I am sending this because folks in western Tennessee are closer to some of the Conservation Areas in the project than are most Missourians (especially true for Donaldson Point, Ten Mile Pond and Otter Slough.)
This is an exciting project and we welcome all participants. More information will follow.
Please address inquiries to:
Jerry Wade
Columbia, MO
wadej@xxxxxxxxxxxx
From: Susan M Gustafson <smgustafson@xxxxxxxx>
Date: Tue Oct 11, 2005 09:49:15 PM US/Central
To: MOBIRDS-L@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: ASM/MDC Bird Checklist Database Project
Reply-To: Susan M Gustafson <smgustafson@xxxxxxxx>
The Audubon Society of Missouri (ASM) is pleased to announce that
we have entered into a Cooperative Agreement with the Missouri Department
of Conservation (MDC) to establish a web-based database to collect bird
occurrence data at MDC Conservation Areas. The goal is to collect enough
bird occurrence records to generate useful bird checklists for
Conservation Areas. Everyone can help participate in this important
project by birding Conservation Areas and recording their sightings.
Here is more info to get birders acquainted with the project:
How
Birders will bird Conservation Areas and make lists of birds heard and/or
seen. This is not a point count project. There is no specific route and
no required time periods for observation. Any birder can participate and
contribute observations to the database. Birders may visit sites at any
time and as many times as desired. Visits may be by individuals or
groups. Organization field trips are encouraged. One individual from a
formal birding group should enter the sighting data as opposed to several
individuals entering duplicate data.
The following information will be required to enter sighting information:
name of the person reporting the bird(s) and number of individuals of
all species observed. Previously generated lists are acceptable for the
database. The data entry will be as user friendly as possible. Birders
who would like to contribute to the project, but are unable or reluctant
to enter the data onto the website will be encouraged to pass their lists
on to others who will enter the data for them!
When
The website is anticipated to be ready by January or February, 2006.
Meanwhile, birders are encouraged to keep bird lists from visits to
Conservation Areas now that can be entered in the database in the future.
Where
All Missouri Conservation Areas are included in the project. This means
data from any Area will be accepted in the database. However, initially,
ten Areas will receive special emphasis so that we will have enough data
to generate a checklist for those areas by June 1, 2006. The ten Areas
are expected to be: Schell-Osage, Four Rivers, Taberville, Ten-Mile
Pond, Otter Slough, Donaldson Point, B.K. Leach, Grand Pass, Union Ridge,
and Deer Ridge. See the links at the end of this message for location
information. We will also be producing checklists for several
Conservation Areas in which check lists are already well underway, but we
definitely want more data on those Areas which include: James A. Reed,
Burr Oak Woods, Eagle Bluffs, Springfield Conservation Nature Center, and
Rebel's Cove.
For providing this service to MDC which will result in the
generation of bird checklists on MDC areas, ASM will be receiving
monetary compensation from MDC to be used towards partnership habitat
restoration projects. Patrick Harrison will be developing and
administering the database. Jerry Wade will be serving as volunteer
coordinator. He will be contacting people to encourage participation.
But don't hesitate to contact him at wadej@xxxxxxxxxxxx if you have data
or will be birding any of the ten initial sites so that we can get an
idea of potential coverage.
This is a wonderful opportunity for birders to put their skills
to good use by assisting in the development of checklists and to
participate in a project that will reward ASM with funding to help bird
habitat. A section of the December issue of The Bluebird will be devoted
to the project, and additional information will be posted on MoBirds. In
the meantime, get out there and bird MDC Conservation Areas! Questions
about the project can be directed to Jerry Wade at above address.
Sue Gustafson
President, Audubon Society of Missouri
Schell-Osage:
http://mdc.mo.gov/cgi-bin/atlas/search.cgi?cgistate=1&area=5701
Four Rivers:
http://mdc.mo.gov/cgi-bin/atlas/search.cgi?cgistate=1&area=8238
Taberville:
http://mdc.mo.gov/cgi-bin/atlas/search.cgi?cgistate=1&area=6124
Ten Mile Pond:
http://mdc.mo.gov/cgi-bin/atlas/search.cgi?cgistate=1&area=8241
Otter Slough:
http://mdc.mo.gov/cgi-bin/atlas/search.cgi?cgistate=1&area=5004
Donaldson Point:
http://mdc.mo.gov/cgi-bin/atlas/search.cgi?cgistate=1&area=8506
B.K. Leach:
http://mdc.mo.gov/cgi-bin/atlas/search.cgi?cgistate=1&area=8514
Grand Pass:
http://mdc.mo.gov/cgi-bin/atlas/search.cgi?cgistate=1&area=8010
Union Ridge:
http://mdc.mo.gov/cgi-bin/atlas/search.cgi?cgistate=1&area=8932
Deer Ridge:
http://mdc.mo.gov/cgi-bin/atlas/search.cgi?cgistate=1&area=5703
James A. Reed:
http://mdc.mo.gov/cgi-bin/atlas/search.cgi?cgistate=1&area=5501
Burr Oak Woods:
http://mdc.mo.gov/cgi-bin/atlas/search.cgi?cgistate=1&area=7812
Eagle Bluffs:
http://mdc.mo.gov/cgi-bin/atlas/search.cgi?cgistate=1&area=8931
Springfield Conservation Nature Center:
http://mdc.mo.gov/cgi-bin/atlas/search.cgi?cgistate=1&area=8609
Rebel's Cove:
http://mdc.mo.gov/cgi-bin/atlas/search.cgi?cgistate=1&area=7944
