Omss Bird: Jun 3, 2011

ABC's Bird of the Week - Black Skimmer

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Bird of the Week
Black Skimmer

The Black Skimmer’s remarkable bill, with the lower part longer than the upper, is unique among U.S. birds. A feeding skimmer flies low over water with its beak open and partially submerged. When it touches a prey item, such as a small fish, the upper bill snaps down, securing the bird’s meal.

Preferred habitats include sandy or gravelly bars and beaches, shallow bays, estuaries, and salt marsh pools. The Black Skimmer is a social bird, roosting and breeding in colonies of up to thousands of pairs, often alongside gulls and terns. Successful colonies usually occupy the same nest sites each year. Interestingly, this skimmer is somewhat crepuscular in its habits, feeding most actively at dawn and dusk.

Major threats to this species are habitat loss due to coastal development and human disturbances during nesting. The Black Skimmer is also affected by threats to fish populations such as oil spills or chemical pollution.

ABC is launching a five-state, Gulf Coast conservation effort to identify and implement protective measures for Black Skimmers and other vulnerable beach-nesting birds. These measures will include signage and fencing at colonies to reduce accidental nest destruction and abandonment.

Learn more and help ABC conserve this and other waterbirds!

Photo: Black Skimmer by Alan Wilson; Range Map by NatureServe, 2007

Don't forget to join ABC on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, and check out the ABC blog

Plus...

Free Ways to Help American Bird Conservancy Raise Much-Needed Funds: every time you shop at any of 700+ online stores in the iGive network, a portion of the money you spend benefits American Bird Conservancy. It's a free service, and you'll never pay more when you reach a store through iGive. In fact, smart shoppers will enjoy iGive's repository of coupons, free shipping deals, and sales. To get started, just create your free iGive account<. And when you search the web, do it through iSearchiGive.com where each search means a penny (or more!) for our cause! Start iGiving at: www.iGive.com/abcbirds & www.iSearchiGive.com/abcbirds

American Bird Conservancy is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that conserves native birds and their habitats throughout the Americas.

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The Latest from Bird Crafts

Friday Giveaway: 2 Readers to win a Helium Balloon Kit from Balloon Time + Exclusive Coupon Code!!

Posted: 03 Jun 2011 01:17 AM PDT

Oh, how I missed our Friday Giveaways! :)

But since we did not have one last week, I thought this FAB giveaway sponsored by Balloon Time would doubly delight you - This week, we are picking 2 lucky winners who will receive a lightweight, disposable helium balloon kit each worth $39.99!!

Balloon Time® Helium Balloon Kit is an easy-to-use, portable party kit, perfect for occasions such as birthdays, play dates or any celebration or special event!

For more creative ways to use your Balloon Time Helium Kit and see all their product range, visit their website where you can to watch product demos and where their party planing expert, Penny Warner provides plenty of party tips and ideas for all your party and events!

For your chance chance to win simply leave a comment for each separately (otherwise your entry will only be counted once):

* Visit Balloon Time on Facebook and become fan of their page by clicking the "like" button
* Visit Bird's Party on Facebook and become a fan of our page by clicking the "like" button
* Come back here and tell us that you are a fan of both!

For more chances to win: Please leave separate comments with links for each - You can use the widgets on the bottom of this post to share!

* Share this post on Facebook
* Sahre this post on Twitter
* Share this post on a blog or site

A winner will be selected next Friday on June 10th.
Good luck to everyone and have a fabulous weekend! :)

Click below to print your promotional coupon!

Connect with Balloon Time

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

Dr. Jungle's Animal Speak

Jersey Wooly Rabbit

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 06:18 PM PDT

Jersey Wooly Rabbit - Oryctolagus cuniculus Jersey Wooly Rabbit
Oryctolagus cuniculus
"With my very long hair, I love to be brushed!"

The Jersey Wooly Rabbit has recently become a very popular pet!

Only weighing three pounds when full-grown, the Jersey Wooly Rabbit is a very small rabbit. They are also smart, gentle, sweet, and docile.

The Jersey Wooly Rabbit needs lots of attention and loves people and being handled and pet. They are quite calms rabbits and simple to take care of. Because of this, they make wonderful pets for adults and children… Read More

NJ Bird Photos: Birds of New Jersey

Baby ducks may be cuter than baby geese

Posted: 02 Jun 2011 05:43 AM PDT

ABC's Spring Fundraising Challenge - only two weeks left to help

Time is Running Out To Take Part in
Our Spring Fundraising Challenge

Thanks to a few generous ABC supporters, all donations to ABC made as part of our Spring Fund Challenge will be doubled up to $125,000. Can you help?

This is an incredible opportunity for us to raise a quarter of a million dollars before the deadline on June 20, the last day of spring.

ABC can do so much more for birds such as the Cerulean Warbler, America's fastest declining songbird, but we need your support.

Photo: Cerulean Warbler by Greg Lavaty

Don't forget to join ABC on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, and check out the ABC blog

Plus...

American Bird Conservancy is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that conserves native birds and their habitats throughout the Americas.

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