From: Assateague Coastal Trust [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Monday, February 25, 2008 10:54 AM
To: 
Subject: Fw: Volunteers Needed for Annual Piping Plover Census on 3 June
2008 and Canada Goose Nest Surveys

 


To Whom It May Concern:

My name is Tami Pearl and I am the lead field technician for the piping
plover monitoring program at Assateague Island National Seashore. The
Maryland portion of Assateague Island is the only location in Maryland for
breeding piping plovers, and as such, is a critical component of the
Southern Recovery Unit for the Atlantic coast piping plover population.
Piping plovers have been monitored at Assateague since their placement on
the endangered species list in 1986. Of all the breeding sites along the
Atlantic coast, Assateague Island National Seashore contains the highest
density per hectares of habitat. Each year, a dedicated staff of both
federal and state employees, as well as volunteers, spends numerous hours
locating and observing these birds, their nests, and later, their young.
Not only are the birds cryptic in both plumage and behavior, the island
topography and geomorphology present a challenge in monitoring these birds,
requiring observers to be both patient and determined as they search for
these birds.

In addition, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Atlantic Coast Plover
Recovery team has established June 1-9 as the standard annual census window
for Piping plovers. Plover censuses are completed by all east coast
breeding states, but since the only Maryland breeding site is Assateague
Island, the National Park Service does the honors. In 2007, we counted 143
adult Piping plovers.

For 2008, we have established 3 June as the date of the Assateague Island
census, with a wind/rain-out date of 4 June. We'll work from 0600-1200
ish, depending on the number of observers and weather that day. Due to the
risk to plovers, we will not conduct the census during heavy rains or winds
in excess of 17 mph.

We need folks who can identify Piping plovers, both running and flying,
from species such as: Sanderlings, Least terns, Horned Larks, Killdeer, and
various ground sparrows. Observers must also have the skills to hear
plovers, the observation skills to see undiscovered plover eggs/nests,
Least tern eggs/nests, and potentially Piping plover chicks. The bottom
line is that we need attentive observers who are comfortable around cryptic
species.

We'll meet at the National Park Headquarters/Visitor Center parking lot.
Vehicles will be provided for island travel. The census will focus on the
northernmost 9 kilometers of Assateague Island - where most of the plovers
are located. The remainder of the island will be censused by
vehicle/walking searches in the afternoon or following day.

The census of the primary breeding area is accomplished by a simple line
survey. Observers will line up across the island and proceed in an
organized manner, counting all plovers that pass the line either walking or
flying. Optics are not required. We hope to have observers close enough
to keep sneaking birds from eluding us.

Besides piping plovers, Assateague Island National Seashore is also home to
a resident Canada goose population. In the past, our field staff has been
able to assist in the management of the breeding population, and we would
like to continue this program with the assistance of volunteers. The
program is minor when compared to the time and energy spent on the piping
plovers, but just as essential as we try to limit the population growth of
resident Canada geese in the coastal bays by Assateague.

I am writing to you with the hope that you may be able to assist me in my
search for volunteers. I would like to be able to place a brief
announcement on your website directing interested people to contact me. I
believe that your newsletter would be a great means by which to announce to
local birders this opportunity to volunteer at Assateague. Would you
please inform me as to how to place such a request should this be feasible?

Sincerely,
Tami Pearl

********************************************
Tami Pearl
Biological Science Technician
Assateague Island National Seashore
410-641-1443 ext. 217