CONSERVE

THE BIRDS NEED YOUR HELP – TIME TO GIVE BACK

The Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) Act was passed by the Florida Legislature in 1987 and is administered by the five Water Management Districts (WMDs) in the State.

National Audubon sponsors many activities that involve counting birds.  For example, our chapter just completed a successful Christmas Bird Count (CBC).  For over 100 years, this hunting event turned conservation endeavor, has given bird lovers and scientists a fairly accurate idea of “where the birds are” during the last two weeks of the year, even though we know the accuracy of the data depends greatly on the birding skills of the observer.

From these counts it was discovered in the middle of the last century that the Bald Eagle and other birds were disappearing.   In 1970, the Pensacola CBC reported zero Browns Pelicans. DDT was found to be the cause and banned and the birds rebounded.

The two other guest writers on this page have written expertly about their recent experiences of participating in another Audubon bird counting event, the Great Backyard Bird Count, which is held worldwide during February.  Sounds like they had a great time while doing something to help the birds. This data is entered into eBird, which gives us a general view of the health of our bird population.

Now we are approaching a very important time of year for the survival of our avian friends, spring or reproduction time.  And there are many opportunities for birders to repay our feathered friends for all the hours of pleasure given to us.

You can get involved with one of the bird counts that looks for the birds that nest in your area, the Breeding Bird Survey.  Take a look at these internet sites to read about these projects.

Erin Ragheb (Erin.Ragheb@myFWC.com) from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is asking for help with these vacant routes.

002-Ft. Walton Beach (Walton Co)

003-Mossy Head (Okaloosa Co)

A map of vacant routes can be seen here: https://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbs/RouteMap/Map.cfm

Larry Goodman and Peggy Baker adopted two routes that were run since 1962 until 2006.  They also took a route in Blackwater River State Forest that had also been dropped as well as two routes in Alabama, so we also need your help.

001 Oak Grove

052 Blackwater

Take a look at these as well.  Call Peggy at 850-983-1482 if you are interested in giving back to the birds by contributing to a data base that shows trends in bird populations. Your skills at bird identification by sight as well as sound are needed!

By Peggy Baker