Join Climate Watch: Audubon’s New Survey
Written by Andy McCormick
Eastside Audubon is participating in Climate Watch, a new twice-a-year survey of Red-breasted Nuthatches and Spotted Towhees. The chapter sponsors four surveys in winter and summer, and we are recruiting people to join each of the teams. Contact Andy McCormick at amccormick@eastsideaudubon.org if you are interested in participating or want more information.
The four surveys are conducted within the Eastside Audubon service area at St. Edward State Park in Kenmore, Clyde Hill, Tradition Lake in Issaquah, and Rattlesnake Lake in North Bend. Each survey consists of 5-minute counts at each of 12 points which are at least 200 meters apart. Each survey takes about three hours to complete. Surveys by the team leaders have been conducted for the past two years and now we are looking to build teams for each of the surveys.
The next survey will be held at the end of January with final dates being announced soon. Team leaders are Andy McCormick and Jeremy Lucas. Bird counts are tallied on eBird checklists for each point and then submitted online to National Audubon.
The purpose of the Climate Watch surveys is to test National Audubon’s hypothesis that birds will be changing their range in winter and summer as a result of rising global temperatures, lengthening of summer, and shortening of winter. The surveys will be conducted twice annually indefinitely, much in the same way that the Christmas Bird Count provides annual data about the abundance and presence of birds.
Contact: Andy McCormick, amccormick@eastsideaudubon.org