Rare Hummingbird Seen Again

A male Santa Marta Sabrewing photographed on territory by Yurgen Vega (SELVA ProCAT archives).
The rediscovery of the Santa Marta Sabrewing is being celebrated by birders, ornithologists, and conservationists around the world. An experienced local birder in Colombia found and documented a male Santa Marta Sabrewing, a relatively large hummingbird only found in Colombia’s Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains. It’s only the second time the species has been documented since it was first described in 1946; the last sighting was in 2010, when researchers were able to take the first-ever photos of the species in the wild.
The Santa Marta Sabrewing is so rare and elusive that it is considered one of the rarest birds in the world.“This sighting was a complete surprise, but a very welcome one,” said Yurgen Vega, who made the rediscovery while studying endemic birds in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. “As I was leaving the area where I had been working, a hummingbird caught my attention. I looked with my binoculars and was shocked to see that it was a Santa Marta Sabrewing! And in an incredible stroke of luck the hummingbird perched on a branch, giving me time to take photos and video of it.”Vega made the rediscovery while working with SELVA, ProCAT Colombia, and the World Parrot Trust to study endemic birds in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is the world’s tallest coastal mountain massif and home to rich communities of wildlife, including 24 species of birds that are found nowhere else. Read more
Wildlife

Michigan Steelhead Survey

Steelhead survey – share your input

We are conducting a brief survey to learn more about steelhead anglers. The survey’s purpose is to gather input from anglers to better understand your priorities and experiences, particularly in Michigan. Your answers are important to us.

The survey should only take 10 minutes to complete, and your answers will remain anonymous.

Take survey 

Fishing

RECOIL OFFGRID Releases Issue 51 With a Focus on Terrorism Preparation

APPLETON, Wis. – RECOIL OFFGRID Magazine, a publication of CMG West, LLC, has released its latest issue, number 51, with an emphasis on preparing for terrorist events.

As you read this, babies born on or immediately after Sept. 11 will be old enough to have their first beer. Like most of you, I can still remember exactly where I was and what I was doing that day — and it certainly doesn’t feel like 21 years ago. In a bitterly ironic twist of timing, we’re also passing the one-year anniversary of the fall of the Afghan capital of Kabul to Taliban forces. Watching a decades-long campaign that cost close to 3,000 American lives crumble on live TV in a matter of days was a tough pill for many people to swallow — particularly those of us who spent a significant amount of time there, or who had loved ones killed or wounded. In the aftermath of such a shocking turn of events, the self-reflection that our politicians and mainstream media outlets are trying to avoid led us back to a singular question: Are we safer from terrorism now than we were on September 10, 2001?

The answer is going to be personal for each of us, but I cannot in good conscience say “yes.” When you combine this with the stark reality that many law enforcement agencies around the country have been gutted by attrition and restricted by policies resulting from the events of the last two years, we face an equally severe but more immediate question: Where does that leave you and your loved ones? It is this question on which our brand is built. Read more

Self Defense

It’s time to check trees for invasive Asian longhorned beetle

August is a great time to enjoy the outdoors, and it’s also the best time to spot the invasive Asian longhorned beetle as adults emerge from trees. That’s why the U.S. Department of Agriculture is declaring August as “Tree Check Month.” Checking trees for the beetle and the damage it causes is one way you can protect trees and help the USDA’s efforts to eliminate this beetle from the United States.

The Michigan departments of Agriculture and Rural Development; Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy; and Natural Resources are joining the USDA in asking people to take just 10 minutes this month to check trees around homes for the beetle or any signs of damage.

The Asian longhorned beetle, or ALB for short, is a non-native wood-boring beetle considered invasive in North America because it attacks 12 types of hardwood trees, including maples, elms, horse chestnuts, birches and willows. Here, there are no predators or diseases to keep ALB populations in check. In its larval stage, the insect feeds inside tree trunks and branches during the colder months. The beetle creates tunnels as it feeds, and then it chews its way out as an adult in the warmer months.

Infested trees do not recover and eventually die. They also can become safety hazards since branches can drop and trees can fall, especially during storms.

You can help

Although this invasive beetle has not yet been discovered in Michigan, it is crucial we keep an eye out for it. Discovering early signs of infestation can prevent widespread damage to the state’s forest resources, urban landscapes and maple syrup production. Read more
Wildlife

Gardening for Late Summer Birds

It’s berry season for birds; does your yard offer native foods for a variety of species, such as this California Scrub Jay? (photo by Paul Konrad)
This manicured yard provides a beautiful space for the homeowners, while providing attractive cover and foraging space for birds.
A bird bath is an essential element in this garden area and in any birder’s landscaped yard.

Our gardens and landscaping add color and a wealth of natural elements to our yards, and these areas attract birds that infuse action, color, songs, and behavior into our yards. As another change in seasons approaches, it’s an opportunity make a few easily improvements for local and migrant songbirds and hummingbirds that will be the first wave of fall migration. With a little thought, planning, and effort, you can attract and benefit birds on their way south, including species you haven’t seen before in your yard.

At this time our gardening activities can also benefit recent fledglings as they disperse, along with dispersing yearlings, adults, and family groups. Some migrants are already making their way south, and many more will follow. Bird populations are at an annual high now after the nesting season, so if we can increase the resources they find in our yards, we can improve the potential for survival among birds during this important time of the year.

First of all, consider the way you provide water. A dependable fresh water source will draw birds like a magnet while providing all important drinking and bathing water. One or more bird baths will do, as simple or as ornate as you please. Some people like to have one as part of their feeding station, plus one in a garden area or as a centerpiece in their backyard or front. The motion and sound of the dripping water is irresistible to many birds too, and it helps birds locate a water source, bringing birds to your yard that might otherwise pass by. And a mister will attract some enjoyable hummingbird action as they fly through the mist. Read more

Wildlife

HAYMARKET, Va. (August 8, 2022)—SK Customs® gives back to honor those who have sacrificed and served for our great nation by launching the 240th Anniversary Purple Heart Commemorative firearm on their behalf. This limited-edition design of the Government Model Colt 1911 Series 70 chambered in .45ACP has been created in honor of the Military Badge of Merit, the modern-day Purple Heart Medal and those who have received it.

The origins of the Purple Heart Medal trace back to August 1782 (240 years ago) when General George Washington issued the Badge of Military Merit. This medal was bestowed whenever any singular meritorious action was performed. In 1932, the award was reintroduced as the Purple Heart Medal to commemorate bravery and wounded soldiers. Today, the Purple Heart is awarded for a wide variety of injuries; this includes combat injuries and deaths, those wounded in acts of terrorism and other reasonings. Read more

Firearms

Pope and Young Introduces Kevin Hisey Youth Program

New Program Honors Former Executive Director Kevin Hisey

August 9th, 2022 – Pope and Young, America’s leading bowhunting conservation organization is excited to announce the development of the Kevin Hisey Youth Program. These programs are designed to increase opportunities for youth within Pope and Young and their conservation efforts focused on preserving, promoting, and protecting the sport of bowhunting.

Pope & Young is dedicated to promoting the sport of bowhunting with today’s youth through outreach programs, the Junior Outdoors Program, and the Youth Bowhunting Awards. The goal of all these initiatives is to expose young hunters to the joys of fair chase bowhunting, with the hope of creating bowhunters for life.

The Kevin Hisey Youth Program is named in honor of Kevin Hisey a highly respected employee of Pope & Young since 1992, and former Executive Director for 15 years, the longest tenure in that role in Pope & Young’s history. Kevin who had an unapparelled passion for bowhunting and youth participation passed away in 2015.

“Kevin was a passionate bowhunter and conservationist, dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of bowhunting, and promoting the ethics of fair chase,” stated Kurt Ebers, President of Pope & Young. “He was an Official Measurer, Senior Member of the Pope & Young Club, and was always involved in the organization’s youth activities, and we couldn’t be prouder to name the Youth Program in his honor.”

The newly developed Junior Outdoors Program is possible through partnerships with private donors, and awards big game hunts, and other prize packages to Pope & Young Youth members on an annual basis.

Like their adult counterparts, Pope & Young Youth members are eligible for their own awards program via the Youth Bowhunting Awards. Three bowhunting awards were created specifically for Youth members, First Harvest, Youth Big 3 and Small Game Slam.

“There are tons of reasons why a youth hunter should join the Pope & Young, and be active,” said Ricky Krueger, Pope & Young Youth Director. “They’ll be in great company to advance their bowhunting skills and interact with other youth bowhunters from all over North America.”

For more information about the Pope & Young Youth Programs, please visit the below pages: Membership information or sign up, Junior Outdoors Program, or Youth Bowhunting Awards. Read more

Archery, Hunting

Leica Sport Optics Marks 30 Years of Pioneering Rangefinding with Remastered Geovid R Series

Leading German optics brand Leica Sport Optics has relaunched its renowned Geovid R series, 30 years after this pioneering combination of optical performance and precision laser rangefinder technology was first unveiled to the public. The perfect premium entry-level rangefinding binoculars with a value driven price point and all new look and feel, the Geovid R series has been updated with a new ergonomic design which puts the controls perfectly at the fingertips of the user. The low weight and compact design, combined with Leica’s best-in-class optics and precise laser technology means the relaunched Geovid R series is a reliable companion for hunters and shooters in any landscape and environment.

There are four models of rangefinding binoculars in the remastered Geovid R series, 8×42, 10×42, 8×56 and 15×56, to deliver accuracy over close, mid and long-range distances and in low light. The precision and quality at this value will ensure everyone from bowhunters to long range shooters can replace guesswork with accuracy in the field. With a measurement range of 2,000+ yds/1,800+ m and the Equivalent Horizontal Range (EHR) ballistics function giving the user significantly greater certainty of a well-placed shot, at any angle, these are the ideal rangefinding binoculars for anyone entering the Leica Geovid world. Users can now easily switch between distance measurement readings of yards and meters. Read more

Optics

Four Peaks Tactical Introduces 11.3” Pistol and SBR in 300 HAM’R

Scottsdale, Arizona August 8, 2022– Four Peaks Tactical, a firearms manufacturer and retail gun store located in Scottsdale, Arizona, is proud to announce a new pistol or short barreled rifle variant of the company’s popular 300 HAM’R AR-15 16” Carbine. The new 11.3” barreled firearm was designed at the request of a law enforcement agency that was looking for a harder-hitting “breacher” caliber but one that retained the light weight and compactness of an AR-15 entry carbine.

The SAAMI approved 300 HAM’R cartridge, designed by the legendary Bill Wilson of Wilson Combat, borrows its DNA from the 300 Blackout concept but is maximized to shoot 30 caliber bullets from 95 to 150 grains at supersonic velocities only…nothing subsonic. A slightly longer case and shorter bullets result in a hard-hitting combo that can launch 130-grain bullets at 2500 fps from an 18” barrel and still fit in standard AR-15 magazines. Four Peaks Tactical is an authorized distributor of Wilson Combat products and is proud to use many of the company’s excellent barrels, receivers and other accessories when building firearms for sporting, home defense or law enforcement purposes.

“Our new 11.3 inch carbine in 300 HAM’R provides excellent terminal performance, delivering more than twice the bullet weight of standard M193 or M855 5.56mm projectiles and launched with a muzzle velocity of approximately 2300 feet per second” said Ted Malone, co-founder of Four Peaks. “It is 100% American-made and meticulously crafted by our veteran-owned family enterprise here in Arizona” he added. Read more

Firearms

Tisas “Tank Commander” Model 1911

Knoxville based Tisas, a premium supplier of 1911-style pistols, introduces the latest version of their popular Tanker model called the Tank Commander. Built using the forged frame and slide their pistols are known for, the Tank Commander is a perfect blend of nostalgic military aesthetics with some subtle modern enhancements that will satisfy both service pistol fans and concealed carry enthusiasts. Read more

Firearms
1 … 611 612 613 614 615 … 2,071