Folks-- Similar to Bill Evans' recent post for baseline studies on a wind project site: see note below from TNC in the Tug Hill.
Andy Mason ****************************************************************** Dear birders, Please share this announcement with anyone who might be interested. I understand there is some flexibility on dates so please contact Mary (<mailto:mpa...@tnc.org>mpa...@tnc.org or 315-387-3600 x21) if you think you can help. Thanks! -Becky The Nature Conservancy is looking for experienced birder volunteers to help survey sites on Tug Hill for the 2010 breeding season. The surveys will take place primarily on our Tug Hill Conservation Area located in Lewis County. The THCA is west of Whetstone Gulf State Park and south of Tug Hill Wildlife Management Area. A few sites will be located on the Tug Hill Wildlife Management Area as well. As you may know, a wind farm is being proposed adjacent to the Tug Hill Conservation Area and the Tug Hill Wildlife Management Area. Many studies have been conducted examining the displacement of birds from breeding sites in grasslands. However, not much is known about how interior forest nesting birds may respond to wind turbine development. We have developed a rapid assessment designed to improve our understanding of the impacts industrial wind farms can have on forest breeding bird populations adjacent to the development site. This years efforts are a pilot study and will test our methods and study design. We will use the results, as well as feedback from participants, to make adjustments to the study design as necessary for future years. What does volunteering entail? · Attend a training session or meet with TNC staff to learn the protocols. · Go out at least once (and ideally more) during June and early July. · Drive to the Tug Hill Conservation Area or Tug Hill Wildlife Management Area and hike through the forest and wetlands to the sampling sites. Volunteers will need to be able to navigate by GPS or map and compass and traverse uneven ground. Some sites are located off of old logging roads, but most are not near any trails or roads. · Count all of the birds you see and hear in the woods at a predetermined point and in response to playback of a mobbing call. What will TNC use this information for? · We will work with agencies, wind energy companies, and other organizations to incorporate information on interior forest birds ecology and behavioral responses into energy project placement, setback guidelines, and mitigation efforts. · We will share the results with researchers and others investigating wind and wildlife interactions. How you can help: We are seeking experienced volunteer birders who would be available to monitor specific sites during June and early July 2010. We will work with your schedule to find sites and sampling periods that work for you. If you are uncertain whether or not you are skilled or able enough, please contact usyou may very well be just what we need, or we can pair you with a more experienced birder in order to help you learn. For more information or if you or someone you know might be interested in helping with this important conservation project, please contact Mary Pappa at <mailto:mpa...@tnc.org>mpa...@tnc.org or 315-387-3600 x21. Thank you! Andrew Mason 1039 Peck St. Jefferson, NY 12093 (607) 652-2162 andyma...@earthling.net -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
