Subject: Looking For a Few Good Birds
Date: Jan 24 15:51:32 1995
From: mike.scuderi at internet.nps.usace.army.mil - mike.scuderi at internet.nps.usace.army.mil


As part of the Washington State "Birds in the Balance" Program the state
chapters are trying to identify one or more birds that can be easily
monitored over a longterm period to track possible declines in neotropical
migrants and habitat loss. This information would be used to supplement
Breeding Bird Surveys (BBS) and other ongoing projects. Cornell is already
doing something similar with "Project Tanager." Home ranges and habitat use
would be identifed and charted over the years.

Some rough criteria for selecting possible monitor candidates are:

1. Habitat sensitive (Generalists in some cases might be appropriate
but for the first round, looking at birds tied to sensitive habitats might
be better).

2. Ease of identification. Either the bird must have a distinctive song
and/or call note, or be readily recognizable by sight. Volunteers

3. The bird must be a neotropical migrant

For western Washington my first two thoughts for possible candidates for
western Washington were:

1. Swainson's Thrush
2. Willow Flycather
3. Western Tanager (which already has a montitoring protocol
developed).

Hopefully, the birding community has some ideas based on their experiences
and knowledge. I would appreciate hearing your thoughts and suggestions on
possible cnadidates and monitoring protocols (for both western and eastern
Washington)

Mike.Scuderi at internet.nps.army.mil
Seattle, WA