Rusty Blackbird Blitz - help needed in getting the word out ----- Original Message ----- From: Sergio.Harding@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To: atlanticwildfowl@xxxxxxx ; brattonbs@xxxxxxxxxxxx ; dave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ; mayhorn@xxxxxxxxxxxx ; leemark@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx ; scromer@xxxxxxxxxxxx ; bandbird@xxxxxxxxxxx ; info@xxxxxxxx ; nasca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ; ben_cop@xxxxxxx ; jtdalmas@xxxxxxxx ; bbsmith310@xxxxxxxxx ; jozimmva@xxxxxxx ; gramby@xxxxxxxxxx ; peter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ; nvbc@xxxxxxxxxxx ; rasboard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ; twoquinns@xxxxxxxxx ; eliza51@xxxxxxx ; opiehunter@xxxxxxxxx ; gbaruffi@xxxxxxxxx ; gwenstevens@xxxxxxxxx ; sedevan52@xxxxxxx Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2009 11:41 AM Subject: Rusty Blackbird Blitz - help needed in getting the word out All, In case you have not heard, Virginia will be one of the states participating in the Rusty Blackbird Blitz coordinated by the International Rusty Blackbird Working Group based at the Smithsonian. This citizen-science effort is designed to provide researchers concerned with the Rusty's precipitous declines with a snapshot of the species' winter distribution and habitat associations across the states in its winter range. I am acting as the 'team leader' for VA, and am contacting you to let you know that the Blitz, scheduled for Feb 7-15, is just 3 weeks away. So far articles on the Blitz have appeared in the winter VSO newsletter (http://www.virginiabirds.net/pdf/VSO_Newsletter_Winter-08_2009.pdf) and the IBA Program newsletter. I will be submitting an article to VA eBird next week, followed by a posting to the VA-bird listserve. I would like to get the word out to the other listserves and the VSO Chapters as well, and would appreciate your help in doing this. I hope that you can help by passing the word on to your Chapter and, if possible, in mobilizing folks to participate. I am also looking for people to repost to the regional Virginia birding listserves the announcement that I will be posting on the statewide listserve. If you are subscribed to any of these listserves and willing to repost on my behalf, please contact me to let me know, as I want to make sure that all the listserves are covered. Note that all data will be submitted via Virginia eBird, so this is a great opportunity to get folks signed up who may not currently be using this resource. Thanks for your help with getting the word out and in any coordinating efforts within your chapters, it is much appreciated. Feel free to contact me with any questions. Sergio Sergio Harding Nongame Bird Conservation Biologist Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries 4010 West Broad Street Richmond, VA 23230 (804)367-0143 fax (804)367-2427 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com Version: 8.0.176 / Virus Database: 270.10.7/1895 - Release Date: 1/15/2009 7:46 AM