I was recently working on a talk about my other passion, dragonflies, for a garden club. One of the questions they wanted me to address was: Are dragonflies beneficial insects? I guess this is a perfectly normal question, but it struck me as odd. The obvious follow up is beneficial to whom? Well, humans of course. I guess I just do not think that way. One focus of my talk was to illustrate how our backyard landscaping choices can benefit insect populations. It really had not occurred to me to think in the opposite direction. 

It is an interesting question to apply to birds. Are there birds that are beneficial to humans? Scavengers like vultures and gulls are an obvious example. In a study in a province of India, it was found that human disease increased 15% after vultures became extinct. This was due to an increase in house fly and rat populations resulting from the lack of competition from vultures for carrion. I used this information one day when my neighborhood flock of Black Vultures (which live here because one of my neighbors feeds them in course of feeding stray cats, but do not get me started on that!) descended on my neighbor’s pool and tore up all their pool toys and seat cushions (vultures have this weird thing for rubber). He was upset and asked me what good vultures were. I asked him whether he would prefer rotting meat and rats. That did make the point. 

However, I do not like justifying the worth of other organisms in human terms. We are all linked in a vast ecological web and depend on each other. All organisms are beneficial to us and we depend on a healthy ecosystem for survival, even if the benefits are not directly obvious like scavengers. That is why I have always supported conservation organizations that focus on habitat preservation. DOS has been one of those organizations, driven by the Bird-a-thon fundraiser, and in the next few weeks DOS will have some exciting announcements concerning land acquisitions. I hope you will be pleased with the benefit your support of DOS is having on preserving our environment to the benefit of us all. 

 

Meet John Skibicki! John has been a Council-Member-at-Large with DOS since 2019. He also provides oversight for the multi-year Chemours Vibrant Communities grant, which benefits a number of DOS initiatives including the Red Knot Youth Birders, Falcon Watch, and the Delaware Bird-A-Thon. John is a mechanical engineer who’s worked in manufacturing throughout his career. He lives north of Middletown with his wife of 24 years, Donna, and has two children.
 

Exciting news!  DOS now has a Vimeo channel, where current members can explore many of our recorded Zoom-era meetings to catch up with speakers and presentations you may have missed or would like to revisit:




The recordings are captioned.  Check the meeting descriptions to skip ahead to a speaker or special presentation.

Due to speaker agreements, only current members have access to this channel. Please check your email for a February 14 message with the subject: “Introducing DOS's Vimeo Channel!” This message includes the link and the password you will need to explore available meetings. If you believe your membership is current and you did not receive this email, please reach out via the email address below and we will get you the information you need!

* The Delaware Ornithologist, which was mailed in early December, began making its way to our members’ mailboxes in late January. If you haven’t yet received your copy, please drop us an email.

* We are still looking for a volunteer or two who would be willing to help with Membership and Outreach activities. Please be in touch if you are interested in sharing your time and talent with DOS!

Meghann Matwichuk, Membership Chair
[email protected]

The Delaware Ornithological Society (DOS) Conservation Science Grants support innovative investigations into bird conservation challenges. DOS encourages projects with a strong emphasis on species and habitat conservation and management. Learn more on our website!

ELIGIBILITY — Open to non-profit organizations; university-affiliated researchers, including graduate students; and to qualified unaffiliated researchers.

SIZE OF GRANTS — Not to exceed $3,000

TIMELINE — Applications must be received by March 15, 2021.

HOW TO APPLY — Application materials can be found at here.
 

Earlier this year, the DOS Conservation Committee testified in support of Senator Stephanie Hansen's Senate Bill 22. This Bill prohibits the import, export, sale, transport, distribution, or propagation of a number of invasive plant species. The list of invasives will be maintained by the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, with the advice of the Delaware Native Species Commission. The Bill passed both chambers unanimously and is now awaiting signing by Governor Carney. DOS's representative to the Delaware Native Species Commission, Sheila Smith, gave the following comments during the House Natural Resources Committee hearing:

"Invasive plant species are a major threat to native bird populations. Invasive plants alter habitat structure, which can affect birds’ nesting success. Invasives displace the native plant species upon which caterpillars and other insects depend, thereby greatly reducing the food available for Delaware’s resident birds as well as for birds that visit our state during migration and winter. Aquatic invasive plants choke millponds, reservoirs, and impoundments, resulting in degradation of habitat for waterfowl, rails, and marsh birds. Invasive plant control in natural areas and agricultural settings consumes precious and limited conservation resources that could otherwise be used to make additional habitat improvements.

While this bill will not immediately fix the problem of invasive plants in Delaware, it is a critical step toward keeping the problem from becoming worse. It will boost public awareness and commercial availability of native plant alternatives. It will allow us to better protect and steward our natural areas by reducing the level of invasive plant introduction and spread. It will give our birds a fighting chance in the struggle to survive."

For more information, contact [email protected]

March Waterfowl Madness at John Heinz NWR
March 13th, 9am-12pm
March is a great time to explore waterfowl as large flocks gather before taking off on spring migration. On this trip, we will try to see as many different species of ducks, geese, and swans as we can, and observe common waterfowl behaviors. RSVP will be needed once date is set.

Pea Patch Island Heron Survey at Delaware City
Wednesday, April 28th 6:00 to 8:30pm
Pea Patch Island is home to a heron rookery, where herons, egrets, and ibis nest each year. This survey takes place once a month while the rookery is active each year, and is a great way to see a variety of wading birds all from the same location. Osprey and Bald Eagles are also commonly spotted. Youth Birding leaders will be there to help young birders spot and identify species. More details here. Open House format.

Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day at Middle Run Natural Area
Saturday, May 8th, Time TBD
In May, birds of all kinds are migrating from their wintering grounds to their summer breeding grounds. Middle Run has a diverse array of habitats that will help us see a wide variety of spring migrants, including warblers, flycatchers, sparrows, thrushes, and more! Driving directions here. RSVP will be needed once time is set

The DOS Youth Birding Committee recognizes that the COVID-19 pandemic is still a major concern in Delaware and surrounding states. However, we feel that youth birders and their families can benefit from being outdoors and exploring new places during this time of uncertainty. Masks will be required at all Youth Birding activities and social distancing protocols will be followed. There will be no field trip carpooling at this time. If you have questions or concerns on this topic, please do not hesitate to reach out at [email protected].

 

Check out our DOS car magnets! More durable than a sticker, and easily moveable!

Suggest a merch idea by contacting [email protected].
 

The 2021 challenge is still led by Aaron Reb! The competition for Top 10 battles on, with a two-way tie for 7th, and a three-way tie for 9th! Compete by submitting eBird checklists from your own yard. Learn more here.