Bird Monitors Needed for BCN Summer Census

By Alan Anderson and Judy Pollock

The Chicago Wilderness coalition and the local Forest Preserve Districts need data about use of local preserves by wildlife, to help with their planning, and the BCN Census is working with them to provide that data. Local land managers and at least three major studies will use this year's monitoring data.

Why monitor birds? Monitoring provides a profile of past and current bird populations that lets researchers see which species are expanding, which are remaining and which are declining. This gives us a basis for intelligent choices about habitat preservation and management.

A number of local forest preserves are undergoing restoration and/or new management (especially grassland, shrubland and prairie areas). We need monitors to help keep track of what happens to the nesting bird populations as the habitat or management changes.

Two examples: a number of grassland bird species nest at Busse Woods Forest Preserve. This year a small portion of those grasslands was burned. As we have data on nesting birds there over the past dozen years or so, we can see how numbers and nesting species varies between the burned and un-burned areas, and what changes occurred this year vs. past years.

Also a number of areas have or are undergoing major restoration (Bartel Grasslands, Orland Grasslands and Spring Creek Valley Forest Preserves for example). By having 'before' and 'after' surveys, we can see how the restoration helps certain uncommon nesting species.

"Job requirements" for monitors: We need people willing to make a commitment for monitoring an area over several years. It also helps if you are able to identify most of the birds encountered by sight and sound in that location. However, in an individual location, the variety and number of birds you need to know is not that great, and BCN has study CD's of local birdcalls to help you to learn how to ID the birds you'll encounter.

Who shouldn't monitor: People who have no interest in sites or habitats. People not able to identify the birds by sight and sound. (You don't have to be an expert at identification to be a monitor, but monitoring isn't appropriate for beginners.)

What monitoring involves: You'll be working with the BCN and the land manager to identify your site(s). If you wish to help just as a random surveyor, we can use your help in that way. Preferably though, starting out, you'll need to survey the site, lay out a transect or points, and determining locations. You should be able to visit the site six or more times per year, and at least twice during the breeding season (June). You'll be collecting data on numbers of birds observed by species, and entering data into the computer (eBird) and it will be forwarded to the land manager.

The dates for the Chicago-area Bird Conservation Network Summer Nesting Censuses is June 3 - June 27. We need people to do surveys of nesting birds in the entire 6-county Chicago area anytime during this period. A more specific survey of just grassland areas in the 6-county area is scheduled for June 10 through June 20.

Contact Alan Anderson, (847) 390-7437, casresearch@comcast.net, Judy Pollock (847) 965-1150, ext. 15, or Lee Ramsey, leeramsey@comcast.net, if you are interested in helping monitor nesting birds.

If you are interesting in monitoring local butterfly or frog populations, contact Judy Pollock or Karen Glennemeier at (847) 965-1150.