The Rusty Blackbird Hot spot Blitz - YEAr Three

 

Last year, birders throughout the country scoured the countryside for
wintering Rusty Blackbirds to help us understand their distribution and find
important local concentrations (hotspots).  We learned a lot (see
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/scbi/migratorybirds/research/rusty_blackbird/blitz
_results.cfm).

But there is much more to learn.  We want to blitz for several years to both
locate more hotspots and determine how stable the already discovered hot
spots are from year to year.  Already, the information gained is being used
to implement research and conservation efforts!

 

With your help..

 

The "Rusty Blackbird Third Times a Charm Blitz" will be bigger and better
than Blitz One and Two.  

 

Why a Blitz?  The Rusty Blackbird has been steeply declining, with estimates
of an 85-99% population drop over the past 40 years.  Although the cause for
this alarming decline is not known, winter habitat loss and degradation are
likely candidates.  Rusties are getting scarce and patchy in their winter
distribution, making it difficult focus research and management we need to
save the species.  Collaborating with Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology's
and National Audubon Society's e-Bird project, we are enlisting the power of
the birding public (you!) to help locate local, but predictable wintering
concentrations of Rusty Blackbirds.  We are mobilizing an all out "blitz" to
locate Rusty Blackbirds and create a map  of wintering Rusty Blackbird "hot
spots" that will help focus research, monitoring and conservation
attention..

 

What?  During a single 16-day  period, volunteers will search for Rusty
Blackbirds in any locations and habitats deemed as potentially suitable for
wintering Rusty Blackbirds, particularly flocks or concentrations (e.g.,
dozens or even hundreds of birds). Areas of concentration will be revisited
in the future to determine if they are indeed Rusty Blackbird hot spots.

 

When?  January 29  thru February 13th, 2011 - when Rusties become easier to
find (males sing!) and the population is relatively sedentary.

 

How? It's simple!  Use whatever you like - your data base of previous
sightings, birding intuition, local legend, or local knowledge - to search
the most likely places for wintering Rusty Blackbirds.   You can go wherever
you like, whenever you like, and as often as you like anytime between the
dates of 29 January - 13 February 2011.    Checking known places is good.
Exploring the unknown for new hotspots is even better! We are simply seeking
observations on the number of birds present at each location visited, along
with very basic habitat information.  All you have to do is submit your
observations via e-Bird.  We will do the rest!  (Failure to find Rusties is
important information as well). 

 

 

BE SURE TO SAVE THE DATES!!!

 

JANUARY 29 - FEBRUARY 13 2011

 

 

Gregory Gough| IT Specialist

Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute

Migratory Bird Center

National Zoological Park

Mail: P.O. Box 37012, MRC 5503, Washington, DC 20013-7012

Location:  3001 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20008

T 202-633-4191| F 202-673-4916 | Email  <mailto:[log in to unmask]>