The Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) is an invasive insect that feeds on certain species of hardwood trees, eventually killing them. The ALB most likely came to the United States inside wood packing material from Asia. Since it was first discovered in Brooklyn, New York in 1996, the beetle has caused tens of thousands of trees to be destroyed in Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York.

If the ALB were to become established here, it could become one of the most destructive and costly pests ever to enter the United States. If we don't find and stop the ALB, we'll lose more than trees. We'll lose industries worth billions of dollars - and wildlife habitats too. Our yards and neighborhoods will take decades to recover.

They have not actually disappeared, thankfully. They are simply not 'hanging out' where humans may have become used to seeing them. Audubon Society of Rhode Island naturalist Kim Calcagno notes that she receives numerous calls and emails this time of year from concerned people who have noticed a remarkable dearth of birds in their yards and local parks. "Just as we can set the seasonal clock by the springtime robin and woodpecker phone calls, the start of autumn is distinctly marked by the profusion of calls asking what has happened to the birds," she says.

Well, what does happen to the birds?  Calcagno explains that it is part behavioral and part nutritional. "During the spring and summer, birds are focused on breeding. They come out to find a mate. They search to find nesting material. They forage endlessly for all those mouths to feed," she explains. "The birds you see are constantly taking risks by coming out in the open and exposing themselves to predators to get these things done. Once breeding is over for the season, they have some time before the winter comes to 'lay low' a bit, staying out of the view of predators and keeping out of the open areas. This behavior is normal and comes with the season."

Seven Tips for Bird Feeding on a Budget
 
It's no secret that the economy has slowed down in recently months.  Gas and grocery prices are up, and we're all looking for ways to save a buck. So what's a backyard bird watcher to do when it's time to refill the bird feeder with expensive seed? Resourceful bird lovers can continue to attract birds without breaking the bank with these tips from National Wildlife Federation's naturalist and backyard wildlife expert David Mizejewski.

Plant Natural Feeders - Birds only use feeders to supplement the natural foods they find in the landscape, so focus of your bird-feeding efforts on your plants even in good economic times. Plants feed birds with seeds, berries, nuts, sap and nectar as well as shelter and nesting places. Once planted, they'll provide free bird food for years to come. Get a list of the best plants for your state at https://secure.nwf.org/backyard/food.cfm.
 
Say No to Insecticides - Before you reach for the bug killer think about this: 96 percent of bird species in North America feed their babies insects. Most adult birds rely on insects as a source of protein too, but even those that primarily eat plant foods as adults still feed their young insects, including hummingbirds. Make sure you have plenty of insect life for the birds by going organic and eliminating insecticides. Let the birds control the insects for you.

The Fight to Save
our Native Species

Not just a crisis in Amazonian rainforests, species rarity is a worldwide and local conservation crisis.  Here in Rhode Island, there are many rare, endangered and threatened species that are vulnerable for a multitude of reasons.  (Anne - pull and put in italics, larger?)

Some species are naturally rare. The keen observer and naturalist Charles Darwin in On the Origin of Species (1859) concluded, "Rarity is the attribute of a vast number of species in all classes, in all countries." And two and a half centuries later, few species tend to be overwhelmingly common. Many will never carpet the state or be seen on every foray into the field.

In nature, rarity may be a product of restricted geography or very specific habitat requirements, small population sizes or a combination of these factors.  Habitat destruction and invasive species, the top two threats to biological diversity worldwide, exacerbate the dilemma of rarity. Some species are just more vulnerable. Giant pandas with their dietary and habitat specificity will always be rare. Birds of declining coastal grasslands are likely to be rare in the Northeast.