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

Montana birders were flying high earlier this month as they enjoyed a visit from a lesser black-backed gull, a European gull species regularly seen in the northeast but rarely found in the west, according to the Great Falls Tribune. For more than a week the gull was sighted at West Bank Park in Great Falls, where it mingled with a flock of ring-billed gulls - common gulls throughout the United States in the winter.

The lesser black-backed gull has only been recorded twice previously in Montana, both times in 2008.

The fall migration season is an excellent time to spot unusual bird species as they travel from place to place, occasionally getting lost during their extensive journeys and delighting birders in areas far removed from the birds' regular ranges. What unique birds have you seen this fall? Share your sightings in the comments!

Lesser Black-Backed Gull
Photo © Mike Scott

It's time to bundle up when you see this week's featured bird: dark-eyed juncos prefer cold climates and are often called "snowbirds" because they are common winter feeder birds, where they will monopolize your millet.

Dark-eyed juncos are also fascinating because they have quite a few plumage variations, from the plain gray slate-colored junco of the east to the Oregon junco of the west with its black hood and rufous sides. A greater number of junco variations can be found in the west, from gray-headed to red-backed to pink-sided birds.

What juncos visit your feeders in the winter? Share your sightings and junco tips in the comments!

Slate-Colored Dark-Eyed Junco
Photo © Gary Irwin

The first national wildlife refuge in the United States, Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, has been nearly abandoned by nesting and migrating water birds, according to TCPalm.com. The 5,400 acre refuge was first established in 1903 and was once home to thousands of birds and hundreds of nesting pairs, but this year the small coastal island at the heart of the refuge hosted just 14 pairs of nesting birds.

Several factors have threatened the refuge's appeal to birds, including expanding housing developments, erosion and recent hurricanes. Rangers and conservationists suspect that the birds have shifted their behavior to more sheltered areas, including the nearby Indian River Lagoon. It is hoped that the birds will eventually return to the refuge, though it could take years for young birds to seek out new nesting territories.

Have you visited Pelican Island National Refuge? Share your birding experiences in the comments!

Black-Crowned Night-Heron, Indian River Lagoon
Photo © Andrea Westmoreland

Scientists have long suspected that birds' sensitivity to the Earth's magnetic field may be how they manage to migrate thousands of miles without frequent landmarks, but there has been disagreement about how the birds were aware of the magnetism to make their journey. According to Inside Science News Service, a new study from Germany may have revealed the link between birds' eyesight and migration.

A group of scientists studied European robins with lesions in their brains, specifically in the area responsible for light-processing, and found that the birds with the lesions were unable to orient themselves with the Earth's magnetic field. Birds with similar damage to nerves connecting their bills to their brains - the bill has been theorized as another possibility for magnetic orientation - did not have difficulty.

Regardless of how they manage the journey, you can attract migrating birds with the right feeding tips, shelter and water to give your yard "migration magnetism."

European Robin
Photo © Claire

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is anything but great for birds. According to USA Today, the patch - an area in the Pacific Ocean where flotsam collects due to converging currents - is twice the size of Texas. Confused seabirds, attracted by plankton that grows in the patch, ingest trash including syringes, toys, plastic lighters, bottle caps and other dangerous materials. The plastic blocks the stomach, ultimately leading to starvation.

While some of the trash is discarded from cargo ships and oil platforms, much of it washes off beaches. The patch itself is in international waters and there are no firm plans to do anything about the growing problem.

Birders can help draw attention to this seabird threat by getting involved in conservation organizations and seabird preservation societies. Organizing beach cleanup events and advocating stronger littering penalties can also help protect seabirds from floating garbage.

The next time you visit a beach, be sure to pick up your own litter, and pick up extra to help the birds. To help even more, check out these beach bird safety tips.

Beach Litter
Photo © Ingrid Taylar

A recent study of the club-winged manakin, a tiny South American songbird, has revealed that these birds use their feathers to "sing" as part of courtship displays. According to National Geographic News, male club-winged manakins use a series of feathers vibrating in concert to create intricate sounds. The study from Cornell University used lasers to monitor the frequency vibrations of individual feathers and groups of nearby feathers, which were proven to match the frequency - 1,500 hertz - of the birds' high pitched sounds.

Many types of bird sounds are part of avian language, and the whirring or clapping of wings is a common nonvocal sound birds use. This study, however, is the first evidence that birds may manipulate their feathers for more complicated communication.

Club-Winged Manakin
Photo © Michael Woodruff

Florida's national forests are critical habitats for the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker. In fact, according to the U.S. Forest Service, the birds are doing so well in Florida's forests that juvenile birds are captured each year to be relocated elsewhere in the southeastern United States where woodpecker populations are not so thriving. In the past 20 years, more than 500 birds have been relocated, helping stabilize declining populations in other areas.

Today there are only an estimated 14,000 red-cockaded woodpeckers in the wild, but the population has shown growth in areas where relocated birds are introduced. Another tactic used to encourage population growth is drilling artificial nesting cavities to provide suitable breeding sites with less competition.

The largest recovered population of these endangered woodpeckers, about 1,200 birds, is located in the Apalachicola National Forest near Tallahassee. Have you seen the red-cockaded woodpecker? Share your sightings in the comments!

Red-Cockaded Woodpecker
Photo © The U.S. Army

After nearly 40 years on the endangered species list, the brown pelican has officially been removed from that classification, according to the Wall Street Journal. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced the change on November 11, though the birds will continue to be protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty. Coastal areas with heavy concentrations of brown pelicans will be regularly monitored for toxic pesticides and other activities that could threaten these and other wild birds.

The brown pelican's recovery from the brink of extinction caused by high susceptibility to DDT poisoning is a major success for the Endangered Species Act, which is often criticized for ineffectiveness. From a low of fewer than 10,000 wild birds, there are now more than 600,000 brown pelicans in the wild thanks to conservation efforts and breeding programs.

Is the brown pelican on your life list? Share your sightings in the comments!

Brown Pelicans
Photo © Stig Nygaard