Montana Audubon: Citizen Science

You don't need to be a professional biologist to contribute to sound science and have a great time doing it. Consider joining one of these citizen efforts and provide invaluable information of the birds, wildlife and natural systems of Montana and beyond.

The top six are projects in which Montana Audubon is directly involved. The second 3 are ones we like and recommend!

If you know of citizen science projects in your community, contact Amy, and she'll add a link!

More citizen science ideas and opportunities from National Audubon Society >>

US Nightjar Surveys

Common Nighthawks and Common Poorwills in Montana may be in serious decline. Nation-wide some species of Nightjars appear to be declining but data from Montana are limited.

Working with MT Fish Wildlife and Parks,in 2010 and beyond, we hope to increase our efforts, possibly combining these efforts with Flammulated Owl work in some places.

The window for surveys in 2010 was June 17 - July 4, but keep this in mind for 2011 and beyond. If you are interested, contact Amy Cilimburg or Catherine Wightman with FWP.

The U.S. Nightjar Survey Network is continuing into its third year as a vital program to gather data on the population distribution and population trends on this group of declining species. All birders and conservationists are welcome to participate in the program by adopting Nightjar Survey Routes in 2010 and beyond.

Nightjars are the group of nocturnal, insectivorous birds that includes species such as the whip-poor-will, common poorwill, chuck-will's-widow, and the nighthawks among others. The U.S. Nightjar Survey Network was introduced in the southeast in 2007 and then expanded in 2008 to gain full coverage across the conterminous United States. We are grateful to the number of participants already involved in the program. The beginning years of data collection has already helped in explaining how the composition of habitats in local landscapes influences nightjar abundance. In turn, these data will one day help to explain population declines. However, there is still need for more routes to be surveyed, greater geographic and species coverage, and longer-term count data.

Nightjar Surveys are standardized counts conducted along census routes at night. Observers count all Nightjars seen or heard for a six-minute period at each of 10 stops along the route. The entire survey will not take much more than one hour to complete and only needs conducted one time per year. We have produced a series of routes in each state with many that are still in need of adoption by survey participants.

Please consider adopting a Nightjar Survey Route in your area. The continuing success of Nightjar Survey Network relies entirely on volunteer participation.

For details on route locations, methods of survey, and more go HERE >>.

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Flammulated Owls Citizen Surveys in Western Montana

With funding from Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks and in collaboration with the University of Montana's Avian Science Center and the Helena National Forest this citizen science program continues to survey for owls.

Members of the Five Valleys Audubon Society Chapter and friends adopt owl survey routes in and around the Missoula area. And members of the Last Chance Audubon Society Chapter and friends can do the same on the Helena National Forest and City of Helena lands. A special thanks to Birds & Beasleys in Helena.

Read a report of our 2009 efforts >>

More information about these efforts - which began in 2005 - can be found at the ASC's new website. Link to Flammulated Owl web page >>

Contact:

Colonial Waterbird Surveys in Montana

Many states in the western U.S., including Montana, have identified gathering information on colonial waterbird distribution and populations as a priority. We need to determine their status, identify conservation issues, and refine conservation actions.

A survey of these species (see list below) is being coordinated by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and implemented in our state by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks during 2009, 2010, and 2011 (for details see Western Colonial Waterbird Survey Protocols). Montana Audubon and the Montana Bird Conservation Partnership are partners in this efforts. Thanks to our intrepid field technicians Fred Tilly and Chris Paige, our first season was a great success.

A report of the 2009 field season methods and results is available: Report, Appendix I, Appendix II.

If you would like to learn more or possibly volunteer during the summer of 2010, contact Catherine Wightman, cwightman@mt.gov 406-490-2329.

THANK YOU!

Priority species	Secondary species
American White Pelican	California Gull
Clark’s Grebe	Double-crested Cormorant
Forster’s Tern	Ring-billed Gull
Franklin’s Gull	Western Grebe
White-faced Ibis	Eared Grebe
Black-crowned Night-heron	Red-necked Grebe
Black Tern
Caspian Tern
Common Tern

Bridger Raptor migration count Golden Eagle

During the fall of 2009 Montana Audubon oversaw continued raptor monitoring at this site just outside of Bozeman. This is the most important Golden Eagle population monitoring site in the Western US! We plan to continue each fall - volunteers are welcome.

Purpose of project: To continue the long-term monitoring of migratory raptor populations using the Bridger Mountain Flyway, with an emphasis on Golden Eagles.

This project was begun by HawkWatch International (HWI) during the fall of 1990, and has continued every year since (19 consecutive seasons). During the past decade the Golden Eagle counts have declined. These declines have been corroborated by eagle counts taken at several other sites in western North America. The specific cause of these eagle declines is presently unknown, but is possibly due to climate change or other environmental factors affecting the abundance and diversity of their prey base. More study is needed to determine the cause of the population decline, as well as its severity and extent. Annual scientific counts in the Bridgers are essential to assess population trends of this widespread, top-of-the-food-chain avian predator. More at Hawkwatch International >>

Hiring Hawkwatchers. Interested in working on this project? see our employment page.

Funding: Montana Audubon was able to raise most of the $5,000 to hire citizen scientists (and provide perdium) for the fall 2009 migration season. The US Forest Service and Bridger Bowl Ski Area each donated and individuals chipped in with the rest. We are looking for hawk watchers and donations again in 2010.

This project was dropped by HawkWatch International in 2009 due to a severe funding shortfall. A partnership between HWI and Montana Audubon allowed the project to continue this fall. All data collected is being forwarded to HWI so they can continue to statistically measure regional raptor population health and trends over time.

Findings: results from 2009 are compiled in this REPORT >>

If you would like to volunteer with this project or to donate, contact Montana Audubon's Executive Director Steve Hoffman 406.443.3949.

montana audubon - citizen science

US Nightjar Surveys

Flammulated Owls Citizen Surveys in Western Montana

Colonial Waterbird Surveys in Montana

Bridger Raptor migration count