Do you have the skills to identify Florida’s shorebirds in their winter garb (or “plumages”)? If not, would you like to learn how while supporting the experts?
Join the annual statewide 2013 Winter Shorebird Survey between Friday, February 1 and Saturday, February 10. Please note that February 1 is the preferred day for surveys in Northeast Florida and the weekend of February 8-10 for the southwest Gulf Coast.
The primary objective of the survey is to develop a better understanding of the winter distribution of shorebirds and seabirds across our state and to identify trends and important wintering sites.
As a participant you will count birds with a team along a stretch of beach, causeway, or marsh. Ideally, counts are completed at high tide when birds gather on beaches to rest, but survey timing will be set by the team or the regional leader. Teams will try to walk if at all possible to get a closer look at color bands and band codes that provide critical pieces of information about each bird’s travels on migration flyways between nesting and wintering habitats. In some cases it will be necessary to drive to cover long stretches of beach with short stops and walks to identify and count birds.
A complete data packet containing full instructions, data sheets, and contact information for Regional Coordinators can be found by clicking here.
For additional information or to find out about teams or routes you can join, please contact:
- Northwest Florida (Escambia through Pasco Counties): Patty Kelly - patricia_kelly@fws.gov
- Atlantic Coast of Florida: Monique Borboen - mborboen@audubon.org
- Southwest Florida (Pinellas County south to Collier County): Marianne Korosy - mkorosy@audubon.org
