Are you looking forward to spring migration? Are you planning on visiting local hotspots in search of warblers, vireos, orioles and other neotropical migrants? Why not mix a little science into your birding pursuits? Audubon CT is seeking citizen scientists (volunteer birdwatchers) to participate in surveys of Neotropical migrant songbird abundance and foraging preferences during spring migration. Volunteers should have moderate - strong bird identification skills and at least a basic ability to identify common plants.
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| Photo: education.eol.org |
For the abundance surveys, we are asking participants to conduct simple 10-min. bird surveys (what bird species are present and how many of each species) at Greater New Haven Parks on at least four of the following Saturdays: April 21, 28th, May 5th, 12th and 19th. The abundance surveys will take a maximum of two hours to complete.
The foraging preferences surveys will help us identify which plants birds prefer to feed in during migration, and will be conducted one morning per week from April 20th-June 1st . The priority sites for these surveys are coastal sites from Greenwich to New Haven, as well as sites in the greater Hartford area, but people interested in conducting the surveys at other sites in CT are welcome to participate as well. The foraging surveys will take a maximum of one hour to complete.
There will be training sessions (not mandatory) on Friday April 13th at 10am and 7pm (location to be decided) that will focus on tips for identifying migrants by sight and sound. To volunteer or for more information, contact Corrie Folsom-O’Keefe (abundance surveys ) or Michelle Frankel (foraging surveys).
Corrie – cfolsom-okeefe@audubon.org, 203-264-5098
Michelle – mfrankel@audubon.org, 203-869-5272, ext.225
These songbird surveys are part of Audubon’s Habitat Oases for Migrating Songbirds program, which seeks to identify, improve and conserve important stop-over habitat for migrating songbirds all along the Atlantic migratory flyway, focusing on urban areas and other landscapes where there is limited quality habitat.
