[texbirds] Re: Breeding Bird Survey Volunteers 3rd request

  • From: "Robert White" <dmarc-noreply-modpost@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> (Redacted sender "glqman@xxxxxxxxx" for DMARC)
  • To: "brentortego@xxxxxxxxxxx" <brentortego@xxxxxxxxxxx>, texbirds <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 16:23:32 +0000 (UTC)

You said "The route needs to be run ONCE each year during the months of May or 
June; exact dates vary with each route. "  I am considering the two nearest my 
home in Spring - 337 and 905 (either, not both!).  Do they have exact dates 
they must be covered?  I'd like to take my travel trailer to the area over 
Memorial Day weekend, but if there's a specific date for each one, how do I 
find it?  I've looked through the linked website.
-Bob White Spring, TX
      From: Brent Ortego <brentortego@xxxxxxxxxxx>
 To: texbirds <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> 
 Sent: Tuesday, March 17, 2015 8:18 AM
 Subject: [texbirds] Breeding Bird Survey Volunteers 3rd request
   
We have had a pretty good response from Texas birders this season taking on 
Breeding Bird Survey routes.  The National Office just conducted a review of 
birder performance and decided to drop several participants who did not do 
their routes in the last 3 years.  That is disappointing when a route is 
assigned and the birder does not do them nor coordinate with anybody to get 
them done.
 
This situation created 5 new vacancies in central Texas ranging from Edwards to 
McLennan counties.
 
Thanks for your consideration and assistance.
 
Brent Ortego
Texas Breeding Bird Survey Coordinator
Victoria, TX
 
 
 
BREEDING BIRD SURVEY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
 
This is my annual request for volunteer sign-up to conduct roadside breeding 
bird surveys (BBS) in Texas during 2015.  There are 9 vacancies in the 
Panhandle, 1 in North Central Texas, 5 in Central Texas, 1 in Northeast Texas, 
and 1 in Southeast Texas.  Read below for more details.
 
For those not familiar with the survey methodology, the BBS is the national 
survey which is the primary source for breeding bird population trends in the 
nation.  This survey has about 3000 randomly located routes across the United 
States.  Each route is 24.5 miles long with 50 stops spaced 0.5 miles apart.  
At each stop during a 3 minute period, the observer tallies all birds seen 
within ¼ mile and all birds heard.  The route lasts from 30 minutes before 
sunrise until you finish which is normally about 11 a.m.  The route needs to 
be run ONCE each year during the months of May or June; exact dates vary with 
each route.  It might require a pre-survey scouting trip just to familiarize 
yourself with the route, and a little paper/computer work after the route is 
done.  The observer needs to be able to identify most of the birds along the 
route by call and all by sight.  Along routes in agricultural areas, this 
might only mean about 20 species by call, but in more complex forested
  areas it might mean 70 species.
 
National and local conservation organizations very regularly use BBS data (see 
www.stateofthebirds.org) in their analysis.  They focus very strongly on 
breeding bird population trends generated by YOUR DATA, and also used bird 
density data extensively.  Partners In Flight has developed models to estimate 
breeding density and distribution for all species they are tracking with BBS 
data.  Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has used the data when they 
developed a statewide conservation plan for birds  (see 
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs/pwd_pl_w7000_1187a/) .  
Conservation “Joint Ventures” across the nation regularly use BBS data as 
they implement their new “All Birds” management goals.  It has been very 
satisfying seeing the product of our works being used to influence national and 
local decisions on avian conservation.
 
Texas has 196 BBS routes and 14 vacancies.  The National Office has started 
listing routes as vacant when they have not received data from a volunteer for 
two years.  If you see your route listed as vacant, check your files and 
resubmit your data because the national office has not received it.
 
 This seems like a lot of routes, but it is not for a state our size.  Due to 
the variability of the data, we are trying to run at least 14 routes per 
ecological area and there are 10 ecological areas in Texas.  This should 
provide us a statistically valid sample of population trends of birds breeding 
near highways.  We are getting close to obtaining this sample size in every 
bird region except for the Panhnadle and West Texas.  We have problems getting 
qualified birders to do routes in the more rural parts of the State.  While 
there are plenty of good birders in Texas, the birders are concentrated in 
urban areas and the birds are spread throughout the State causing logistics 
problems of running routes in remote parts of the Texas.  A classic example is 
West Texas and the Panhandle, lots of country and few birders.
 
When you volunteer, I will need your name, mailing address, e-mail, telephone 
number and route of interest.
 
I am listing below vacant routes by geographic areas.  Species data for each 
route can be obtained a the link = 
https://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbs/RouteMap/Map.cfm. Those areas with the largest 
numbers of vacancies are the areas needing the most help.  If you are 
interesting in helping, or would like more information, reply to this e-mail.
 
PANHANDLE
 
Route 101            Pantex                  Carson County
Route 102            Texline                  Dallam County
Route 107            Hackberry            Cottle County
Route 179            Haskell                  Haskell County
Route 367            Williams                Hardeman County
Route 371            Panhandle            Gray County
Route 372            Shellytown            Hutchinson County
Route 373            Dalhart                  Dallam County
Route 375            Gruver                    Hansford County
 
 
WEST TEXAS
 
No vacancies.  Congratulations!
 
 
NORTHCENTRAL TEXAS
 
Route 078            Grayback              Wilbarger
 
CENTRAL TEXAS
 
Route 028            Boerne                               
   Kendall
Route 114            Indian Mountain                Edwards
Route 316            Leakey                               
     Real
Route 327            Rocksprings                          
Edwards
Route 337            Bruceville                            
  McLennan
 
 
NORTHEAST TEXAS
 
Route 068            Lydia                    Red River County
 
 
SOUTHEAST TEXAS
 
Route 905                            Lance Rosier      Hardin 
County
 
COASTAL PRAIRIE
 
No vacancies.  Congratulations!
 
 
SOUTH TEXAS
 
No vacancies.  Congratulations!
 
 
 
 
 
https://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbs/RouteMap/Map.cfm location of route maps
 
https://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBS/index.cfm?CFID250972&CFTOKEN 845651 raw data 
online retrieval system link provides location of species totals by route by 
year.  Explore US Results and Analysis tab.
 
https://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBS/learning/ BBS procedures and quiz
 
Brent Ortego
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
2805 N. Navarro, Suite 600B
Victoria, TX 77901
361/576-0022
Brent.ortego@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx                         
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