[birdky] Year 2 of the Rusty Blackbird Spring Migration Blitz

From: "Heyden, Kathryn (FW)" <kathryn.heyden@xxxxxx>
To: "birdky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <birdky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2015 21:49:01 +0000
I know it's tough to think much about migration right now, with the weather, 
but I just wanted to send out this announcement about the upcoming Spring 
Migration Rusty Blackbird Blitz.  This kind of weather does tend to bring Rusty 
Blackbirds out into places where we can see them easily (feeders, livestock 
operations), so please do report any Rusties you see to e-bird.  Even reports 
outside of the Blitz window will be useful.

Although occasionally overlooked as "just another blackbird," Rusty Blackbirds 
face an unfortunate and remarkable notoriety: this species has endured a 
decline more severe than that of any other once-common landbird. In 2014, the 
International Rusty Blackbird Working Group, in partnership with the U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, the Vermont Center for Ecostudies, eBird, and many other 
state, federal, and local partners, launched a three-year Rusty Blackbird 
Spring Migration Blitz that challenged birders to scour the landscape for Rusty 
Blackbirds during this species' northward migration.  Between 1 March and 15 
June, 4750 birders submitted 13,400 checklists containing Rusty Blackbird 
observations to eBird, a hugely successful first season that has allowed us to 
start looking at potential Rusty Blackbird migratory hotspots, habitat use, and 
potential migratory pathways.

We hope you'll consider participating in Year 2 of the Blitz this spring!  It's 
easy- bird as you normally do during the Blitz window (1 March through mid 
April) and submit your data to eBird using the "Rusty Blackbird Spring 
Migration Blitz" observation type.  To help you figure out when Rusties might 
be passing through your area, each region is assigned a set of target dates 
found here: 
http://rustyblackbird.org/outreach/migration-blitz/states-and-dates/  We're 
collecting Blitz data from anywhere within our target states and provinces, but 
this year, we'd also like birders to revisit Areas of Interest identified from 
2014 data to assess the consistency of Rusty Blackbird habitat use and 
migratory timing.  Check out our map of Areas of Interest for 2015 at 
http://rustyblackbird.org/outreach/migration-blitz/2015-areas-of-interest/

To learn more about Rusty Blackbirds and the Blitz effort, please visit our 
Migration Blitz website (http://rustyblackbird.org/outreach/migration-blitz/), 
or check out our Blitz Facebook page 
(https://www.facebook.com/rustyblackbirdspringblitz).

We hope you'll join us to Blitz for Blackbirds this spring!


Kate Heyden
Avian Biologist
Nongame Branch
KY Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
#1 Sportsman's Lane
Frankfort, KY  40601
Phone:  1-800-858-1549 ext. 4475
Fax:  502-564-4519
kathryn.heyden@xxxxxx<mailto:kathryn.heyden@xxxxxx>
www.fw.ky.gov<http://www.fw.ky.gov/>

Did you know... Department of Fish and Wildlife receives NO state tax dollars 
and manages wildlife for all citizens?
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[birdky] Year 2 of the Rusty Blackbird Spring Migration Blitz

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