Migrating birds die due to lack of water in wetlands while water is diverted for irrigation

[CreekDog]

For thousands of years, the Klamath River' wetlands and river supported species that are now suffering due to diversions for modern irrigation. In dry years, irrigation deliveries starve part of the natural system of water that critters need to live. This time, the wetlands were sacrificed for irrigation deliveries and birds were the victims.

Migrating waterfowl die from lack of water

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Lance Iversen / The Chronicle

The deaths of up to 20,000 migrating birds this year in a wildlife refuge near the Oregon border has renewed debate about resource management on the Klamath River, where myriad competing interests are fighting for water rights.

The waterfowl began dropping dead from avian cholera in February after a lack of water forced as many as 2 million birds to bunch together in the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, said representatives of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Experts said a lack of rain during peak migration and water delivery obligations by the Bureau of Reclamation left sensitive wetlands along the Pacific Flyway dry. The result was the worst die-off in the region in about a decade.

"There is a long-term systemic problem here of just not enough water in the refuges," said Steve Holmer, the senior policy adviser for the American Bird Conservancy. "There is just this ongoing diversion of water. It's really just a space problem. If the birds had more water they wouldn't be facing this."

The water that flows out of Upper Klamath Lake is used to preserve fish habitat, allow farmers to irrigate their land and for Native American ceremonial events. What's left over fills up the wetlands.

This year there wasn't much water left for the 50,000-acre refuge. The avian cholera - which was first detected in North America in the 1940s after apparently spreading from European poultry and fowl - began affecting birds in February at the nearby Tule Lake refuge. It spread to the Lower Klamath, where the birds congregated, officials said.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/04/20/BAML1O44VB.DTL#ixzz1shxJ0ebo

[jsmirman]

1. And Louisiana will disappear into the Gulf, for similar reasons

Way to go, humans.

[RobertEarl]

2. Good cover

Birds can fly to where there is water. So I have my doubts....

I also have little doubt that the radiation from Japan took its toll.

[CreekDog]

3. What? Where is there water out there? It's the desert?

Whatever.

[RobertEarl]

4. Klamath river?

There's water in them there rivers.

Birds can fly and find water. Sure, if they congregate problems can arise. But birds are smart enough to flap their wings and find the habitat they need. Of course they can't tell if the radiation is there or anywhere. Neither can humans. But we have Geiger counters.

And the counters have found radiation all up and down the coast. And radiation levels are always highest where water has settled. Like it does in marshes. Don't close your mind off to the possibilities is all I am saying.

[CreekDog]

5. No. Are you even trying?

they take refuge in large, open wetlands as they migrate.

and they DO CONGREGATE, they are migrating. did you even bother to read the thing you are commenting on?

the article said they were migrating and had big old photo of a lot of migrating birds, massed together --AS THEY DO.

yours is so mindbogglingly ignorant, i'm at a loss.

[RobertEarl]

6. me? Ignorant?

No, i'd say it is you that is ignorant of birds in general and of radiation.

Willfully or just plain? I dunno.

I have been a birdwatcher for 30 years. And ever since Chernobyl bird populations have been crashing. And guess what? Science has shown that radiation causes mutations in birds.

I would suggest, CD, that you watch carefully your slings and arrows at someone who obviously knows a whole hell of a lot more than you about birds.

[CreekDog]

7. you said they should fly to the river --ignorant

that's just the way it is.

[RobertEarl]

8. wrong again

Do you like being wrong so much? There is no quote of mine saying "they should fly to the river"

I did say they could find water.

The problem is, water that collects, such as in wetlands, carries with it a higher density of radiation from atmospheric deposition.

If you want me too and can find you several links detailing just that.

I don't mind educating folks, but only if they want to be educated. You could do it on your own, and you might, if you really wanted to become educated. Do you? I can do it for you or you can make an effort on your own. Your choice.

[CreekDog]

9. so you're saying the lack of the water in the wetlands was not one of the problems?

yes or no?

[RobertEarl]

10. Of course it could be

But you have to wonder.... how did the birds survive all these centuries during droughts?

What is different this time is the fresh radiation concentrated in the small amount of water in the wetlands. And the birds are like canaries in the coal mine. Ever hear of that saying before?

Open your mind, is what I am saying. THINK.

[CreekDog]

11. because there wasn't a ton of water being diverted upstream by irrigation projects!

would it hurt to read up before you post in disagreement with established research that you haven't even seemed to look at?

[RobertEarl]

12. Ok

So don't think. Just believe what 'they' tell you.

But remember, the government, for a brief time after 3.11, reported that radiation did come over from Japan.

And that radiation does concentrate in runoff.

And droughts have happened time and time again. This is the desert, remember?

[CreekDog]

13. If you won't read two sentences or choose to even know the function of wetlands

or take the time to even read the article you're commenting on...then don't accuse me of not thinking.

you are not only not thinking about the actual thing you are commenting about, you aren't even reading it, and it only takes a moment to read it.

most of the history of droughts you talk about are before the massive irrigation projects were built.

[MattBaggins]

14. Creekdog is correct

You are losing this one.

In times of drought the birds would suffer mass die offs as they are now. This is not a drought; this is a man made issue with a lack of water replenishment due to irrigation. The birds can not just "fly off" and wait for a better year to return.

Migratory paths.
Habitat. A swamp is not a river.

P.S. Nice use of the "they" argument. You even put quotes around it.

[CreekDog]

16. i'm just getting played by him

it's kind of sad that i carried on with it as long as i did.

his other posts argue about the dangers of Fukushima radiation, and i am also concerned about that.

but his posts here are practically anti-environmentalist.

"birds should just flap their wings" and go somewhere else?

huh?

it will be interesting to see how this one turns out. or maybe not.

[RobertEarl]

19. Did I ever say water diversions were good?

I know water diversions are harmful to wildlife.

But I also think the radiation in the water is causing damage to the wildlife.

If you don't think it has an impact, fine, don't think about it.

Your quoting me when i never said such things is stupid. Don't know why you copped such a 'tude, but whatever floats your boat.

[XemaSab]

18. The Klamath Basin used to be a giant shallow lake

which was drained for agriculture and to kill off the Native Americans.

I'm a biologist who lives and birds in the north state (I was in Siskiyou county today, as a matter of fact) and I think your grasp of the issues is questionable.

[Richard D]

15. The local tribal people . . .

. . . what few are left of them, talk of bird migrations where you could hardly see the sky for days at a time.

[freshwest]

17. Yes, it's been recorded. And between urban sprawl, concreting rivers, dams and irrigation - No good.

And KY just legalized shooting whooping cranes as they pass over the state on the flyway. It's looking bad.

[twitcher]

20. that can't be…

Whooping Cranes are federally protected endangered species. Sandhill Cranes perhaps? I saw 10,000 of these a couple of months ago in Indiana (plus a handful of Whooping Cranes and a Hooded Crane).

[freshwest]

21. It was in a thread here a while back. Everyone was going nuts about it. I'll try to find it.

Here it is:

Migratory sandhill cranes to be hunted in Kentucky
Sat Dec-24-11

For the first time in almost 90 years, hunters are allowed to kill a limited number of migratory sandhill cranes. The birds typically leave their nesting grounds in Canada and the Great Lakes each winter to fly to Florida.

The nearly monthlong season runs until Jan. 15, with no more than 400 birds being harvested. If the hunt goes smoothly, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife plans to repeat it next year. Kentucky is the only state east of the Mississippi River to allow the hunt, although Tennessee has considered a similar proposal...

The news hit hard at the Florida Trail Association office in Gainesville, where plans are under way for the first Florida Crane and Nature Festival on Jan. 14. The event will celebrate the migration of thousands of sandhill cranes to Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, said Dennis Miranda, the association's executive director.

"I am horrified to think that any state would open up a hunting season with the notion that shooting cranes is a sport," Miranda said.

Although Kentucky hunters have described the bird as a wary and challenging prey, Miranda described the cranes' behavior at Paynes Prairie as more like sitting ducks.

"These birds will land in any marsh or a field in flocks," he said. "I think it's a tragedy."

Read more:
http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/sandhill-cranes-to-be-hunted-in-kentucky/1207567

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x5087145

Whooping crane and Sandhilll cranes may be different in the law, but this seems unnecessary. Proving their manhood against 'a wary and challenging prey.' Really?

They have probably learned these routes were safe and don't expect to be shot. But then, we seem to be in a 'kill everyone and everything' world now.

[Brother Buzz]

22. Kentucky's Sandhill Crane Hunting Season

http://fw.ky.gov/navigation.aspx?cid=886&navpath=C117