Subject: Backyard lists wanted (fwd)
Date: Oct 19 10:28:59 1995
From: Alvaro Jaramillo - alvaro at quake.net


>Date: Thu, 19 Oct 1995 06:08:54 -0700
>Reply-To: Larry or Lynn Tunstall <beedleum at NETCOM.COM>
>Sender: "National Birding Hotline Cooperative (Chat Line)"
> <BIRDCHAT at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU>
>From: Larry or Lynn Tunstall <beedleum at NETCOM.COM>
>Subject: Backyard lists wanted (fwd)
>To: Multiple recipients of list BIRDCHAT
> <BIRDCHAT at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU>
>X-UIDL: 814120045.008
>
>The following message was posted to the Urban Wildlife mailing
>list. It seemed likely that many on this list would be
>interested in it. --Larry Tunstall Oakland CA beedleum at netcom.com
>
>*Date: Wed, 18 Oct 1995 18:19:02 EDT
>*From: Mark Hostetler <hos at ZOO.UFL.EDU>
>*Subject: Suburban/urban wildlife
>
>Just a little comment about the importance of the urban/suburban landscapes
>in terms of the abundance and diversity of animal communities. The
>necessity of large tracts of preserved land (in terms of promoting animal
>diversity) has been well established in the ecological field . . . In fact,
>most ecologists, for whatever reason, have concentrated their studies on
>largely untouched, pristine areas and the urban/suburban landscape has been
>virtually ignored (although this is beginning to change). Theoretical
>research that addresses the ecology of the urban/suburban landscape matrix
>(which is positioned between the large reserves) is lacking indeed. Even
>basic research (e.g., surveys of animals) in suburban/urban landscapes is
>few and far between. For instance, the pileated woodpecker is thought to
>require huge tracts of forest to breed in (this conclusion came from
>previous research); however, as a homeowner in Gainesville, FL - I know
>that the pileated nests in our supposed "fragmented" neighborhood!
>
>One of the keynote speakers at the recent ESA meeting in Snowbird Utah
>strongly suggested that ecologists must stop going out in the "middle of
>nowhere" to conduct their research. We (ecologists) cannot afford to
>ignore the "human factor" anymore (especially with the reality of urban
>sprawl!), research is needed to be concentrated on human-impacted areas.
>
>Now, anybody can conduct basic research in suburban/urban areas . . . In
>fact, I am suggesting that the average citizen could become the most
>important "researcher" in the near future by providing invaluable data to
>researchers. For example, my interest is in birds that utilize
>urban/suburban landscapes . . . I am extremely interested in obtaining bird
>counts from people that casually watch birds in their backyard. Just a
>list of birds seen in their backyards (over the years), along with the
>location of their home, would be extremely valuable to me. Even better, if
>the average homeowner would make their observations a little bit more
>precise (e.g., have a protocol of standing in the backyard and counting all
>the birds heard or seen within a 150ft. radius in a 10 minute period -
>these counts would be in the morning and at dusk 2-3 times a week during a
>three week period that includes the fall migration, spring migration,
>winter, and summer) . . . the conglomeration of data would be FANTASTIC!
>
>Well . . . after reading what I just wrote, I started thinking about alll
>the untapped resources out there that could do these bird surveys with a
>minimal amount of time required (e.g., retirees etc.) So I am putting-out
>the call, anybody interested in spreading the word or organizing (in their
>area) this backyard bird count - I will be more than happy to be a contact
>person and help organize this. Further, if anybody on this list has
>suggestions or a desire to get the ball rolling - please e-mail me.
>
>In addition, if anybody has any kind of backyard bird data - I would be
>really interested in obtaining it and compiling the data (please send exact
>location of where and when the birds where surveyed - e.g., city, State,
>street address, and time of day and dates when the birds where sighted or
>heard).
>****************************************************************************
>MARK HOSTETLER PHONE: 904-392-1040
>223 BARTRAM HALL EMAIL:HOS at ZOO.UFL.EDU
>DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY FAX: 904-392-3704
>UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
>GAINESVILLE, FL. 32611
>
>
Alvaro Jaramillo
Half Moon Bay, CA

alvaro at quake.net
http://www.quake.net/~alvaro/index.html