Dear Ospreyers,

This is to let you know that details of IBA Bird Blitz 2007, including instructions and field survey forms, are now available online at the Audubon Maryland-DC website http://www.audubonmddc.org/SciCon_IBAs.html  Bird Blitz is a simple survey method for at-risk bird species that helps to determine if a site qualifies as an Important Bird Area (IBA) - you may have read the article about it in the Jan-Feb issue of the Maryland Yellowthroat.

The Important Bird Areas Programs needs your help in identifying the remaining IBAs in Maryland and DC. To identify an IBA we need to know whether the site supports a significant population of at-risk species (listed in the IBA criteria; also available at the above website), not just whether these species are present. For example, Cerulean Warblers are declining fast enough that any site with at least 10 pairs would qualify as an IBA in our state....but do sites like Catoctin Mountain or Elk Neck State Park have this many? This is where Bird Blitz comes in because it is designed to focus on these at-risk species and produce counts of the numbers of breeding pairs. 

This is classic citizen science and birders in Maryland and DC can make a difference for bird conservation by taking part. I'd be delighted to hear from anyone who might be interested in doing a Bird Blitz at any potential (or already recognized) IBA, although we are in particular need for data from the following sites:
      -	Garrett State Forest, Garrett County.
	-	Potomac State Forest, Garrett County.
	-	Mount Nebo Wildlife Management Area, Garrett County.
	-	Dans Mountain Wildlife Management Area, Allegany County. 
	-	Warrior Mountain Wildlife Management Area, Allegany County.
	-	Sideling Hill Wildlife Management Area, Washington County. 
	-	Indian Springs Wildlife Management Area, Washington County.
	-	South Mountain, Washington/Frederick Counties.
	-	Catoctin Mountain, Frederick County. 
	-	Sugarloaf Hill/ Monocacy Natural Resource Management Area, Frederick County. 
	-	McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area/Seneca Creek State Park, Montgomery County.   (organizer: Michael Bowen, Montgomery Bird Club)
	-	Patuxent Research Refuge, Prince George's/Anne Arundel Counties.
	-	Mattawoman Natural Environment Area/Myrtle Grove Wildlife Management Area, Charles County.
	-	St. Mary's River State Park, St. Mary's County.
	-	Calvert Cliffs State Park, Calvert County. 
	-	Gunpowder Falls State Park, Baltimore County. 
	-	Susquahanna State Park, Harford/Cecil Counties.
	-	Elk Neck State Park, Cecil County.
	-	Fair Hill Natural Resource Management Area, Cecil County.
	-	Millington Wildlife Management Area, Kent County.
	-	Idylwild Wildlife Management Area, Caroline County. 
	-	Somerset County coastal marshes
	-	Pocomoke State Forest, Worcester County.
	-	Maryland Coastal Bays marshes, Worcester County.

	Thanks, and I look forward to hearing from you, and answering any questions, either offlist or on the list, whichever is more appropriate.

	Dave


David Curson, PhD
Director of Bird Conservation,
Audubon MD-DC,
2437 Eastern Avenue,
Baltimore  MD  21224
Tel: (410) 558 2473
E-mail: