ABA Blog in Review: March 2012

It's been an exciting month at the ABA Blog, not least of which because of the long-awaited announcement of the new Bird of the Year for 2012, that charismatic finch, known by latin enthusiasts as Twilight Kernal-shatterer and by the rest of us as Evening Grosbeak. 

The announcement itself was big news, but equally important were those who will be working to make this BOTY a success, including but certainly not limited to coordinator Robert Mortenson and cover artist Julie Zickefoose.  Look for BOTY content in the ABA's print media as well as here on the blog.  In fact, Laura Erickson has already kicked things off with a well-researched piece on why, exactly, might we be seeing Evening Grosbeaks less often anymore.

But elsewhere on the blog, Lynn Barber, wasting no time attempting to put her name in the annals of South Dakota birding, feels the March doldrums and shares an amazing Sandhill Crane experience.

Ted Eubanks eulogizes a Texas birding legend, tries to quantify the worth of a bird in a public space to a nation like the United States, and illustrates how conservation as a political football is a game played by both political parties, to our detriment.

Birding editor Ted Floyd shares his favorite bird, which just so happens to be a planet, and instigates a discussion on gadget field etiquette that crosses from the magazine to the blog and back again.

Prez Jeff Gordon announces the ABA's involvement in both the Biggest Week in American Birding and the Point Reyes Birding & Nature Festival.  Hope to see some of you there!

Paul Hess shares some good news in the way of regulators cracking down on reptile trafficking in Florida that has brought destructive new predators to that ecosystem, and some big changes coming soon to your field guides concerning raptors.

Ann Nightingale puts on her flame-proof coat and wades into the world of cat-bird relations (and no, it's not the Mimid). 

John Puschock had the skinny on a short-staying Snew in Ontario and some long-staying Black-capped Gnatcatchers in Arizona.

Photo and gear guru Bill Schmoker has another challenging gull to share, and a cool new bookmark with a bird connection. 

Noah Strycker is victim to the scourge of the neotropic ornithologist, the parasitic botfly, and shares all.  

Books reviewed by Rick Wright include De Boer, et al's Birds of Aruba, Curacao, and Bonaire, Lovitch's How to be a Better Birder, and Dutson's Birds of Melanasia.

Also, Black Swifts! A bird movie that gets it! A beautiful piece of art by David Sibley auctioned to benefit Birders' Exchange! The return of Winter Sparrows IFO!  And more!

Thanks for reading, thanks for commenting, and thanks for supporting the ABA!