The USA is home to hundreds of birds including many of the world’s rarest species such as the Gunnison Sage Grouse, endemic to the USA and only recently described as a new species in 2000.

Catching a glimpse of an elusive or even common bird can be a hugely exciting experience however many avian populations are unfortunately rapidly in decline and rely on long-term conservation efforts to survive. Dr Mya Rose Craig, 20-year-old birder, environmentalist and author, has therefore teamed up with long-range optic specialist SWAROVSKI OPTIK to shine a light on some of these rarer species and reveal the best places in the USA to spot them.

Mya-Roses’ five top birds to spot include:

Gunnison Sage Grouse in South West Colorado in early Spring
This is a species of grouse endemic to the USA and was only described as a new species in 2000 – making it the first new avian species to be described to science from the USA since the 19th century. It has been reduced to less than 1800 birds and unfortunately may be extinct before I have the opportunity to see it. It is really restricted, occurring in only 7 counties in south-western Colorado and one in south-eastern Utah.

My top tip for spotting the Gunnison Sage Grouse is to visit areas of sagebush in South West Colorado during early Spring when males congregate on leks (open areas adjacent to dense sagebrush stands) during early morning and early evening to perform elaborate strutting displays to attract females.

Wintering Whooping Cranes on the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge on Texas Coast
This is a really cool bird. It is the tallest North American bird, named after its whooping sound. It is endangered and one of two crane species native to North America. In 2008, I saw the other, Sandhill Crane in the UK and would love to see this one. It was down to just 21 wild and two captive whooping cranes by 1941 but through conservation efforts it is now up to 800 birds, which is unfortunately still nowhere near a healthy number.

Breeding populations can be seen wintering along the Gulf coast of Texas, United States, and near Rockport on the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge – a 114,657 acre protected area located on the southwest side of the San Antonio Bay.

Varied Thrush on West Coast of North America from Alaska to Northern California in Autumn
In October 2021, there was a fantastic record of a Varied Thrush spotted in Orkney. I unfortunately missed out on this exciting sight in the UK, which makes seeing this bird on the west coast of North America even more important.

These birds are typically easier to hear than see from its individual call which usually marks the start of Autumn. It is possible to see it on its breeding grounds and wet forests as far north as Alaska down to northern California before it migrates South. During Autumn, they usually head to lower levels and can be spotted in parks or even gardens.

Kirtland’s Warbler in Ontario, Wisconsin and Michigan in Spring and Summer
A small songbird, Kirtland’s Warbler is also known as the jack pine warbler in Michigan. It almost became extinct nearly 50 years ago but due to a conservation programme, population numbers have recovered.  They spend the Spring and Summer in their breeding range in Ontario, Wisconsin or Michigan,  the north-eastern Lower Peninsula of Michigan, and Winter mainly in The Bahamas and Cuba.

Being one of the rarest songbirds in the USA, it breeds in young jack pine forests in Michigan with populations wintering along the Gulf coast of Texas and near Rockport on the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge.

Elf Owl in New Mexico, Baha Californian Peninsula, Arizona and Texas in Spring and Summer
The world’s smallest owl and I also think the cutest. It is about the size of a sparrow and lives in New Mexico, Baja Californian peninsula, Arizona and Texas often living in woodpecker holes in cacti. It is nocturnal and feeds primarily on insects. The Elf Owl is known to migrate in large groups, with patterns of migration varying depending on flock and habitat location. I love that they pretend to be dead when handled, an adaption that encourages a predator to relax its grip so that the owl can escape.

You stand a reasonable chance of seeing one in the dry thorn forests of the Southern border of the USA and Mexico, or when broods migrate to the South-western areas of California, Arizona and Texas during Spring and Summer to breed.

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For more details on Dr Mya-Rose Craig and her work, visit www.birdgirluk.com.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

Photo Captions:

  • Photo of a Varied Thrush sitting on Moss Log. Photo Credit Danita Delimont on Shutterstock
  • Mya-Rose using SWAROVSKI OPTIK EL 8.5×42 binocular. Photo Credit Oliver Edwards. Copyright Dr MC Birdgirl Ltd.
  • Photo of an Elf Owl. Photo Credit on Shutterstock

For high-res images, please click https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/ty8y5p99hqa93wjn19g4q/h?dl=0&rlkey=rm4z3twk8zyo50yujaeiea0o1

ABOUT SWAROVSKI OPTIK
SWAROVSKI OPTIK, headquartered in Absam, Tyrol, is part of the Swarovski group of companies. Founded in 1949, the Austrian company specialises in the development and manufacturing of long-range optical instruments of the highest precision in the premium segment of the market. The binoculars, spotting scopes, and optronic instruments are products of choice for demanding users. The company’s success is based on its innovative strength, the quality and intrinsic value of its products, and their functional and aesthetic design. The appreciation of nature is an essential part of its company philosophy and is reflected commendably in its environment-friendly production and its long-term commitment to selected nature conservation projects. The turnover in 2021 was 210.4 million euros (2020: 163.5 million euros), with an export ratio of 91%. The company has around 1,000 employees.

ABOUT DR MYA-ROSE CRAIG
20-year-old Dr Mya-Rose Craig D.Sc. h.c. is a prominent British-Bangladeshi birder, conservationist & environmentalist. She is committed to conservation such as stopping biodiversity loss and saving our planet through halting climate change, whilst respecting indigenous peoples, and highlighting Global Climate Justice as it intersects with Climate Change Action. She focuses her campaigning on bringing about change by governmental and huge global corporations.

Mya-Rose’s book, Birdgirl, was recently published in the USA and Canada about how she and her family used birding trips to cope with her mother’s severe bipolar disorder, how these trips ignited her passion for birds and led to her journey to becoming an activist, sharing a stage with Emma Watson and Greta Thunberg, writing articles and appearing on TV and radio. Her book We Have A Dream, also available in the USA, highlights the work of 30 young environmentalists of colour from around the planet. She is also the youngest Brit to be awarded an honorary doctorate at the age of 17, for her pioneering work as Founder and

President of Black2Nature (which uses the UK political term of “Black” to mean “People of Colour”) a charity she set up at age 13 years to run free birding and nature camps for young people of colour and to fight for equal access to nature. In September 2020 she visited the Arctic with Greenpeace, highlighting the second lowest sea ice minimum and doing the most northerly youth strike ever.

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