DVD purchases for educational or home use can be found here.

www.pipocapictures.com/the-messenger

Cinema Listings:

Purbeck Film Festival @ The Rex Cinema, Wareham,

Thursday 26 October, 8.15pm, sponsored by Biotrack. Q and A and Bird tracking devices will be demonstrated. Tickets: https://therex.admit-one.eu/?p=details&eventCode=34429 or 01929 552 778

Broadway Cinema, Nottingham,

Saturday 28 October, 2 pm, With Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Tickets: http://www.broadway.org.uk/events/film-the-messenger-plus-introduction or 0115 952 6611

Picturehouse @ FACT, Liverpool

Sunday 26 November, 1 pm. With RSPB Liverpool, Tickets: https://www.picturehouses.com/cinema/Picturehouse_At_Fact or 0871 902 5737

Aldeburgh Cinema, Suffolk

Sunday 3 December, 3 pm, With the Suffolk Ornithologists’ Group and Suffolk Wildlife Trust. Tickets: www.aldeburghcinema.co.uk or 01728 454884

HOME, Manchester

Friday 29 December, 3:50 pm, Tickets: https://homemcr.org or 0161 200 1500.

***

Running length: 90 minutes. Advisory rating – PG

Movie Trailer: https://youtu.be/LjQtRr4CKcc

Twitter: @themessengerdoc

* Reference: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/apr/11/more-than-a-quarter-of-uk-birds-face-extinction-risk-or-steep-decline-study.

THE MESSENGER is a Canada/France co-production by SongbirdSOS Productions Inc. and Films à Cinq/ARTE France that has played on over 160 screens in North America and continues to screen for audiences in Canada, and the USA. For screening requests and additional ways to view the film go to https://songbirdsos.com/screenings/

How do you know a film is making an impact?

in Conservation by SongbirdSOS April 20, 2017 0 comments

How much do documentary films impact audiences? How do you know in advance a film can make a difference? The Messenger team set out with some ambitious goals early on. We wanted to tell the important environmental story about our beloved songbirds, but we also wanted to make a beautifully artistic film that would be captivating for audiences and stimulate discussion for many years to come. We knew that to capture people’s hearts and minds the film had to be original and spellbinding in its approach, one that was worth going out to experience in theatres. Because most documentaries take years of dedication and hard work to produce there has to be a compelling drive from within the production team to bring the ‘idea’ to fruition and then once the film is made there needs to be a desire and person-power to do the additional outreach and impact work.

Since THE MESSENGER made its World Premiere at the Hot Docs International Film Festival and was released theatrically in the USA, (Dec. 2015) then started touring across Canada in 2016, there have been lots of good reviews and positive feedback so we know we have met some of our goals.

Now we are asking ourselves – has the film had the impact we want it to? We are not sure yet.

We love it when we hear how other people have been inspired by our film to create other new artworks!

Bridget Polei, a BFA Ballet student at The University of Oklahoma (which has one of the top university ballet programs in the USA) wrote to tell us she was inspired after watching The Messenger on US Netflix to create and choreograph an original ballet set for 3 dancers. She says it combines the gracefulness of ballet and the beauty of birds to personify the struggles songbirds face as they migrate. Her original dance set debuted in January as part of the Young Choreographers Showcase at the Elsie C. Brackett Theatre in Norman, Oklahoma. Bridget says “I loved all the beauty and inspiration the documentary brought to my artistic process.”

Some testimonials from screening hosts indicate the film is doing its job in awareness building of environmental issues. Recently Hugh Powell, Science Editor for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology Communications Dept. had this to say about a screening in Pittsfield, MA where he moderated for the Mass. Audubon Society.

“Just wanted to let you know that The Messenger had a very good reception last night in a nearly full auditorium with about 110 people in attendance. Listening to people’s reactions during the film, I heard a couple of gasps at the sight of all those birds in the 9/11 lights, a giggle at the first shot of the German DJ with his laptop in the stream, warm recognition of the White-throated Sparrow song and the Scarlet Tanager shot, a few wriggles of discomfort when the woman eats the Ortolan Bunting, and a chorus of appreciative laughs at the motmot’s tail ticking. At the end there was silence and then applause.” .

Hugh goes on to say the Q&A was lively and lasted for about 30 minutes. ” People asked lots of questions about how the different sources of decline compare to each other in magnitude, what they could do to help stem the declines themselves, and a few perceptive questions about details that the film brought up (like why don’t Purple Martins just change their schedule at the same rate that climate is changing)”.

We have heard from people who knew nothing about birds that they feel differently about songbirds after they see it, and many have a greater appreciation for their role in the bio-diversity of the planet. Conservation Groups have told us the film makes explaining their field work easier too.

At the time of writing this blog post, THE MESSENGER has played in over 210 theatres in North America, including many screenings at regular cinemas. It has been selected for numerous international film festivals and the film continues to be in demand for TUGG theatrical-on- demand and community event screenings. People are also watching it at home via Netflix and iTunes in the USA and documentary channel and iTunes in Canada.

We expect UK and Australian Audiences will have access to see the film soon.

The Messenger will be having its Central American premiere at Cinema Planet in Mexico in May.

We believe THE MESSENGER is making an impact, and we know it has started an important conversation about what humans are doing to wildlife and birds. Measuring the real impact of a film is a slow and evolving process, so we are continuing to gather data. We hope you continue to talk about and share the film, in your community, on campus and in the schools. Together we can all make a difference.

If you have an impact story about our film to share, or The Messenger has inspired you to do something special, please get in touch. We would love to hear from you!

Joanne Jackson, Producer of The Messenger. joanne@songbirdsos.com

SongbirdSOS

Birding in a Pandemic

Related posts:

Pesticides Make Migrating Birds Lose their Way

What surprised us was how sensitive and rapid the effects were, particularly to imidacloprid.

Related posts:

The Ortolan Bunting Will Finally Be Off the Menu in France!

“We have won our battle against Ortolan Bunting trapping and the phenomenon is basically wiped out from Les Landes.”

The French Ministry of the Environment requested guidelines to study the Ortolans on a continental scale.

Frédéric Jiguet and his colleagues research work helped convince French Ecology Minister, Nicolas Hulot, to call for a definitive end to the hunting. This was followed up in the field with a high pressure from the police this past fall, so there are now very few poachers.

Related posts:

The Messenger Takes Flight in the UK!

Related posts:

How do you know a film is making an impact?

Related posts: