eNews

Theodore Lamont Cross
(1924-2010)

Theodore Cross, bird photographer, author, publisher, and founder of Birders United, died in Sanibel, Florida, on Sunday, February 28. He was 86 years old.

A native of Wellesley, Massachusetts, Ted Cross was a graduate of Amherst College and Harvard Law School. He was a veteran of World War II, serving as a naval officer in the South Pacific.

After a long and successful career in professional publishing, Cross became an avid birder. He traveled the world from the far reaches of Siberia to the atolls in the mid-Pacific Ocean to photograph God’s majestic creatures. His goal, which he thought eluded him, was to take the perfect photograph of the reddish egret.

Cross published two critically acclaimed books of his bird photography: Birds of the Sea Shore and Tundra and Waterbirds, which was published a few short months ago. The esteemed Harvard University biologist Edward O. Wilson said of Waterbirds, “It’s a masterpiece. I do not exaggerate when I say that the back-jacket photo of Great Blue Herons is a candidate for the most beautiful illustration of birds in existence, photo or painting.”

All of us at Birders United are extremely saddened by the passing of our leader and dear friend. He will be deeply missed.

The endangered snail kite is facing a new threat from an invasive species that is reducing the bird’s main food source. The snail kite, which is found in central and southern Florida, feasts mainly on the apple snail. But the island apple snail, native to South America, has been introduced into the environment. The island apple snail is considerably bigger than the apple snail, making it difficult for young snail kites to feed on them. Thus, if the larger variety becomes dominant, young snail kites will starve.

University of Florida biologists estimate there are only 700 snail kites left in the wild. They predict that if nothing is done to curtail the spread of the larger island apple snail, the snail kite will become extinct within 30 years.

Each fall millions of birds migrate over the Mediterranean Sea from Europe to winter in Africa. In the spring the migratory birds reverse course and fly back to Europe from Africa, once again over the Mediterranean.

For centuries hunters on the island of Malta have taken advantage of this migration. But in recent years the European Union has called for the Malta government to crack down on the hunting of migratory birds because many of the birds killed are endangered or threatened.

Britain’s Royal Society for Protection of Birds estimates that in recent years about 79 species of  birds have been shot illegally as they stop over on the island of Malta. Among the species that have been illegally hunted, according to the RSPB, are owls, the pallid harrier, and the red-footed falcon.

For over 70 years there have been reports of foot deformities among the Cape wagtail, a small bird of southern Africa. Scientists have speculated that the deformities were caused by heavy metals in the environment, pesticides, or discarded fishing line that becomes entangled around the bird’s legs, cutting off blood supply to its feet.

But now a scientist at Wits University believes she has solved the mystery. She discovered that many of the birds were crippled by tiny mites that burrow into the birds’ tissue just below the skin. In many cases the birds develop irritations and gangrene that cause their toes to fall off. Since Cape wagtails tend to roost together, the mites are easily transferred from one bird to another.

Scientists at the BioDiversity Research Institute in Gorham, Maine, have found dangerous levels of industrial chemicals in the eggs of ospreys. Many of the eggs contained a high level of a stain repellent used for carpeting. The chemical is thought to leech from carpet waste materials into the water supply. Osprey then eat fish that have been contaminated with the compound. Other chemicals found in osprey eggs were flame retardants, water repellents, coolants, and pesticides. In all, 75 percent of the osprey eggs examined were found to have levels of contaminants that have been shown in laboratory studies to cause development problems in chicks.

Scientists at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service believe that black flies may be endangering one of the two flocks of whooping cranes. The flock that winters in Wisconsin and migrates south to winter in Florida has had no trouble mating and laying eggs. But 12 breeding pairs in the flock abandoned their nests this past year before the eggs could hatch.

The scientists believe that large numbers of black flies become so disturbing to the nesting birds that they simply leave their nests to avoid being annoyed. Researchers at Clemson University are developing a plan to dramatically reduce the fly population near where the birds build their nests.

The cirl bunting was once plentiful in southern England. Twenty years ago the number of breeding pairs had dwindled to 118. At that time the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds began a program to help local farmers manage their land so that habitat for the bird would be protected. Then the society bought a tract of land in Shaldon for the express purpose of providing a protected habitat for this one species.

The efforts have paid off. The number of breeding pairs of cirl bunting is now 862.

Congressman John D. Dingell of Michigan’s 15th District has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1955. Now 83 years old, he has served in the House longer than any other congressman.

Congressman Dingell is a friend to birds. Recently he received a perfect voting record score of 100 from the congressional watchdog group Environment America. Dingell was the author of legislation creating the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, a 5,700-acre tract of land on a 48-mile stretch of shoreline of the Detroit River and Lake Erie. The refuge is an important urban oasis on a major north-south flyway for 300 species of migratory birds.

Recently Congressman Dingell arranged a donation of 242 additional acres to the refuge from the Ford Motor Company.

Dingell was reelected with 71 percent of the vote in 2008. He has announced that he will seek reelection in 2010.