Wild bird rehabilitation centers are regularly home to convalescing songbirds, birds of prey and other birds, but according to the Washington Post, the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds in Cape Town, South Africa, has different patrons.

This rehab center is where thousands of African penguins have regularly been treated for oil spills, malnutrition or just being out of range. Penguins are of special interest to many ornithologists and conservationists, as they can be a very accurate indicator of climate change and environmental shifts. Most penguin species are considered endangered or threatened, and small changes in the environment can have huge impacts on their populations. Overfishing and oceanic pollution are other risks these penguins face, and their reactions can help conservationists gauge natural changes and improve environmental protection measures.

To learn more about the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds, including how you can help adopt a penguin and support the facility, visit www.sanccob.co.za.

African Penguin
Photo © Paul Mannix

According to the North-West Evening Mail, the Hawcliffe Bird Sanctuary in Barrow is facing imminent closure. Run by Pat Denny, the sanctuary cares for 40 unreleasable birds with permanent injuries, and the costs of food and care can reach £100 or more per week. While many individuals who drop off injured birds and animals kindly donate what they can, Denny is searching for a permanent sponsor to help alleviate the hefty costs of caring for injured wildlife. Without such a sponsor, the sanctuary may be unable to take any new residents.

Bird sanctuaries and wildlife rehabilitation centers around the world are facing similar financial crises. The cost of food, housing, medical care, recuperative training and administrative expenses can be extreme, and donations are always welcome to help care for the birds. Volunteers and material donations of office supplies, newspapers, animal food, cleaning supplies and other equipment are also welcome. Contact your local bird rehabilitation center or wildlife care facility for details on how you can help.

Two Pence
Photo © John

The annual Cape Cod Lake and Pond Waterfowl Survey will take place on December 6 and birding volunteers are needed to help record the different ducks, geese and waterfowl in the region, according to the Cape Cod Times. The survey will cover 12 sites during the day, ranging from Woodneck Beach to Childs River, and the event is expected to take approximately six hours. Hooded mergansers, ring-necked ducks, great blue herons and other bird species should be on hand.

Many nature preserves and conservation groups organize bird counts during migration periods or after birds have settled into their winter habitats. These counts provide a record of the previous breeding season's success and can support conservation initiatives and other actions throughout the year. Contact your local nature centers, birding groups and wildlife management offices for information about planned counts in your area.

Hooded Merganser
Photo © Steve Ryan

Two U.K.-based organizations, BirdLife International and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), have recently released a study indicating that commercial tuna fishing may be killing albatrosses and other endangered seabirds as quickly as one bird every five minutes, according to Scientific American. South Atlantic populations of the birds, in particular, are under the greatest threat.

Fortunately, several methods can be used to minimize commercial fishing's impact on seabirds. Dyeing bait so it is difficult for birds to see, fishing at night when birds are less active and deploying ribbons at the surface of the water, above the fishing lines, to deter birds from approaching are all effective techniques.

It is hoped that raising awareness of the critically endangered status of these seabirds can help encourage more responsible fishing and better conservation initiatives worldwide.

Tristan Albatross
Photo © Michael Clarke Stuff