Hello Maryland Birders,

This is a reminder that that the second of two Bird Blitz Training Sessions will be held tomorrow, May 28, 2010 at 7:00PM at the Pickering Creek Audubon Center in Talbot County. For directions to Pickering Creek click here http://www.pickeringcreek.org/pcacmap/index.html  We will meet at the Welcome Center at the end of the entrance driveway and walk down to the garden classroom to the right. I will be leading this training, as David Yeany is busy monitoring birds at the Pocomoke-Nassawango IBA.


In 2009, 42 Bird Blitz volunteers conducted 108 surveys at 13 sites across Maryland. As a result of these citizen-science efforts, six new IBAs were identified over the past year. This year we hope to build upon last year's Bird Blitz success by focusing on 11 candidate sites in western, southern, central, and eastern Maryland. In addition, three eastern shore IBAs will be targeted in an effort to assess their global status for the globally vulnerable Saltmarsh Sparrow. More information is available online:
http://mddc.audubon.org/birds-science-education/important-bird-areas/bird-blitz-2010


I encourage anyone interested in conducting Bird Blitz surveys this year to attend one of these sessions. Even if you have done Bird Blitz in the past, the trainings will be an excellent refresher, and will include instructions on all Bird Blitz survey methods, hands-on GPS training, as well as an opportunity for all participants to sign up for survey routes at Bird Blitz target sites across Maryland. Remember that Bird Blitz is not a scheduled event like a bioblitz; when you sign up for Bird Blitz survey routes, you can conduct them at any time during the safe breeding dates for target bird species.

Please contact me with any questions or about the training session. I can be reached at the office number below or on my cell phone at 443 386 6345.

Best,

Dave

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