Black Footed Ferret Born into the Wild

So, I just spent a joyous several days with Scott; I love it when he comes down for a longer visit! In addition to cooking together, watching a couple movies sharing interests in music (I guess I have a pretty good collection), and a cool hike up at the Bear & Blue Lakes...he got a chance to see a world-class view when we hiked up to the top of Cordova Pass. I am nearly paralyzed by heights and such grand open spaces that are up that high (yeah, irrational, I know...), but the easy hike gave him lots of prospective future hikes without me. Yippieeeeee!

So, in honor of the wilderness we felt grateful to witness, I thought I'd put up a recent discovery that should surely give everybody warm fuzzies:

September 2009

After 75 years without a sighting, a wild-born black footed ferret has been found in New Mexico! The ferret was discovered in north-central New Mexico on the Vermejo Park Ranch. The ferret is the offspring of ferrets from a captive bred reintroduction program that had been made possible through Recovery Program funds provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and our many partners, including substantial help from the Turner Endangered Species Fund. The sighting of the young male black footed ferret was confirmed on September 16, during a spotlight survey at the ranch.

You can see the whole article here.

Birding News & Tidbits

Here are a few, interesting, bird-related articles I've recently discovered. Click the bulleted titles for access to the full article.

* New Bird Species Discovered In Gabon, Africa

Called the Olive-backed Forest Robin for its distinctive olive back and rump, this small bird, which measures 4.5 inches in length, was unknown to the scientific community until just recently. Males exhibit a fiery orange throat and breast, yellow belly, olive back and black feathers on the head. Females are similar, but less vibrant. Both sexes have a distinctive white dot on their face in front of each eye.

* Birds Moving North as Earth Warms

A variety of birds are extending their breeding ranges to the north; yet another concern about climate change. 83 species were studied; it was found many extended their range boundaries by as much as 40 miles. Changes were found in birds that breed in forests and grasslands, in both insectivores and omnivores and even in new tropical migrants that are typically seen in Mexico and South America.

* Plover Overlooked in Place of Oil & Gas Projects: Bush…Again

The Biodiversity Conservation Alliance and Forest Guardians have filed a federal suit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for refusing to protect the Mountain Plover which had been on track for listing on the Endangered Species Act in 2003…apparently until the Bush administration interfered. The mountain plover case reflects a pattern of denying endangered species protection for purely political reasons,” said Lauren McCain, deserts and grasslands program director for Forest Guardians in Denver.