Programs: Surveys using traditional USGS protocol (Jun-Jul), Nesting Status surveys (May-Aug), Migratory Bird Counts (May, Aug-Sep), Christmas Bird Counts (Jan)

 

Databases: The Languages of Life, eBird and Macaulay Library

 

Roles:

BBS Survey Coordinator - Forrest Rowland

Nesting Status Survey Coordinator - Forrest Rowland

Migratory Bird Count Coordinator - Forrest Rowland

Christmas Bird Count Coordinator - Forrest Rowland

Data & AI Coordinator - Jeff Reed

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First Year Project Outlines & Definitions

 

Recording Data Collection

Ten AI-enabled audio recorders will be place strategically on along the 60 mile stretch of the Northern Range of the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem to record 24x7x36 (at 32khz, 16 bit) for five years. Recorders will be maintained by citizen scientists and all data will be provided to researchers or conservation groups via GitHub free-of-charge. We are seeking partnerships with a broad array of AI researchers producing classifiers to detect species within massive data sets of recordings like ours. We have already created wolf (see www.grizcam.com/wolf-calls) and lynx classifiers to estimate population distributions. Existing accoustic indices will also be used to monitor long-term changes in the environment. Click here to see some of the tools and training provided to local citizen scientists.

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Manual Data Collection

For bird monitoring, eBird is a streamlined and effective way to collect all necessary data for every protocol and activity that we endeavor for ornithological data collection. A thorough understanding of the protocols, data collection, and submission is required for volunteers and organizers alike. Analysis and statistical knowledge is only required of organizers and those extrapolations for usage within and without the organization. 

 

The Following Dates are proposed for eBird Training:

April 4 & 5th @ 1700hrs location TBD

May 8th & 9th @ 1700hrs location TBD

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Breeding Bird Surveys 

Dates - June 1, 2023 - July 10, 2023

Protocol Guidelines/Rules here: https://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbs/participate/BBS%20Instructions.pdf

Routes: see map below

 

Nesting Status Surveys 

(Nests to be reported regardless of month, but for migratory breeding birds focus should be July 1st - August 10, 2023) These can be carried out on a voluntary basis, by BBS Survey volunteers or other volunteers as seen fit. Nesting survey information, as well as any count information, will be submitted to eBird. All checklists should be shared to the UYWG eBird account I have created. Spreadsheets can be exported for analysis. 

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Migratory Bird Counts 

Waterfowl and Larids : March 12, April 1, April 15, May 1, May 6

Shorebirds and Larids : May 6, May 25, June 20

Passerine Migratory Survey (following any inclement weather event, May 15 - June 5) : May 25, 26, 27

Shorebirds and Larids : August 5, August 12, August 19, August 26, September 9

 

Christmas Bird Counts 

Shields Valley CBC

N Paradise Valley CBC

S Paradise Valley CBC

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Sponsors: Upper Yellowstone Watershed Group, Park County Environmental Council