BCN is looking for
more volunteer monitors. Please spread the word about the BCN
Census.
Details about the program are provided below.
Why monitor birds?
Monitoring provides a profile of past and current bird populations
that lets researchers see which species are expanding, which are
remaining and which are declining. This gives us a basis for
intelligent choices about habitat preservation and management. At
least three major studies will use this year’s monitoring data,
along with local land managers.
Job requirements
• People willing to make a
commitment for several years.
• People able to identify most of the birds encountered by sight
and sound.
Who shouldn’t monitor
• People who have no interest in
sites or habitats.
• People not able to identify the birds by sight and sound. (You
don’t have to be an expert at identification to be a monitor, but
monitoring isn’t appropriate for beginners.)
What monitoring involves
• Work with the BCN and land
manager to identify your site(s).
• Introduce yourself to the land manager.
• Survey site, lay out transect and points, and determine location
by lat/long coordinates.
• Visit the site six or more times per year, at least twice during
the breeding season (June).
• Collect data on numbers of birds observed by species.
• Enter data into eBird and forward it to the land manager.
How to get started monitoring
Contact the Bird Conservation Network’s Monitoring Committee (Judy
Pollock or Lee Ramsey):
Judy Pollock:
847-965-1150, ext. 15 (Judy)
Lee Ramsey:
847-501-4683 (Lee)
Bird monitors are needed for assigned
sites in the greater Chicago area through the BCN Census. Monitoring
provides a profile of past and current bird populations that lets
researchers see which species are expanding, which are remaining and
which are declining. This gives us a basis for intelligent choices
about habitat preservation and management. In 2005, at least three major
studies used monitoring data for studies, along with local land
managers.
To volunteer, contact the Bird Conservation Network (Judy Pollock)
at 847-965-1150, ext. 15, or (Lee Ramsey) 847-501-4683. For more
information contact:
Chicago Audubon Society: Joe Lill
Chicago Ornithological Society: Christine Williamson
Dunes-Calumet Audubon Society: Donna Gonzalez
DuPage Birding Club: Joe Suchecki
Evanston North Shore Bird Club: Suzanne Checchia
Fort Dearborn Audubon Society: George Sullivan
Kane County Audubon Society: Ann Haverstock
Lake-Cook Audubon Society: Arnie Bock
Lake County Audubon Society:
McHenry County Audubon Society: Randy Schietzelt
Prairie Woods Audubon Society: Lowell Smith
Thorn Creek Audubon Society: Dick Riner
Will County Audubon Society
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