[nnasnet] Fw: 2nd Annual Northern Neck Winter Waterfowl Census on the Potomac River and Associated Creeks and Ponds - Saturday Feb 8 and/or Sunday 9 Feb
- From: Melissa Gross <melissagross@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: NNASnet <nnasnet@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 9 Jan 2020 15:42:26 +0000
Hello and happy new year. I'm forwarding an opportunity for you to participate
in an important citizen science project. Please continue reading below. Thank
you! Melissa
________________________________
From: JEFFREY W WRIGHT <pec11908@xxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, January 7, 2020 6:58 PM
Subject: 2nd Annual Northern Neck Winter Waterfowl Census on the Potomac River
and Associated Creeks and Ponds - Saturday Feb 8 and/or Sunday 9 Feb
All - Seeking participants for a Winter Waterfowl Count along the Potomac River
on Saturday and/or Sunday - 8 and 9 Feb. You can participate on either day or
both.
This is the second year for the count in “our neck of the woods” In 2019 we had
an excellent turn out.
Birders of any and all skill levels are invited to participate. Please contact
Jeff Wright at pec11908@xxxxxxx<mailto:pec11908@xxxxxxx> if you are interested
in participating on one of the teams conducting the waterfowl count.
The waterfowl count concentrates on a list of about fifty species that we would
expect to see on or along the water from eagles to ducks to scaups to herons,
etc. This is a rather fun count to participate in and prevailing in the face
of the February weather always adds to the feeling of accomplishment when you
finish.
Teams of two to five folks spend about 2-3 hours sampling sections of the river
and the segments of creeks that are along the river. The teams can choose to
go either Saturday or Sunday (or both) and at a time of their choosing. Most of
this is generally done in the morning.
For 2020 we will be helping to complete the census of the entire length of the
Potomac (and areas of the Chesapeake Bay Shoreline near the mouth of the
Potomac River) by once again adding “count data” from King George,
Westmoreland, and Northumberland County. Prior to 2019 the census managed by
the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia covered Loudon, Fairfax, Arlington,
Prince William, Stafford, the Western portion of King George County, and areas
of Alexandria and Ft. Belvoir and Quantico Marine Base. So the overall goal is
that teams would cover each of the Virginia Counties that are on the Potomac.
On the NNK Count starting in 2019 we became a key part of this very well run
Citizen Science Project that has been conducted annual in the Northern Segments
of the Potomac for more than a decade. On the NNK - starting in 2019 - we also
gained an annual event for Birding, Conservation, and Citizen Science. This
year for the first time the count will also cover the northern areas of Loudon
County. So the count this year will basically cover from near Harper’s Ferry
West Virginia to Dameron Marsh. Yup, we are turning the corner and attempting
to capture additional data on a small stretch of the “bayside."
The census of waterfowl has created a significant data base for tracking
waterfowl and identifying trends in the health of habitats and probable state
of food sources such as aquatic vegetation. For example the excessive rain in
spring of 2018 made water levels high, precluding sunlight from reaching the
river bottom plus causing extreme sedimentation. In short, both precluded
healthy growth of submerged aquatic vegetation, a major food source for
wintering waterfowl. And in the 2019 Water Fowl Count a decline was seen in the
expected numbers of some species. Will we see the trend reversed in 2020?
This count also helps to clarify and reinforce some areas of concerns
identified in Christmas Bird Counts. For example at this years
Northumberland-Lancaster CBC we did not see many Tundra Swans or Black Ducks.
Yikes.
Here are some of the possible sites along the Potomac that will be “birded” by
different teams on Saturday 8 Feb and/or Sunday 9 Feb. Generally two to three
teams will be covering each of the three counties.
Northumberland County
Kohl's Island
VirMar Beach
Coan River
Presley Creek
Cubitt Creek
Hack Creek
Kings Cove Creek
Cod Creek
Pressly Creek
Corbin Pond
Rogers Creek
Ellyson Creek
Reedsville Harbor
Fleeton
Mill Creek
Little Wicomico
Greater Wicomico
Dameron Marsh
Private Properties along the shoreline
Westmoreland County
Colonial Beach
Mattox Creek
George Washington Birthplace National Monument
Popes Creek
Bridges Creek
Lake Independence
Currioman Creek
Stratford Hall
Westmoreland State Park
Nomini Bay
Yeocomico River
Lower Machodoc
Long Pond
Gardiner Creek
Jackson Creek
Private Properties along the shoreline
“Eastern” King George County
Caledon State Park
Private Farms adjacent to Chotank Creek Preserve
Dahlgren Wayside Park
Upper Machodac Creek
Rosier Creek
Private Properties along the shoreline
Let me know if you would like to participate
Please work on your counting skills! For example here is a graphic that
depicts “high count” days at a waterfowl count.
[cid:334B0799-4F98-4BBF-A730-3C2DA1D88A0D@fios-router.home]
Jeff
Jeff Wright
703-801-0239
Sector Compiler for the 8-9 Feb Waterfowl Count
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- » [nnasnet] Fw: 2nd Annual Northern Neck Winter Waterfowl Census on the Potomac River and Associated Creeks and Ponds - Saturday Feb 8 and/or Sunday 9 Feb - Melissa Gross
