The Rusty Blackbird Spring Migration Blitz has started to our south and has target dates from mid-March through April in Maine. The Blitz is an effort to map the locations of Rusty Blackbirds during an important phase of their life cycle, spring migration.
As many of you know Rusty Blackbirds have undergone a severe population decline (85-95% since the mid-1900s). The causes for that decline are not well understood. The Blitz is a concerted effort sponsored by the International Rusty Blackbird Working Group (http://rustyblackbird.org/outreach/migration-blitz/). They aim to engage as many observers as possible to determine the locations of Rusty Blackbirds during their spring migratory. I'm asking you to help make the survey in Maine a success.
The requirements for participation are simple. Just go out and look for birds mid-March through the end of April this year. Record what you see on eBird using the special data entry site (how to here--http://rustyblackbird.org/wp-content/uploads/Spring-Migration-Blitz-Optional-Protocol.pdf).
It is very important to be able to identify Rusty Blackbirds correctly. So review the important field marks. If you're not sure of your skills, check out the information on the Rusty Blackbird site (http://rustyblackbird.org/wp-content/uploads/Rusty-Blackbird-Identification-Guide.pdf) or go with someone who is comfortable with their identification skills. You can also take photos and send them to me or share on a public photo site (e.g. Flickr).
Choice of birding location is important. These include woodland swamps but are certainly not limited to such sites. Rusty Blackbirds like to get their feet wet while foraging (yes, once the ice melts!). They are often found lurking low in wet wooded and shrub swamps or stream edges. It is important to also search widely and submit your data whether or NOT you detected Rusty Blackbirds. Where they are not can help too.
The protocol website (link above) outlines the process for data entry. Some observers may wish to use the optional datasheet which offers some guidance on what to look for (http://rustyblackbird.org/wp-content/uploads/Rusty-Blackbird-Blitz-2014-datasheet.pdf). Once each of your field searches for Rusty Blackbirds is finished, the data are to be entered into eBird (http://ebird.org). Again, even if no Rusty Blackbirds are found, a report should be submitted. You may also simultaneously enter the complete list of all the birds including numbers encountered during your search (and keep on eBirding!).
Don't let the length of this email overwhelm you. The main point is simply to go out and look for Rusty Blackbirds and enter your numbers into eBird. The resources I've list above are indeed helpful and will improve your chances of success. But, please do have fun doing it. You've got a month and a half to survey all the good sites you can find in Maine.
Get started on spring migration birding. It's coming fast. Last year I had Rusty Blackbirds singing away near breeding areas on 25 March in the mountains near Rangeley (http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S10274004). Three months later by late June, there was a juvenile already beginning molt into its first winter plumage (see photos here: http://flic.kr/s/aHsjTVXviA).
As a reminder, when entering your data in eBird for this Blitz, use the "Rusty Blackbird Blitz" entry mode under the "Other" drop down menu. When you use this mode, you will notice that it locks you into the traveling type of data entry. Use this format as best you can even if your observation was more stationary than traveling. If you've already entered some Stationary Rusty sightings, just leave those as they are and use the requested Rusty Blackbird Blitz entry method with its traveling data request in your future data entry.
Louis Bevier
State Coordinator for the Rusty Blackbird Blitz in Maine
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