Greetings, VAbirders-
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is looking for volunteer birders and
professional biologists to participate in Birds in Forested Landscapes
and/or the Golden-winged Warbler Atlas Project. Both projects are a good
way to gain in-the-field experience, and the projects can be easily
combined with current research. Please email me privately if you can help
out. Below is a little about each project.
Many thanks,
Allison Wells
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
www.birds.cornell.edu
Golden-winged Warbler Warbler Atlas Project (GOWAP)
The Golden-winged Warbler is a priority bird that has drawn much attention
as its population status is currently not well known in Pennsylvania. The
Cornell Lab of Ornithology, with support from the Pennsylvania Game
Commission, has initiated a citizen-science project called the
Golden-winged Warbler Atlas Project (GOWAP) which engages volunteer birders
and professional biologists to survey and conduct point counts at known and
potential breeding sites of golden-wings throughout their range. The
project is designed to determine the population status and habitat and area
requirements of the Golden-winged and the Blue-winged Warbler, as well as
their hybrids. There are two protocols. The Population Survey asks
volunteers to survey known and/or potential breeding sites (chosen by the
participant) to determine numbers of breeding birds, population status, and
general habitat characteristics. For the Hybrid Index, participants choose
one or more pages from their state's Delorme Atlas (gazetteer) and conduct
a series of 10-minute point counts in suitable golden-wing habitat, using
playback and visual identification to help create a hybrid index map.
Participants will receive a research kit, which includes instructions, data
forms, a color poster of golden-wings, blue-wings, and their hybrids as
well as a CD that will be used in the field for playback and point counts.
There are funds are available to pay qualified field assistants in
Pennsylvania who wish to work extensively on the Hybrid Index protocol. We
need both paid and volunteer participants to begin work in early May. For
more information, visit http://birds.cornell.edu/gowap.
Birds in Forested Landscapes (BFL)
BFL is working to determine the effects of forest fragmentation and acid
rain on North American forest birds. Participants choose BFL species that
breed locally (48 species throughout NA) and select (a) study site(s) in
fragments or contiguous forest. They visit the site(s) twice during the
breeding season, look for evidence of breeding, and record habitat
characteristics about the site in the field and from maps. Participants
receive a research kit and CD to use in the field for playback. Visit
www.birds.cornell.edu/bfl to find out more about the project and to sign up
to participate this season.
Results from BFL have just been published as conservation and management
guidelines for sustaining healthy populations of these species. For
information about how to receive a copy of the new publication, "A Land
Manager's Guide to Habitat Requirements for Forest Thrushes" visit
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/LabHappenings.html.
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