BirdCast develops and maintains some remarkable tools that allow you to monitor bird migration and inform yourself about migration forecasts. Information gleaned from weather radar were essential to develop and maintain BirdCast tools. One tool provides live radar bird migration maps that show where birds are migrating in real time. Another tool maps forecasted bird migration that predicts where and when migration will take place during a given night. A third tool provides migration alerts that you can subscribe to and find out when bird migrations are forecast.

Fall migration is an exciting period for all birders, and the synchrony between weather conditions, especially wind and the movements of fronts, can be helpful in understanding and appreciating nightly bird migrations and predicting upcoming migration activities. Birders will enjoy checking in on these interesting migration maps periodically, if not nightly.

Live Bird Migration Maps: Real-time analysis maps show intensities of actual nocturnal bird migration, as detected by US weather surveillance radar network from local sunset to sunrise. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology currently produces these live maps that you can refer to anytime online (link below).

Bird Migration Forecast Maps: Bird migration forecast maps show predicted nocturnal migration three hours after local sunset and are updated every six hours. These forecasts are created by computer models trained with the last 23 years of bird movements in the atmosphere as detected by the US NEXRAD weather surveillance radar network. In these models the Global Forecasting System (GFS) is used to predict suitable conditions for bird migration occurring three hours after local sunset. Colorado State University and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology currently produce these forecasts.

Local Bird Migration Alerts: Search with the local migration alert tool to determine whether birds are passing overhead near your home tonight in low, medium, or high densities. BirdCast provides live and local bird migration alerts throughout the continental United States by employing real-time analysis of bird migration activities detected by radar.

For more about these exciting BirdCast features and other elements that are sure to enhance your interest and understanding of fall migration as its happening, see https://birdcast.info/migration-tools/

Engaging the nation to raise awareness and support for monarch habitat

St. Paul, MN –Coinciding with the fall monarch migration, Pheasants Forever and the Monarch Joint Venture are hosting a national virtual Miles for Monarchs event September 5th-12th to raise awareness around the spectacular fall migration of monarch butterflies, while raising much-needed funding to support population recovery.

Miles for Monarchs is an exciting way to support monarch butterflies and associated pollinator habitat through athletic activities. By way of running, walking, biking, hiking, or paddling through monarch regions of the United States, individuals and teams can support funding for research, education, and habitat projects for monarch butterflies across North America. Funds raised through this virtual event will support national scale efforts through the Monarch Joint Venture and Pheasants Forever, as well as more localized support for their participating chapters and partners.

“Miles for Monarchs is such a fun and easy way to enjoy any type of exercise you love and see if together we can collect enough miles to simulate the migratory journey of monarchs each fall,” says Wendy Caldwell, Executive Director of the Monarch Joint Venture. “Please join our campaign to help spread awareness and inspire action in your community to support our pollinators and the habitat that they rely on.” Read more

ATHENS, GA (August 21, 2020) – Traveling out of state to hunt this fall? Do you know if you’ll be hunting in a chronic wasting disease (CWD) zone? You can easily find out using the free CWD map layer in the onX Hunt App, the leader in mobile mapping technology for outdoor adventures. The Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) partnered with onX in 2018 to create the information layer that can help deer hunters fight the spread of CWD, and the group works with onX to update the layer immediately whenever CWD is detected in new counties.

The CWD layer is included free for all who purchase the onX Hunt App. When the nationwide layer is activated, it highlights in red each county where the disease has been confirmed. Tapping or clicking inside any affected county will pull up the QDMA’s CWD web page for additional information.

For more information on the CWD map layer: https://www.onxmaps.com/hunt-app/features/cwd-map Read more

Public can help by texting “SENDWATER” to 41444

PHOENIX — Water is the essence of life, and it’s just as precious for Arizona’s wildlife.

For that reason, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) has trucked and airlifted about 250,000 gallons of life-sustaining water to catchments throughout the state since January.

Trail cameras document the results of this critical work, with footage of elk, deer, bighorn sheep and other species leaning over for a refreshing drink at one of 3,000 catchments maintained by AZGFD.

“Water catchments don’t discriminate; they’re used by all wildlife from big game to some of the smallest squirrels, lizards, birds, bats and even bees,” said Joseph Currie, AZGFD habitat planning program manager, who oversees the department’s water-catchment efforts.

“Our crews typically stop hauling water in August after monsoon rains refill much of our water catchments. However, due to this extreme drought, we haven’t stopped. We anticipate having to haul more than 800,000 gallons of water this year.” Read more

Michigan communities have an opportunity to provide education, improve management and help people connect to forests in towns and cities through grants from the DNR’s Urban and Community Forestry program.

“These grants support management, education, maintenance, planting and awareness of community forests,” said program coordinator Kevin Sayers.

A total of up to $100,000 in federal grant funding is available. Applicants may request up to $20,000 in reimbursable, matching grant funds, based on project type. A one-to-one match is required and can be non-federal cash and/or in-kind services. Read more

Last week a federal judge upheld the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, halting attempted changes to the letter of the most important bird protection legislation ever passed. United States District Court Judge Valerie Caproni ruled that the legal opinion that serves as the basis for the Trump administration rollback of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) does not align with the intent and language of the 100 year old law. In her ruling, Judge Caproni found that the policy “runs counter to the purpose of the MBTA to protect migratory bird populations” and is “contrary to the plain meaning of the MBTA.”

The ruling makes it clear that the administration must halt its attempt to roll back the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Last week’s decision comes in response to a series of lawsuits filed in 2018 by eight state governments and several national conservation groups, including the National Audubon Society. To review Audubon’s news release, see https://www.audubon.org/news/victory-federal-judge-rules-administrations-bird-killing-policy-illegal You can also review the legal decision at https://nas-national-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/2020-08-11_mbta_decision.pdf

MISSOULA, Mont. — The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation furthered its financial commitment to defeat a Colorado ballot proposal (formally known as Initiative 107) driven by environmentalists ignoring what is going on around them.

“We have said this from the beginning and nothing has changed. Using the ballot box to circumvent professional wildlife managers and create wildlife management policy is reckless. On top of that, now more than ever, it’s fiscally irresponsible,” said Kyle Weaver, RMEF president and CEO. “Proponents continue to push for millions in new public spending for a forced and totally unnecessary wolf introduction even though wolves are already confirmed on the ground and taxpayer money to fund it simply is not available.”

The Colorado legislature recently made a series of drastic spending cuts to deal with a $3 billion budget shortfall triggered by the coronavirus. Those cuts included $448 million from K-12 education and $493 million from higher education. It also made other significant cuts and cancelled four planned tax breaks even as legislators say the outlook for the state’s 2021 budget looks bleak.

“Dollars aside, a lot of people don’t realize the impact this measure would have on wildlife. Of the state’s 64 statewide elk and deer units that are already under population objective, 54 of those are west of the Continental Divide, ground zero for the proposed wolf introduction. Colorado’s outdoor industry would absolutely see a significant negative financial impact. It currently generates $1.85 billion annually,” added Weaver. Read more

Bozeman, MT — The Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF) today announced a historic day for wild sheep in Montana. Two new trap and transplant projects were approved by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (MTFWP), as well as a conservation easement agreement in prime bighorn sheep habitat.

“This was a big day for us and all our partners and supporters who work tirelessly for wild sheep,” said Kurt Alt, Conservation Director for Montana and International Sheep and Goat Programs for WSF. “We thank MTFWP and the Fish and Wildlife Commission for moving forward with these reintroduction efforts that will begin this fall in Montana’s Little Belt Mountains, and wild sheep restoration in the Tendoy Mountains.

The Commission also approved the Lone Tree Conservation easement in bighorn sheep Hunting District 680. With this 11,285-acre conservation easement, the land will remain in private ownership and agricultural management, while preserving critical habitat for wild sheep and other species and ensuring public hunting access for future generations. Read more

MISSOULA, Mont. — Colorado’s wildlife is receiving a $2,571,838 boost thanks to funding provided by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and its partners. RMEF directly granted $611,000 and leveraged an additional $1,960,838 in partner dollars.

“These funds assist three research projects including one that helps biologists learn more about why elk recruitment is ailing and another focusing on how elk are impacted by human recreational activity,” said Blake Henning, RMEF chief conservation officer. “Habitat enhancement projects include forest thinning, prescribed burning and repairing water developments, all to help elk, deer and many other species of wildlife.”

Fourteen projects will benefit 18,911 acres across Archuleta, Costilla, Custer, Delta, Eagle, El Paso, Fremont, Garfield, Grand, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Jackson, Las Animas, Mesa, Moffat, Montrose, Ouray, Pitkin, Pueblo, Rio Blanco, Routt, Saguache and San Miguel Counties. There are two additional projects of statewide benefit. Read more