This is a news release from June 2005, from the NJ Audubion Society: For immediate release Contact: Eric Stiles June 15, 2005 (908) 766-5787 ext. 13 Kathleen Bird (609) 392-1181 or (609) 273-7750 Groups Urge Restoration and Protection of NJs Rarest Wildlife Habitats Conservation Partnerships with Private Landowners Essential to Saving Key Grassland Habitats, Critical Species Federal, state and nonprofit conservation officials joined forces today to highlight the importance and process of restoring New JerseyÂs rarest habitats  grasslands and other habitats in early succession such as shrublands. Landowners have an essential role to play in preserving New JerseyÂs most critically endangered habitats and can benefit financially by voluntarily conserving critical natural resources on private pastures and farmland, the experts said. "New JerseyÂs grasslands have reached a critical juncture. Strong, voluntary partnerships are needed to protect these areas and prevent the large number of threatened and endangered species from disappearing from New Jersey," said Eric Stiles, vice president of conservation and stewardship for New Jersey Audubon Society. "Grassland conservation is a private-public partnership, based on financial rewards to willing landowners, and involving state and federal agencies." New Jersey has lost agricultural and grassland habitat at an alarming rate, from nearly 1 million acres in 1972 to less than 850,000 acres in 2001, based on the latest available state data. And in just a six-year period  from 1995 to 2001  nearly 26,000 acres of agricultural lands were lost to development. "Grasslands and other early successional habitat are New JerseyÂs most critically endangered habitats," Stiles said. Eric Schrading, Senior Fish & Wildlife Biologist and Private Lands Coordinator for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service based at its New Jersey Field Office in Pleasantville, said, "Much of the land in New Jersey is privately owned, so protection of our essential natural resources depends on partnerships with willing landowners. Agricultural grasslands, which provide shelter, safety and nourishment for grassland birds, are the most rapidly disappearing land type in New Jersey." "Since they lack trees, the agricultural landscapes of pastures and farmland that contain New JerseyÂs grasslands are easier and cheaper to develop and often targeted first by developers," New Jersey AudubonÂs Stiles said at a press conference today at the ecologically important and strikingly beautiful Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge in the Sussex County community of Sussex. The Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge was chosen for the event to demonstrate the successful grassland restoration and management practices occurring there. The refuge is a gem in an expansive, historically agricultural area of the northwestern part of New Jersey. Nearby Wantage and Vernon townships in Sussex County and Pohatcong in Warren County feature enormous tracts of grasslands hosting critical bird species whose populations are in jeopardy. Critical habitat for grassland dependent species, also found throughout other areas of New Jersey, has been rapidly disappearing due to development. As habitat dwindles, bird and other species decline. The U.S. Department of AgricultureÂs Natural Resources Conservation Service, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the New Jersey Department of Environmental ProtectionÂs Endangered and Nongame Species Program are providing financial and other incentives to farmers to restore native habitat and to manage their lands to benefit wildlife. New Jersey Audubon Society, the stateÂs oldest and most respected conservation organization, is advocating grassland preservation and restoration of native vegetation that provides habitat for species that are listed as threatened, endangered or of special concern by the state. Landowners can learn about how they can manage property of any size to benefit wildlife through a new handbook, "New Jersey Audubon SocietyÂs Guide to Incentive Programs for New Jersey Landowners." It is a clearinghouse for information about state and federal programs that provide financial and technical assistance. The guide is available on NJ AudubonÂs Web site at: www.njaudubon.org/Conservation or by calling (908) 766-5787. "State and federal habitat management programs provide a win-win situation for farmers and for natural resources," said Kim Korth, a biologist who oversees the Landowner Incentive Program under the state Department of Environmental ProtectionÂs Endangered and Nongame Species Program. There has been a dramatic loss of grassland and other early successional habitats statewide and major impacts to the species that use them. Forty percent of the birds on New JerseyÂs endangered list rely on grasslands, while almost 30 percent of birds listed as endangered, threatened or of special concern are considered early successional species. Over 85 percent of New JerseyÂs listed insects including butterflies rely on grassland and early successional habitat. New Jersey still contains important grassland and early successional habitat including habitat for the largest single populations of frosted elfin and arogos skipper globally," said Korth, referring to species of butterflies. Established native vegetation such as Indian grass, little bluestem, big bluestem and switchgrass have many benefits, including needing less treatment, such as fertilizer and lime, than traditional grasses. "Tall native grasses have provided habitat to grasshopper sparrows, bobolinks, northern harriers, upland sandpipers and more," said Tim Dunne, biologist with the U.S. Department of AgricultureÂs Natural Resources Conservation Service based in Clinton. Most farmers traditional hay and pasture crops are cool-season grasses and legumes such as timothy hay, rye grass, orchard grass and alfalfa. These get their first cutting in late May or early June  timing that corresponds to the peak nesting season for grassland birds. As a result, breeding bird pairs selecting these hayfields are doomed to fail. The result is the destruction of habitat and further declines in both the number of individual birds and the number of species. Habitat management to benefit wildlife includes farmers creating buffers, filter strips and other areas that are undisturbed during the nesting season, said Dunne. NJ AudubonÂs Eric Stiles added, "Without adequate protection, creation and management of their nesting habitats, grassland birds will continue to decline in New Jersey until they are locally extinct. Federal and state incentive programs offer some hope. "Grasslands are top priorities for these programs. But in order to succeed best, these programs must focus on areas where converting to grasslands is the most feasible. ThatÂs not all. In addition, effective management is needed on lands owned by nonprofit conservation organizations and by federal, state, county and municipal agencies in regions where grassland management should be a top priority," said Stiles. The Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge was established by an act of Congress in 1990. It hosts more than 200 species of birds, as well as a variety of plants and other animals. While the refuge was created primarily to provide habitat protection for migratory waterfowl that inhabit its wetlands, it manages native, warm-season grasslands. They provide critical habitat for important threatened and endangered bird species including bobolinks and savannah sparrows that inhabit the uplands. If you Google "grassland" and "endangered" or "Threatened" you should find lots.

Partial ablinism is more common than complete albinism (entirely white with red/pink eyes). It also seems to somewhat regular in juncos...maybe just because they are common at feeders and irregularities, such as albinism, are more frequently seen and reported. BN

BOSS = Black oil sunflower seed I don't feed nyjer, just BOSS, home-made suet and raw suet. There seems to be something for everyone this way. The Goldfinches and other finches don't care for suet, but like the BOSS just fine. Last week's ProjectFeederwatch count was 18 Goldfinches, 18 Pine Siskins, and 6 House Finches. Last year, I let some of the BOSS sprout and grow, also grew enormous Mammoth Grey stripe Sunflowers. I observed Goldfinches, Warblers, and Chickadees on the BOSS seedheads, and many different types of birds and squirrels/chipmunks loved the Mammoth grey stripe. It is a lot cheaper to grow these, vs. purchase the seed. Btw, Niger/Nyjer or whatever it's called is NOT thistle (Cirsium species). It is Guizotia abyssinica, an herb grown in Africa and India and imported to the US from these countries. Goldfinches do love the actual Thistle, but care should be taken if growing these plants - they are very prickly and quite a few are classified as noxious weeds.

Yes, but it's only one Junco that do that. Usually in the winter, they run out of food on the ground and try to adapt. I have seen one or two try for the tube feeder. Notice the tree sparrows flying around the sock in the picture, they're suppose to scratch and feed on the ground but now hang from the sock. This is a problem because they compete with a flock of gold finches for space, resulting in a mob scene around the sock. I added a plate of seed on the ground but they still feed from the sock. The Junco immediately went for it, but the tree sparrow still hangs on the sock. Paul