We are requesting Henslowâ??s Sparrow field observations in Tennessee and Kentucky. Last year we initiated a highly successful Henslowâ??s Sparrow Atlas project in Tennessee and Kentucky. We are again requesting local birders to collect information specifically about Henslowâ??s Sparrow populations and habitat use throughout the states Tennessee and Kentucky. If you are interested in participating in this important conservation project, you can download data forms and a full explanation of the protocol (PDF files) atâ?¦ http://web.utk.edu/~jgiocomo/HESPatlas.htm The website provides a link to the data form and field protocol, and a longer version of the protocol including pictures of Henslowâ??s Sparrows from Tennessee and Kentucky, and possible habitats. The basic information we are requesting includes the exact location, the number of birds (Henslowâ??s Sparrows and other grassland birds), and pictures of the habitat. As you may know, according to the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) Henslowâ??s Sparrow populations have been declining range-wide at a rate of 8.7% per year since 1966, one of the most severe declines of any bird in North America. But you may not be aware that trend is based on detections of Henslowâ??s Sparrows at just 174 BBS observations over the last 25 years among hundreds of survey locations in the thousands of square miles in the Henslowâ??s Sparrow breeding range. More information is urgently needed to target management efforts to reverse the severe population declines. The Henslowâ??s Sparrow Atlas Project is designed to determine the population status and habitat and area requirements of the Henslowâ??s Sparrow and other grassland associated species. A recent meeting of Henslowâ??s Sparrow â??expertsâ?? sponsored by the USFWS has identified a Henslowâ??s Sparrow (and grassland bird) atlas as a top priority to advance national level conservation efforts. In 2006 in Tennessee, Henslowâ??s Sparrows were located in five new counties and the total know populations now includes over 300 pairs in the state! These new observations offer hope that other populations could be found throughout the state if there are enough people looking in the â??rightâ?? habitats. Our hope is this atlas project will provide birders the excuse to spend some time birding between May 15 and July 15 in habitats that are usually not popular birding areas, namely unmowed agricultural grasslands, leading to the discovery of other unknown Henslowâ??s Sparrow populations. Areas in West Tennessee are especially likely to have new Henslowâ??s Sparrow population discoveries, but they have been discovered in East TN. Thanks for your cooperation! --Jim Giocomo Knoxville, TN ________________________________________________________________________ AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at AOL.com. =================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER===================== The TN-Bird Net requires you to SIGN YOUR MESSAGE with first and last name, CITY (TOWN) and state abbreviation. You are also required to list the COUNTY in which the birds you report were seen. The actual DATE OF OBSERVATION should appear in the first paragraph. _____________________________________________________________ To post to this mailing list, simply send email to: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx _____________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, send email to: tn-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field. ______________________________________________________________ TN-Bird Net is owned by the Tennessee Ornithological Society Neither the society(TOS) nor its moderator(s) endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Moderator: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN wallace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ------------------------------ Assistant Moderator Andy Jones Cleveland, OH ------------------------------- Assistant Moderator Dave Worley Rosedale, VA __________________________________________________________ Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society web site at http://www.tnbirds.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ARCHIVES TN-Bird Net Archives at //www.freelists.org/archives/tn-bird/ EXCELLENT MAP RESOURCES Topographical Maps located at http://topozone.com/find.asp Tenn.Counties Map at http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/states/tennessee3.gif Aerial photos to complement google maps http://local.live.com _____________________________________________________________