Science Times: What wildfire smoke means for birds.

The vulnerability of birds to wildfire smoke, plus debates over the Audubon name

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story August 18, 2023 Welcome to a special birding edition of the Science Times newsletter, which will land in your inbox every Friday through September. By Emily Anthes An osprey rested on field lights in Bremerton, Wash., during wildfires in 2018.Larry Steagall/Kitsap Sun, via Associated Press The Maui wildfires are an ongoing human tragedy. At least 111 people have died, more than 1,000 people are unaccounted for, and many have been displaced from their homes. But such fires also put animals at risk. Wildlife, livestock and pets often perish in fires. Flames can destroy critical habitats for endangered species and set back conservation efforts. (The Hawaii fires threatened the Maui Bird Conservation Center, which is home to some of the world's most endangered birds.) And all creatures that breathe air are susceptible to smoke. "Birds are especially vulnerable, because they have an incredibly efficient respiratory system, which is designed to deliver enough oxygen to power flight," said Olivia Sanderfoot, an ecologist at the University of California, Los Angeles, who studies how smoke affects birds and other wildlife. The avian respiratory system is especially adept at drawing oxygen out of the air, but if there are pollutants wafting around, birds take those up readily, too. Precisely how smoke affects birds is still a nascent field of research, with many unanswered questions. But studies have shown that smoke can damage birds' lungs and make them more vulnerable to respiratory infections. And the fine particulate matter that is present in smoke — and causes well-documented health problems in humans — can also accumulate in birds' airways. "We know that air pollution, and smoke specifically, causes respiratory distress and makes it more difficult for birds to breathe," Dr. Sanderfoot said. Plumes of smoke may also disrupt the journeys of migrating birds, many of which are under threat. In 2020, tule geese, which summer in Alaska, began their fall migrations in the middle of a record wildfire season on the West Coast. The geese needed more than double the usual time to arrive at their traditional Oregon stopover site, and their flight paths were nearly 500 miles longer, scientists found. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT Smoke rose from Lahaina on the Hawaii island of Maui the morning after wildfires swept through.Richard Olsten/Air Maui Helicopters, via Reuters "We're beginning to see that birds have to make hard choices when they come across thick smoke," said Andrew Stillman, an ecologist at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology who studies how major fires affect birds. Birds can sit and wait for the smoke to clear, which can leave them stranded for days in unfamiliar territory and delay their migration. They can fly around the smoke, making detours that extend their journeys and use up precious energy reserves. Or they can continue to fly through, gulping down smoke as they go. "Either way, the migrating birds are worse off when they finally arrive," Dr. Stillman said. "And not everybody survives that perilous journey." Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT Dr. Sanderfoot is exploring how smoke alters bird behavior and how those responses vary according to species and circumstance. (Some birds of prey seem to be attracted to fires, perhaps because fleeing or injured small animals make for an easy dinner.) Which species are most vulnerable to wildfires? Do birds with larger home ranges find escape easier than do those with smaller territories? Do birds that live in fire-prone areas respond differently than those inhabiting places where wildfires are a newer threat? Do responses vary at different times of year? "And all of this work is geared toward answering questions that I hear over and over from birders in our community," Dr. Sanderfoot said. "Folks want to know what's happening to birds when it's smoky." She is also enlisting amateur bird watchers to help her answer these questions. One new effort, called Project Phoenix, is now seeking California residents who are willing to spend 10 minutes a week observing their local birds through the fire season. Dr. Sanderfoot hopes to learn how birds alter their habitat use in response to smoke, and whether providing bird feeders and baths "could help them thrive as smoke persists on the landscape," she said. "I'm hoping to put that all together and really help us learn, from a policy standpoint, what we can do to help birds as we see more and more smoke." BIRDS IN THE NEWS Nina Riggio for The New York Times THE SATURDAY PROFILE To Stop an Extinction, He's Flying High, Followed by His Beloved Birds Using an ultralight aircraft, Johannes Fritz once taught endangered ibises a migration path over the Alps. Because of climate change, he is now showing them a much longer route to a winter's refuge. By Denise Hruby San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance See How They Held Off Flames at a Haven for Hawaii's Endangered Birds A conservationist and a neighbor defended the center, part of an effort to save the state's native birds from extinction, until firefighters arrived. By Catrin Einhorn Go Nakamura for The New York Times 'Miracles Occurred That Night': A Mad Scramble to Save Maui Pets After a fire destroyed the seaside town of Lahaina, the fate of beloved animals became a wrenching concern. By Ernesto Londoño Michelle V. Agins/The New York Times How Christian Cooper, the Central Park Birder, Spends His Sundays The author and host of "Extraordinary Birder" enjoys a meditative moment, complete with lute music, among the native plants in his rooftop garden. By Tammy LaGorce Caio Fantini TRILOBITES Clue to Pterosaur Origins Found in Fossil of Flightless 'Rabbit Reptile' A Brazilian team's finding helps fill in the fossil record to explain how the flightless reptiles evolved in the dinosaur era. By Kate Golembiewski Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT Reader comments: Diversity inside Audubon Readers responded to The Times's story about the battle within the Audubon Society over James Audubon's ties to slavery. The organization is among many caught between a desire to appeal to a younger, more diverse generation and concerns that some changes the group was considering went too far. It's quite fascinating to me, as an older white male who donates to conservation organizations, that so many commenters are appalled at the idea of changing the name and want to focus on the important work that Audubon does rather than consider a name change. Why can't Audubon continue its important work and change its name at the same time? — nhtimes, Boston No social justice is being served by changing the name of the Audubon Society. Audubon created the ornithological movement in this country nearly single-handedly. His name is synonymous with it and his name now transcends him as a person. And the reason his name is on the society is for his scientific and artistic contributions to birding. — Jeff, U.S. Wouldn't Avian Society be a more descriptive name, especially for newcomers and younger joiners? Eventually, the name Audubon would fade from memory. — R. Thomas Berner, Bellefonte, Pa. "Why would you not take the step of being brave and moving forward?" Jason Hall, a birder in Pennsylvania, said.Kriston Jae Bethel for The New York Times Sign up for the Climate Forward newsletter, for Times subscribers only. News and insights for a warming world. Get it in your inbox Continue reading the main story Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Science Times from The New York Times. To stop receiving Science Times, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018

U.S. Department of Justice Attorney Vacancies Update

You are subscribed to Attorney Vacancies for U.S. Department of Justice. This information has recently been updated, and is now available.

Assistant United States Attorney (eLitigation)

08/18/2023 11:10 AM EDT

USAO District of Kansas
Kansas City, Topeka, or Wichita, Kansas
Wichita, Kansas
Announcement #: 23-KS-12097009-AUSA-09
Application Deadline: September 8, 2023

Achieving and maintaining eLitigation proficiency among attorneys and staff is a top priority of the Department of Justice and the United States Attorney's Office. This Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) will be responsible for building on and overseeing the office's eLitigation operations. This includes advising and/or consulting with the office's eLitigation support staff, civil and criminal case teams, management, and others, such as the Court, Federal Public Defender, law enforcement and client agencies, on substantive electronic litigation (eLitigation) and discovery issues, ensuring discovery processes are defensible, further developing the office's eLitigation policies and protocols, including procedures for processing, reviewing, producing, and managing electronic discovery, coordinating litigation support work, and providing training on litigation technology software tools and applications. This is not a trial AUSA position; it does not involve case handling or routine litigation. The selected candidate is an attorney advisor, who will be fully dedicated to coordinating the office's eLitigation program. The AUSA will be located in the District of Kansas and will be assigned to work in one of our three office locations: Kansas City, Topeka, or Wichita, Kansas based on the applicant's preference.

Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.

Special Assistant United States Attorney (SAUSA)

08/18/2023 09:44 AM EDT

USAO District of Columbia
United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia
Washington, District of Columbia

Application Deadline: October 10, 2023

Responsibilities and Opportunities Offered: The U.S. Attorney's Office in Washington, D.C. has openings for its Special AUSA (SAUSA) detail program starting on October 10, 2023, with other details starting on January 16, 2024, and April 8, 2024.

SEVEN MONTH DETAIL

The first option is a detail that will start on October 10, 2023, and end on May 3, 2024.  The detail begins with the same three-week Basic Training course that our newly-hired AUSAs attend.  The course is an excellent blend of intense academic classes (e.g., evidence, discovery), trial skills, and hands-on experience, including evidence workshops and mock trials that are critiqued by seasoned Assistant United States Attorneys with years of trial experience.  At the conclusion of Basic Training, SAUSAs are assigned to either our Misdemeanor Section or our Domestic Violence Misdemeanor Section in the Superior Court Division.  While in the Superior Court Division, SAUSAs will handle their own caseloads; draft and argue motions; handle plea negotiations; conduct plea hearings; meet with and prepare victims and witnesses; first-chair bench trials; advocate at sentencings; etc.  Most days include court appearances.  There is no difference between a regular AUSA and a SAUSA in terms of duties, responsibilities, and training.  Because the U.S. Attorney's Office also serves as the local prosecutor for the District, we prosecute thousands of cases each year.  Our misdemeanor-level caseloads include simple assaults; threats; possession of prohibited weapons; drug possession; assaults on police officers; theft; destruction of property; hate/bias crimes; child abuse; credit card fraud; etc.  We do not handle traffic; DUI; or juvenile cases. 

Second Portion of Detail:  During the second portion of the detail (January 16, 2024 – May 3, 2024), the SAUSA will be given more advanced litigation opportunities while in their assigned Misdemeanor or DV Section.  Alternatively, with advance agreement between the USAO-DC and the SAUSA and his/her agency, the SAUSA may spend the second portion of the detail in the USAO-DC's criminal Appellate Division, criminal Special Proceedings Division, or Civil Division.  DOJ attorneys are eligible to be considered for an additional six-month detail in the Criminal Division, which requires the approval of the Chief of the Criminal Division and the requisite security clearance.

SHORTENED DETAIL

The second option is a shorter detail (4 months) in the Superior Court Division that will start on October 10, 2023, and end on February 9, 2024. This program begins the same way as the seven-month detail with our Basic Training program followed by assignments to either our Misdemeanor Section or our Domestic Violence Misdemeanor Section.  While SAUSAs in the shortened detail will receive the same training and handle the same types of cases as the SAUSAs in the seven-month detail, the more advanced litigation opportunities are not part of this program.                                                                                                                   

Finally, although we have flexibility in terms of when SAUSAs start, all SAUSAs (and regular AUSAs) go through our Basic Training program before handling cases.  We have classes that begin on October 10, 2023, January 16, 2024, and April 8, 2024.  If a SAUSA starts before a Basic Training class, he or she will assist with case processing/intake; shadow other attorneys; draft motions, etc. until the class starts, but the end date of the detail would remain the same.

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The Economics Daily

Bureau of Labor Statistics

The latest Economics Daily article is available here: https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2023/u-s-import-prices-down-4-4-percent-from-july-2022-to-july-2023.htm. Highlights are below. U.S. import prices down 4.4 percent from July 2022 to July 2023 08/18/2023 U.S. import prices declined 4.4 percent from July 2022 to July 2023, after increasing 8.8 percent for the year ended in July 2022. Import prices for industrial supplies and materials had the largest decline (−16.5 percent) over the most recent 12-month period. Partially offsetting import price decreases, prices rose for foods, feeds, and beverages (2.7 percent), capital goods (0.8 percent), and automotive vehicles, parts and engines (1.3 percent). HTML

Update Subscriber Preferences  |   Change Password or Email Address  |   Send Feedback |   Follow Us  NEW Charts Related to the Latest BLS News Releases: https://www.bls.gov/charts/ Questions or problems? Please contact subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com GovDelivery, Inc. (800-439-1420) sending on behalf of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Postal Square Building, 2 Massachusetts Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20212-0001

 

Federal News Network's Cyber Leader Exchange 2023 - sign up now!

Discover how agencies are leading the way as the government "fundamentally re-imagines America's cyber social construct."

Federal News Network's Cyber Leaders Exchange 2023 Join Federal News Network to learn tips, technologies and tactics from the cyber frontlines across government.  Register Now! Each afternoon September 12 through 14, our journalists will sit down with federal and industry experts for the Federal News Network 2023 Cyber Leaders Exchange.    We will explore federal efforts to improve cyberscurity, share details about the latest technology developments and look ahead to how agencies plan to stay ahead of their cyber adversaries.   The release of the National Cyber Strategy culminated an already busy year for agencies as they continued to try to keep up with ever-changing cyberthreats. The White House laid out a vision of how agencies should play a leading role on all things cyber through oversight, acquisition and technology deployment.   During our second annual cyber exchange, our journalists — Jason Miller, Tom Temin, Jared Serbu and Justin Doubleday  — will dive deep into the government's efforts to bring the White House vision to life and strengthen federal cyber capabilities.   Each day, we'll feature provocative discussions on daily themes:   Day 1: The zero trust journey and beyond How do the government's cyber efforts fit together? Will the 2024 budget support both current and future efforts? What are agencies doing to tackle all the pillars of zero trust? Featuring the White House's Chris DeRusha; Navy's Cmdr. Nick Goddard, M. Barry Tanner and David Voelker; and DHS' Donald Yeske (invited)   Day 2:  Securing the software supply chain How are and can agencies better secure and manage the risks of their IT and cyber supply chains? How are they progressing in implementing DevSecOps platforms and CI/CD pipelines? What's happening on software bills of materials and other attestation requirements? Featuring CISA's Shon Lyublanovits and NASA's Kanitra Tyler   Day 3: Cyber of the future What can agencies do to prepare for the constantly changing cyber landscape? How are they leaning into automation, predictive analytics, better end point detection and the latest response tools?  What's on the horizon for quantum cryptography and other leading edge technologies? Featuring ONCD's Phil Stupak (invited), DHS' Ann Cox and Daniel Coulter, and NIST's Dustin Moody   We will also have industry experts joining us from Carahsoft, Amazon Web Services, Dell Technologies, Okta and more.   Each day begins at 1 p.m. Eastern.   Sign up NOW to reserve a front your seat at this exclusive virtual event!   Thanks,   The Federal News Network Team © Federal News Network  5425 Wisconsin Ave Chevy Chase, MD 20815   Trouble accessing your download? We're here to help. Contact support at custom@wtop.com     If you believe this has been sent to you in error, please safely unsubscribe.

$240 million in funding is available for habitat restoration and coastal resilience.

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. August 18, 2023 Transformational Habitat Restoration and Coastal Resilience Grants Announced On Tuesday, August 15th, NOAA's Office of Habitat Conservation announced up to $240 million in funding for habitat restoration and coastal resilience through the Transformational Habitat Restoration and Coastal Resilience Grants as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, This funding opportunity is seeking proposals that will have a transformative impact for coastal communities and tribes across the country. Sustaining our nation's fisheries, making significant strides in the recovery of threatened and endangered species, and buffering coastal economies and ecosystems from climate change impacts will be key aspects of the projects funded. Projects that support these goals through initiatives involving aquaculture could be competitive. "[Funded  projects] will support efforts such as reconnecting rivers to their historic floodplains, outplanting corals to rebuild reefs, building living shorelines that protect coasts from erosion and sea level rise, and more," said Carrie Robinson, NOAA's Director of the Office of Habitat Conservation. NOAA will accept proposals with a federal funding request of between $1 million and $25 million total over the award period. For more information, view the Transformational Habitat Restoration and Coastal Resilience Grants website. Proposals must be received through Grants.gov by 11:59 PM Eastern time on November 17, 2023. You can apply here and direct questions to Resilience.Grants@noaa.gov.  More Information Visit our website

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Water Drop An Army CH-47 Chinook drops seawater over the perimeter of dry land that surrounds the areas impacte... Photo Details > Search Operations Service members conduct search, rescue and recovery operations in areas damaged by wildfires in Laha... Photo Details > Mask Distribution Hawaii Army National Guardsmen distribute N-95 masks to the Lahaina assistant police chief in Lahain... Photo Details > View All Photos

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