We invite qualified observers to participate in the Breeding Bird Survey.
Participants must have the skills to identify the likely species on their
routes by sight and by sound.
Since 1966 (1968 in Colorado and the West) the Patuxent Wildlife
Research Center, originally US Fish & Wildlife Service, and now the Biological
Research Division of the US Geological Survey, has sponsored the Breeding Bird
Survey program to monitor birds across the US (and Canada, with the Canadian
Wildlife Service). In 2002, volunteers ran almost 3000 routes in the US &
Canada. They call the project the "Breeding Bird Survey" - hence "BBS."
Scientists use results from the BBS to derive population trends for the species
that the system samples well.
Colorado has 132 designated BBS routes, and we consistently run
more routes than all other states in the U.S. except Texas and California. In
2007 we ran about 100 of the 132 routes. Right now we have six routes without
assigned observers for 2008.
A BBS route covers 24.5 miles. Observers record all the birds they
hear and see during a 3-minute stop, then drive a half-mile to the next stop.
You run the route, once only, during the peak of the songbird singing season,
from May 25 on the plains to July 15 in the high country. The ability to
identify species by sound is crucial--I estimate that I record 75-85% of the
birds on my routes by sound, not sight.
We seek a commitment of three years, because the BBS doesn't use
route data unless the same person runs it for at least 3 years. The observer
should have the ability to identify, by sound and sight, most of the species
likely to occur along that route.
Let me know if you would like one or more. The following list is
organized geographically (sort of).
Key to route descriptions:
Number and name County Page in DeLorme
Atlas
Roads that the route follows.
SW Colorado
17053 Lake City Hinsdale p 77
Starts on Colo. 149 a mile below summit of Slumgullion Pass;
continues to Rd 30, then up Lake Fork of the Gunnison (CR 30 & FR 4) to
Cinnamon Pass. Probably needs 4-wheel drive.
San Luis Valley
17018 Moffat Saguache p70
Starts on CR V, 13 miles south and about 7 miles east of the
intersection of US 285 and Colo 17 (south of Villa Grove); west on V, U5, and
U60 to CR 60; north on CR 60 and 61 to Rd 66, then west to end.
Central Mountains
17360 Radium Eagle, Summit, Grand p 37
Starts 2 miles N of Radium; south through Radium, then SEly up
Sheephorn Creek (CR 11 & FR 801) and over the Gore Range to FR23 & FR 10.
Requires 4-wheel drive.
Grand Junction
17138 Rosevale Mesa p 42-43
Starts on west side of Colorado River in Grand Junction, goes up
through Colorado National Monument and into Glade Park. New route -- I haven't
seen the map. A biologist from Colorado National Monument might go along.
Hugh Kingery
Colorado BBS coordinator
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Join us at the 2009 Convention in Alamosa:
http://cfo-link.org/convention/index.php
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