Join Project FeederWatch with The Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Have you ever wanted to contribute to bird conservation? If so, did you know you can do just that from the comfort of your own backyard?

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, in conjunction with BirdStudies Canada, runs a program called Project FeederWatch which enables regular, everyday birdwatchers to participate in a national bird count. It began in the mid-1970s with 500 participants and now has over 15,000 participants. According to its website, Project FeederWatch is “a winter-long survey of birds that visit feeders at backyards, nature centers, community areas, and other locales in North America. FeederWatchers periodically count the birds they see at their feeders from November through early April and send their counts to Project FeederWatch.” The data collected “helps scientists track broadscale movements of winter bird populations and long-term trends in bird distribution and abundance.”

Anyone can participate in Project FeederWatch; all that’s required is an interest in birds. People of all birding skill levels participate including children, families, individuals, classrooms, retired persons, youth groups, nature centers, and bird clubs. To join Project FeederWatch, click here. 

There is a small annual participation fee of $15 to join, which helps pay for materials, staff support, web design, data analysis, and a year-end report (Winter Bird Highlights). Project FeederWatch is supported almost entirely by these fees so without the support of its participants, it wouldn't be possible for the project to continue.

Once joined, “participants receive a Research Kit, which contains instructions, a bird identification poster, a wall calendar, a resource guide to bird feeding, and a tally sheet—everything you need to start counting your birds. U.S. participants receive a subscription to the Lab of Ornithology’s newsletter, BirdScope, while Canadian participants receive Bird Studies Canada’s quarterly publication, BirdWatch Canada.” The Research Kits are shipped in the fall unless you sign up during the FeederWatch season, then it is shipped two weeks after you sign up. You must provide your own birdfeeders and birdseed.

Next, you need to designate a “count site” where you’ll consistently observe and count your birds. For your “count site” it’s easiest to choose obvious boundaries like a yard. Once you’ve decided on the “count site,” it’s time to start counting!

To count your birds, you will count birds that appear in your count site due to something you’ve provided such as plantings, food, or water. For each species of bird, only report the highest number of individuals you see in view at one time. By following this procedure, The Cornell Lab of Ornithology trusts that you will be certain to avoid counting the same bird twice. The amount of time you spend collecting data is completely up to you: bird-count days can occur in two consecutive days once every two weeks or once every week; it just depends on your preference. Afterwards, report your data either online on the website or by mail with paper data forms. The counting season runs each winter from the second Saturday in November to the first Friday in April. Sign-ups are accepted until February 28^th for the current counting season and begin on March 1^st for the upcoming counting season.

Project FeederWatch is an excellent way to get involved with bird conservation on the most basic level and have a large impact. The results of the data collected “are regularly published in scientific journals and are shared with ornithologists and bird lovers nationwide.” The data enables scientists to see where birds are as well as where they are not, thereby enabling scientists to generate the most accurate population maps. Furthermore, this data helps scientists track downward trends of birds facing decline and reveal which species may need special protection. So, get outside and get counting!

*All information regarding Project FeederWatch from “About FeederWatch” page. 

The Last Asiatic Cheetahs Of Iran

When we hear Iran mentioned in the news, the images that immediately come to mind are war torn cities and military fighting; however, there is so much more to Iran than we know. Thinking of Iran, the one image that doesn't enter my mind is a cheetah, but there are Asiatic Cheetahs living and surviving in Iran’s “vast central plateau” (Hunter, National Geographic). There are only about 100 individuals left in Iran so they are extreme rarities among the desert landscapes. According to Dr. Luke Hunter, President of Panthera, “Iranian cats are virtually invisible […] intensely shy […] and hovering on the edge of extinction, they are essentially impossible to see” (Hunter, National Geographic).

Recently, National Geographic magazine published amazing photographs of wild Asiatic cheetahs in Iran gathered from those taken by camera-traps.  National Geographic was only able to photograph these rare cats due to an 11-year conservation project by the Iranian Department of Environment. In 2001, the DoE with support from the United Nations Development Programme, began a long-term project to bring the cheetah back from the edge of extinction. The Conservation of the Asiatic Cheetah Project (CACP) provided their own help by labeling five landscapes as specially protected cheetah reserves and provided numerous resources to make them remain safe havens—dozen of cheetah guards, new vehicles, motorbikes, and other materials. (Hunter, National Geographic)

Back in 2001, most Iranians had no idea their country harbored some of the Earth’s last Asiatic cheetahs, but now in cooperation with Panthera and local partners, the CACP sets out to protect the last Iranian cheetahs by

mitigating the direct threats facing cheetahs and their prey; gathering ecological data on existing cheetah, other carnivore and prey populations; enhancing and empowering law enforcement officials to protect cheetahs and their prey, including seeking a reduction in the number of annual gun licenses issued in cheetah range; researching the ecology of cheetahs, other predators and their prey using camera traps and radio-collars; studying cheetah rangelands to determine the extent of competition for land between livestock and the cheetah’s wild ungulate prey; establishing environmental educational activities with local communities to improve attitudes towards cheetahs; and engaging with local communities, conservation organizations and government officials to collaboratively protect cheetah habitat. (Hunter, Panthera)

In the past, the Asiatic cheetah’s distribution “extended across the Middle East, Central Asia, north into southern Kazakhstan and southeast into India;” however, today the cheetah has been pushed from almost its entire Asiatic range except for the “small and critically endangered population in the Islamic Republic of Iran” (Hunter, Panthera). The roughly 100 Asiatic cheetahs left in the wild occupy the “arid, central plateau of Iran” and face major threats which include: “overhunting of cheetah prey, habitat degradation and direct poaching” (Hunter, Panthera).

It’s important to get the word out about these elusive cats and to grab the attention of conservation organizations worldwide; that’s why the camera trap photos are so pertinent to the cheetahs’ survival. Currently, “Iranian cheetahs live at the lowest density recorded anywhere for the species, one to two cats per 1,000 square kilometers; the same-size area on East African plains can hold 100 cheetahs” (Hunter, National Geographic). National Geographic magazine’s article provides “evidence of residency and breeding including terrific pictures of young cubs” (Hunter, National Geographic). So, even though the cheetahs are at exceptionally low numbers, the camera trap photographs of the cheetahs and cubs provide hope for future populations.

Dr. Luke Hunter hopes that “National Geographic’s wonderful photographs bring the predicament of this critically endangered cat to a new audience who, like most Iranians a decade ago, had never heard of the cheetah’s existence in the country” (Hunter, National Geographic).

References

Hunter, Luke, Dr. "Finding the Last Cheetahs of Iran." News Watch. National Geographic, 25 Oct. 2012.Web. 30 Oct. 2012. 

Hunter, Luke, Dr. "Finding the Last Cheetahs of Iran." Panthera, 25 Oct. 2012. Web. 30 Oct. 2012.

Aerial Drones and Conservation

When it comes to wildlife conservation, much of it involves scientists searching through exotic forests and jungles collecting population data, setting camera traps, and surveying the ecosystem. As important as all this is, it takes up a lot of time and money. So the newest option for conservationists is to use aerial drones to assist them in surveying specific areas for wildlife and for human encroachment in the habitat.

By putting ‘an eye in the sky’ it’s easier to view large herds of elephants in Africa or the effects of deforestation on a habitat. A team of scientists working in Indonesia created “inexpensive unmanned aerial vehicles (aka drone airplanes), to study critically endangered Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii) from above the treetops” (Platt). This technology is already being used in other conservation projects around the globe.

Serge Wich, a professor at the Research Center in Evolutionary Anthropology and Paleoecology at Liverpool John Moores University, says “autonomous drones can help scientists and conservationists to inexpensively collect timely, high-resolution data” (Platt). Wich and his partner, Lian Pin Koh, assistant professor of applied ecology and conservation at ETH Zurich, “have developed a lightweight drone system that costs about $2,000—including the batteries, software, cameras and flight stabilizers” (Platt). Other available drones are much more expensive and can cost up to $5,000, but Wich and Koh set up a website, ConservationDrones.org, to help others recreate the same technology around the world.

Wich and Koh first used their drones in Sumatra “to capture video and photographs of orangutans and elephants. The drones also came back with striking images of Sumatra’s deforestation, caused by logging and palm oil plantations” (Platt). They also captured “photographs of orangutan nests high in the trees, information that will help inform future conservation activities” (Platt).

In an interview for the Scientific American blog, when asked what he was trying to solve with these drones, Wich replied that “one of the main problems we have is that we’re almost always behind the facts on the ground.” He goes on to describe how the conservation areas are just so huge and difficult to monitor regularly so the need for drones is high. The drones are available whenever they want to send them out, whereas conducting ground surveys takes time for planning and execution and the cost is considerably higher.

The beauty of the drones is that conservation researchers can choose to fly them as often as they like; for example, drones can fly over the forest every month or every week to see what’s going on. Then if there are any illegal activities or encroachment going on they can inform the local authorities. Wich hopes drones will enable conservationists “to react much faster to changes on the ground” than before (Platt).

Photo of deforestation

Eventually, as the drone technology advances, Wich wants to receive “live feedback from the video” instead of how it is now where he does not get access to video or photos until the drone returns from its flight (Platt). The drones currently operate with an autopilot route, much like Google Maps, that the researcher can plot himself. The next step after live video footage would be thermal imaging attached to the drone software.

Another example of aerial drones used in conservation is the research Panthera is currently conducting for the Jaguar Corridor Initiative. According to Panthera’s September newsletter, “one of the greatest resources shaping [Panthera’s] groundwork is aerial surveys carried out within Panthera’s Jaguar Corridor Initiative—a program working to connect and protect jaguar populations from Mexico to Argentina to ensure the species’ genetic diversity and future survival” (Panthera).

The drones offer “a unique perspective of the jaguar’s range, and a level of detail unmatched by satellite imagery, aerial surveys allow Panthera’s scientists to truly view connectivity of the Jaguar Corridor, identify encroachments on the jaguar’s range and pinpoint habitat in which to focus Panthera’s future conservation efforts.” The main threats targeted by these aerial drones are “habitat loss and fragmentation caused by increasing human populations and developments.” They also supply Panthera scientists with images to “visually demonstrate” to political leaders how the Corridor actually connects the jaguars throughout their range (Panthera).

In addition to population data, habitat status, and the health of the ecosystem, researchers hope drones will enable faster response times for antipoaching patrols. Panthera believes “local communities and local violators are recognizing the potential of aerial surveys to uncover otherwise unidentifiable illegal activities, and allow improved enforcements of forest protection laws.” Drones will definitely have a massive impact on the effectiveness of wildlife conservation around the world.

References:

Platt, John R. "Eye in the Sky: Drones Help Conserve Sumatran Orangutans and Other Wildlife,  Extinction Countdown, Scientific American Blog Network." Scientific American Blogs., 27 Sept. 2012. Web. 28 Sept. 2012. <http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/2012/09/27/drones-help-conserve-sumatran-orangutans-wildlife/>.

"September 2012 Newsletter." Panthera. Web. 28 Sept. 2012. <http://www.panthera.org/september-2012-newsletter>.

Wildlife Bridges: The Animal Friendly Infrastructure

How many times have you had to slam on the breaks because an animal ran into the road? And how many of those times have your reflexes not been quick enough? Roadkill is a tragic reality of today’s car culture. According to Co.Design, vehicle-animal collisions cost Americans a massive $8 billion a year. That’s one expensive reality; however, innovative design can help.

In 2010, Balmori Associates, a New York City landscape design firm, proposed building simple, inexpensive wooden bridges over highways, then covering them in native vegetation to create a wildlife crosswalk. Each bridge would be so wide and the greenery so diverse, it would appear like an extension of the forest, and animals, the thinking goes, would be less inclined to cross the road, resulting in fewer accidents (Kuang, Co.Design). Following this proposal, Balamori Associates came up with the ARC International Wildlife Crossing Infrastructure Design Competition which was the “first-ever international design competition…intended to solve the problem of ensuring safe travel for humans and wildlife” (Kuang, Co.Design). The main idea is to keep the bridge as low-tech and cost-effective as possible so it can be constructed anywhere in the United States without disrupting the road or the environment. 

ARC—Animal Road Crossing—is an interdisciplinary partnership working to expedite new ways to create wildlife crossing structures. ARC’s primary goal is “to ensure safe passage for both humans and animals on and across our roads” (arc-solutions.org). These wildlife crossings or bridges will extend wildlife corridors and enable a variety of species safe passage across America’s highways. In other words, “ARC is working toward the (re)design of our highways so that the need for safe passage is met safely and efficiently while also maintaining the integrity and connectivity of our ecosystems, reducing our carbon footprint, minimizing the consumption of non-renewable materials, recycling resources and extending the life cycle of transportation infrastructure” (arc-solutions.org).          

An interesting fact, one that I was not aware of,  is that most of North America’s major highways generally go east-west while most wildlife movements tend to follow major landforms and topography which generally run north-south (arc-solutions.org) therefore increasing the need for wildlife crossings. When the proposed wildlife crossing structures are designed and built correctly they “act as a new, visible layer of functioning landscape, weaving over and under our highways, in and out of the natural landscape” (arc-solutions.org). Given the range and variety of species throughout North America, each wildlife crossing needs to cater to the specific needs of the species it is designed to protect. For example, some species prefer overpasses, while others prefer underpasses.              

When building wildlife bridges it’s important to remember that they are “typically shorter in span but much wider [than vehicle bridges]. They also necessarily include a thick layer of soil and vegetation—a landscaped surface—that must emulate local habitats” (arc-solutions.org). ARC recommends an inverted arc shape to the wildlife bridge because it conveys the feeling of a valley for animals and results in more light for drivers. Another aspect of the wildlife bridges is education; viewing platforms for the public to actually observe animals crossing the wildlife bridges at a safe distance will encourage support among the public. If people can see what the bridge is protecting they will be more inclined to encourage it.  ARC emphasizes that “wildlife crossings are being designed as living experiments, complete with data-gathering technologies built into the structure. Wildlife crossings offer rich potential for learning: infrared cameras installed at crossing sites capture and record animals in transit; web cams transmit real-time wildlife movement data to science labs and classrooms alike; and hand-held applications [such as smartphone apps] bring the data to passengers in a passing car” (arc-solutions.org). 

If we can manage to get large numbers of these wildlife crossings built, they could reduce animal-vehicle collisions between 80 and 100 percent if designed correctly; with time, ARC believes wildlife crossings can eliminate the problem and the cost of such collisions entirely (arc-solutions.org). Good news is, wildlife crossings may be closer than you think. President Obama just signed a transportation bill on July 6, 2012 that “includes important provisions that will allow states and federal agencies to retrofit roads and create wildlife crossing structures that help prevent wildlife from colliding with the motoring public. The wildlife-vehicle collision provisions address roads on federal and tribal lands, national parks, and state highways” (arc-solutions.org/news)

One easy way to help ARC understand where wildlife vehicle collisions occur most is to go online and share your Road Story here.

Also, to see examples of camera trap photos of animals using the wildlife bridges please visit here.

Reference:

“Can a Wildlife Bridge Fix America’s $8 Billion Roadkill Problem?” Co.Design. Ed. Cliff Kuang. N.p., 02 Dec. 2010. Web. 31 July 2012. http://www.fastcodesign.com/1662800/can-a-wildlife-bridge-fix-americas-8-billion-roadkill-problem.

Species Spotlight: Okapi

The Okapi or the “forest giraffe” is one species many people are not too familiar with.  Inhabiting the tropical rainforests of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the okapi was not discovered by scientists until 1901 and is found nowhere else in the world. In 1901, Sir Harry Johnston’s watercolor rendition of this elusive animal was done without actually seeing the animal first hand. Instead, he obtained pieces of striped skin and eventually a skull. Johnston first believed he was on the trail of some kind of forest-dwelling horse, but soon discovered the tracks were of some cloven-hoofed beast. As it turned out, the okapi is not a horse but a forest-dwelling relative of the giraffe. Scientists confirmed this in 1901 by studying the skull Johnston acquired. 

At first sight, the okapi resembles a horse but upon closer examination it’s similarities to the giraffe are easily seen. The okapi has a relatively long neck, yet nowhere near that of its giraffe relatives. The okapi’s tongue measures between 14-18 inches long. Like giraffes, they use their tongue to wrap around leaves and branches when eating, as well as to groom themselves and their calves. The forehead, neck, and body are brown, with light tan or grey on the animal’s cheeks, throat, and chest. Okapi hair is short, slightly oily to the touch and has a delicate scent. The hind limbs and upper forelegs have cross-stripes resembling those of a zebra while the lower limbs have white “socks” with brown lines going up the front to the knees, where there’s a brown band around each leg. Males have short hair-covered, rear-facing horns, females are slightly taller than the males, and both sexes have large free moving ears.

The distinguishing zebra-like markings on its backside and legs help camouflage the okapi in the forest. The stripes are meant to resemble streaks of sunlight passing through the trees above.

According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the okapi is categorized as “Near Threatened” meaning that based on recent data the species does not currently qualify for Critically Endangered, Endangered, or Vulnerable but is close to qualifying in the near future. Presently, the okapi population trend is stable; there are approximately 10,000 – 20,000 okapi in the wild and 42 in various zoological institutions worldwide as of 2011. Major threats to the okapi include small-scale human occupation of the forest as well as habitat loss from logging and human development.

The Okapi Wildlife Reserve, established in 1992, protects the habitat of the okapi and numerous other species, as well as local indigenous people, the Mbuti and Efe pygmies. The Reserve includes 13,700 square kilometers of the Ituri Forest in the northeastern portion of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1996, representing a global effort to preserve rare plant and animal life and human culture. The Reserve protects the Ituri lowland rainforest of the Congo River Basin and safeguards a healthy population of about 5,000 okapi, 4,000 elephants, 2,000 leopards, 13 primate species including chimpanzees, three species of crocodile, and many others such as forest buffalo, antelope, water chevrotain, and a variety of birds and insects.

The Okapi Conservation Project, including the Okapi Breeding and Research Station, works to provide a safe and stable environment for both the animals and people of the region. And the Institute in Congo for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN), a government agency of the Democratic Republic of Congo, works to protect the flora and fauna of the country. Working together, the conservationists and the government give all rainforest inhabitants of the Congo hope for a better future.

References:

Okapi Species page

IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group 2008. Okapia johnstoni. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.1. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 26 June 2012.

IUCN Near Threatened

Okapi Conservation Project

ARKive Okapi page

Celebrate Adopt a Shelter Cat Month

June is Adopt a Shelter Cat Month—the ASPCA sets aside June to celebrate all things kitty and to spread the message that cat adoption saves lives. The summer months, especially June, are the perfect time for adopting cats because it falls directly in the time when kittens are usually born in large numbers. I personally feel very strongly for adopting shelter cats because my cats are shelter cats. Adopting a shelter cat means rescuing that cat and giving it a forever home.

The ASPCA Store online has many t-shirts available that will allow you to show your love for your shelter cat or inspire others to adopt a shelter cat. And 40% of the purchase price of each item goes toward supporting the ASPCA. 

If your home is in need of a loving companion, you cannot go wrong with a shelter cat! Save a life, adopt a shelter cat!

Big Cats Roar for Wine

Spring and summer are the seasons to get outdoors and socialize among friends and family; why not also enjoy a nice glass of wine?

The Roar Reserve wine by Big Cat Rescue is a line of certified organic and vegan wines that also help big cats. Big Cat Rescue’s mission “is to provide a permanent home for the wildcats in [their] care and to educate the public in order to eliminate the causes of abandonment and abuse.” A portion of each sale goes directly to Big Cat Rescue’s efforts to save big cats. Depending on the size of your order, you can donate between $6 and $22.99 of the purchase price toward helping big cats in the wild and at Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, Florida. 

The wines available for purchase include: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Malbec, a Sampler package, and a Collector’s package. The prices range from $19.99 for one bottle to $117.95 for the Collector’s package of six bottles. Each bottle carries the face of a big cat on the label so feel free to choose your favorite big cat or the wine that appeals to your personal palate.

If you’re not a wine drinker at all, donate directly to Big Cat Rescue where 100% of your donations go straight to saving big cats.

For more information, visit Big Cat Rescue and BenefitWines. 

Snowy Owls in Sight?

I doubt I’m alone when I say that whenever I see a snowy owl, I can’t help but think of Hedwig from the Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling. In a way, Hedwig’s character has made children and adults more aware of snowy owls in the wild. These owls are described as “the most massive (greatest average weight) of the North American Owls and believed, by many, to be the most powerful” (Owling.com). The males “can be entirely immaculate white” but usually show a few “spots or bars of dark slatey brown or black on the crown, back, wings, and/or tail.”  Also, “his under parts are generally marked with narrow bars on the abdomen, flanks, and sides.” The female, on the other hand, is much more heavily barred in a blackish color and considerably larger than the male. “Only her face, center part of breast, and back of neck are unmarked white.” Compared with other owls, both the male and female snowy owls have small, brilliant yellow iris.  Snowy owls have feathered feet, large sharp talons, and dull black bills that are almost buried in its fluffy white feathers. And it’s almost totally silent outside its breeding grounds.

The Snowy Owl inhabits the northern tundra around the world. Generally, the Snowy Owl inhabits “areas of low sparse vegetation, open fields, moorland, valley floors, salt and poorly drained fresh water meadows. Its habitat is closely associated with the distribution of small rodents and in the case of breeding territory directly corresponds with the distribution of small rodents (especially lemming). In the winter months, snowy owls are often found in farming areas with open fields of low stubble, marshes, and even dunes” (Owling.com).

As Snowy Owls migrate south for the winter months, we may see many more than expected. According to Sierra magazine, 2012 may be the year of the snowy owl. This winter, researchers at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, have witnessed increased numbers of these birds of prey venturing farther south than usual. After summering in the northern tundra of the Arctic hunting and nesting, snowy owls normally migrate through Canada and the northern U.S. in the winter to search for food. Due to an abundance of prey (lemmings and small rodents) last summer, the snowy owl population experienced a growth which offset the predator-prey ratio. As a result, snowy owls are now experiencing greater competition for food. Therefore, the birds must fly farther south from their usual habitat to ensure better access to prey.

The rise in the snowy owl population is good news in itself, but it’s also great news for birders. The chance to get a glimpse of one of the largest owls on the planet as far south as Texas continues to occur through the end of April. So keep your eyes peeled and cameras at the ready!

All information regarding Snowy Owl biology from Owling.com

News article: Sierra Magazine

Eagle Conservation In Action

As our national emblem the bald eagle is the most iconic bird in the United States, symbolizing a strong and free America. In the past, the bald eagle was on the brink of extinction; however, recently the bald eagle has become more and more common. Don’t misunderstand though, the bald eagle is still a very rare sight but currently its population is holding strong and expanding.

In my home town of Richmond, Virginia, along the James River, there’s a pair of eagles nesting “in a solid top crotch, approximately 90 feet up in an isolated loblolly pine.” Researchers discovered this pair’s breeding territory in the spring of 1995. According to CCB Richmond Eagles on Ustream, one chick was produced in 1996 and the territory has been occupied ever since. The original nest was abandoned and the pair built their current nest in 2001. The pair has used this same nest for over 10 years and has produced 18 chicks since 2001, including 2 last year.

The Center for Conservation Biology explains on Ustream how “the bald eagle population along the historic James River has increased from zero pairs in the 1970s to 174 pairs in 2001 and is one of the best examples of how this species has made a dramatic recovery within the Chesapeake Bay.”

An article in The Daily Record describes how bald eagles reached such a desperate time and how they made their amazing comeback: “Residues of the pesticide DDT from the 1950s and 1960s were still causing thin, fragile eggshells that crushed under the weight of the adult eagles.” It was only with the help of conservation biologists, such as those of Endangered and Nongame Species, and the ban of DDT and other pesticides that bald eagles were given the opportunity to survive. And survival is definitely a challenge they’ve begun to overcome. According to a New Jersey bird count, “2011 was a banner year for reproduction, with 113 nesting pairs and 119 fledged chicks.” The January bird count “found well over 300 eagles making their homes in New Jersey.”

Back in Richmond, Virginia, CCB participates in an EagleMonitoring Program which has monitored the bald eagle breeding population in the lower Chesapeake Bay from the air for 50 years. As a result, CCB has produced one of the most significant conservation datasets in the world. Each year CCB biologist fly a nest survey in February and March to map eagle nests and to determine their activity status (CCB). CCB is also currently conducting an Eagle Tracking Project: “the largest eagle tracking study in the world focused on understanding eagle spatial ecology and how eagles interact with human-made hazards.”

To show your support for America’s bald eagles, donate to eagle research or share the live streaming eagle cam on Ustream.

Learn more about Virginia’s Eagles here.

View the Virginia Eagles Photo Gallery here.

Eat Chocolate…Save the Planet

Wouldn't it be great if eating chocolate meant helping the environment? Well, that’s exactly what happens when you buy Endangered Species Chocolate! The tag-line for this chocolate brand is “Savor chocolate. Save our planet.”

Endangered Species Chocolate offers “premium, all-natural, ethically traded, naturally shade grown chocolate products” that are guaranteed to contain beans purchased from family-owned properties where the income directly benefits the community. Furthermore, 10% of the company’s net profits are donated to fund species and habitat conservation efforts around the world.

Endangered Species Chocolate offers a variety of ways to give back through chocolate. For example, you can simply walk into any natural or conventional grocery store, large or small, throughout the U.S.A. and Canada to buy one chocolate bar.

Or, you can visit the Endangered Species Chocolate website for a larger commitment to conservation and appetite. Chocolates are available to buy in bulk, as party favors, or as a gift. Within the gift collections are special AWF (African Wildlife Foundation) collections that are a bit more expensive, but include a $15 donation to the African Wildlife Foundation as well as a 1-year AWF e-membership, an AWF plush animal (elephant, leopard, gorilla, lion, zebra, giraffe, rhino, wild dog, or wart hog) of your choice, and 3 Endangered Species All-Natural Chocolate Bars.

So, next time you’re craving something sweet, whether it’s one chocolate bar or a gift collection, put your taste buds to work for endangered species and their habitats!

*All information pertaining to Endangered Species Chocolate can be found here.