Got Bird Nests? Report to NestWatch

Citizen-science data vital for breeding-bird studies

Ithaca, NY—Around the world, birds are building nests and raising families—even near homes, offices, or in local parks. Anyone who finds a bird’s nest can help scientists by reporting to the free NestWatch project at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. NestWatch collects, analyzes, and distributes data, serving as a warehouse of nesting bird information. NestWatchers, in turn, get to witness the start of new life and help to preserve it with their valuable information.

NestWatch participant
A NestWatcher reports a nest from a birdhouse in upstate New York. Photo by Chelsea Benson.

“Every year, scientists use data collected by NestWatchers in published studies,” says Robyn Bailey, NestWatch project leader. “For example, in 2018, two studies examined the effects of spring temperatures on the timing of nesting activities, and showed that birds nest earlier when spring temperatures are warmer. Such studies help add to our understanding of how climate change can affect the lives of birds.”

Those who find a nest can report its location, the species using it, number of eggs laid, and other important milestones as the adult birds incubate, raise, and fledge their young. The NestWatch website and mobile app now accept reports submitted from anywhere in the world, enabling scientists to compare birds across their global breeding range. Read more

Wildlife

New Syntech Defense Loads

From the No. 1 Brand in Handgun Ammunition, Federal is proud to introduce new Syntech Defense. These loads produce dynamic terminal performance with a hollow-point bullet that separates into three segments and a deep-penetrating core on impact. Shipments of Syntech Defense ammunition have been delivered to dealers.

The original Syntech changed the range forever. Now, the technology is also revolutionizing protection. The bullet in Syntech Defense has a core that penetrates 12 to 18 inches through bare ballistics gel and heavy clothing — a critical benchmark in self-defense situations and the best terminal performance of any round in its class. The segments create three secondary wound channels, each more than 6 inches deep, adding to the terminal effect.

Like all Syntech loads, an advanced polymer jacket eliminates lead and copper fouling and drastically reduces damaging heat and friction in the barrel. Its Federal exclusive Catalyst primer provides hot, extremely reliable ignition without the use of lead. Read more

Ammunition

MSU, DNR seek wildlife disease research proposals, emphasis on chronic wasting disease

As a part of a joint wildlife disease initiative, Michigan State University and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources are seeking grant proposals for collaborative research, education and outreach projects to address the most important issues around wildlife disease in Michigan, especially chronic wasting disease in deer.

“Michigan is not alone in this fight against CWD; many other states are trying to better understand these same issues,” said DNR Wildlife Chief Russ Mason. “Collaboration with other states and agencies that leverages available data, knowledge and programming to advance the rate of discovery and impact of work is encouraged.” Read more

Wildlife

Bond Arms: Snake Slayer is the Ultimate Outdoor Protection

Granbury, TX – The beauty and solitude of the wilderness draw millions to enjoy our nation’s fields and forest every year. The outdoors can turn unpredictable. Dangers such as snakes, wild animals and even human threats can all turn a fun day outside into a frightening, even dangerous, ordeal. For this reason, many outdoor-goers prefer to tote a sidearm whenever venturing out alone. Compact, but extremely accurate, Bond Arms’ Snake Slayer™ is ideal for outdoor protection. It’s no wonder it’s the company’s most popular firearm model.

The Snake Slayer is chambered for both .357 Mag. and .38 Special loads and is available in a version that handles both .45 Colt and .410 loads as well. For those shooters who like options without too much extra expense, the barrels are easily swapped out with additional barrels available from Bond Arms, including one in .22 caliber. Regardless, all Snake Slayers feature a cross-bolt safety, retracting firing pins, a full trigger guard, and a spring-loaded cammed-locking lever. Read more

Firearms

Rock River Arms Shipping BT-9 9mm Series

Pistols and Carbine models feature GLOCK® magazine compatibility

Colona, IL – Rock River Arms, one of the industry’s most respected names in Modern Sporting Rifles and pistols, is now shipping a new series of semi-autos chambered in 9x19mm. Designed to work with GLOCK® style magazines for optimal cross-compatibility with GLOCK back-up carry pistols, the BT-9 series takes shooting fun and personal defense systems to new levels.

The BT-9 models are based on RRA’s billet aluminum lower receiver with a GLOCK-compatible flared magazine well. Integral to the lower receiver is a unique winter-style trigger guard that offers comfortable room for the trigger finger when wearing tactical or cold-weather gloves. Also, a common feature to all BT-9 models is RRA’s latest extruded aluminum upper receiver. The pistols are standard with RRA Lightweight Free-Float M-LOK-compatible handguards. Read more

Firearms

Stevens 555E Over-and-Under 16-Gauge

WESTFIELD, Massachusetts –– Stevens’ new 555 Enhanced doles out world-class over-and-under performance — and now does it in 16-gauge. Shipments of these firearms have been delivered to dealers.

The field- and trap-tested platform is light and handles fast, thanks to a lightweight aluminum receiver that’s scaled to gauge and reinforced by a steel insert. It’s also loaded with features, including a stylish Turkish walnut stock and chrome-lined, 28-inch carbon steel barrels.

Features

  • New 16-gauge offering
  • Chrome-lined carbon steel barrels
  • Turkish walnut stock
  • Lightweight aluminum receiver with tang-mounted safety
  • Single selective mechanical trigger
  • Manual extractors
  • Five interchangeable choke tubes

The available model list below also includes the standard 555 blued receiver without engraving option.

Part No. / Description / MSRP

22179 / 555 Enhanced 16-gauge, 28-inch barrel / $879

22178 / 555 16-gauge, 28-inch barrel / $705 Read more

Firearms

Applied Ballistics Weapons Division EnABELR Cartridges

Cedar Springs, MI – New for 2019, Applied Ballistics Weapons Division (ABWD) is proud to announce the release of the new EnABELR (Engineered by Applied Ballistics for Extreme Long Range) cartridge. The EnABELR is a medium capacity, magazine feedable cartridge available in both .375 and .338 caliber.

The .375 caliber version of the EnABELR has been selected for Phase 2 of the Extreme Sniper Strike Operations (ESSO) program, a government funded project to develop a high performance, extreme long-range sniper weapon system [link to original ESSO PR].

Bryan Litz, Chief Ballistician for Applied Ballistics and Berger Bullets states that: “The EnABELR Cartridge and the new Berger .375 caliber Solids [http://www.bergerbullets.com/berger-bullets-announces-new-elr-match-solid-projectiles/] were optimized for use in the ESSO application which requires high performance, as well as reliability over many rounds in adverse conditions. In addition to meeting the needs of the military, these are also favorable properties for the serious competition shooter as well.” Read more

Ammunition

Fish Monkey’s new Performance Face Guard

Destin, FL – Wear it and forget it’s there. That’s the overwhelming consensus from anglers who have already slipped a new face-protecting garment under their hats.

Fish Monkey, renowned for the “second skin fit” of its high-grade fishing gloves, recently released its equally comfortable Performance Face Guard. Concepted, crafted and tailored to the same exacting, angler-friendly standards as its popular Guide Series gloves, Fish Monkey’s Face Guard lightly cools the skin, while wrapping your face and neck in total sun-protection. Read more

Fishing

Study: Some Woodpeckers Imitate a Neighbor’s Plumage

Study: Some Woodpeckers Imitate a Neighbor’s Plumage
Worldwide, even distantly related species can evolve nearly identical looks

Ithaca, NY—In the first global test of the idea, scientists have found evidence that some woodpeckers can evolve to look like another species of woodpecker in the same neighborhood. The researchers say that this “plumage mimicry” isn’t a fluke—it happens among pairs of distantly related woodpeckers all over the world. The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, was conducted by researchers at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, SUNY Buffalo State, the University of British Columbia, and Manchester University.

“Habitat, climate, and genetics play a huge role in the way feather color and pattern develop,” explains lead author Eliot Miller at the Cornell Lab. “Species in similar environments can look similar to one another. But in some cases, there’s another factor influencing the remarkable resemblance between two woodpecker species and that’s mimicry. It’s the same phenomenon found in some butterflies which have evolved markings that make them look like a different bad-tasting or toxic species in order to ward off predators.”

examples of woodpecker plumage mimicry from around the world
Around the world there are several pairs of woodpeckers that look alike, but aren’t closely related. Research led by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Eliot Miller documented this doppelganger phenomenon around the world among pairs of woodpecker species that genetically diverged millions of year ago. Miller says the mechanism is plumage mimicry—one species evolving to look like another in order to gain some benefit. In the case of smaller-sized doppelgangers, they may be evolving to look like their bigger twins so that they can gain some of the dominance benefits associated with a larger, more aggressive bird. Graphic by Jillian Ditner/Cornell Lab of Ornithology; bird illustrations above and below courtesy of Handbook of Birds of the World Alive, Lynx Edicions.

Study authors combined data on feather color, DNA sequences, eBird reports, and NASA satellite measures of vegetation for all 230 of the world’s woodpecker species. It became clear, Miller says, that there have been repeated cases of distantly related woodpeckers coming to closely resemble each other when they live in the same region of the globe. Read more

Wildlife
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