For those CT birders interested in participating in citizen science: From: okbirds [mailto:OKBIRDS@lists.ou.edu] On Behalf Of Dan Reinking Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2008 1:37 PM To: OKBIRDS@lists.ou.edu Subject: nightjar survey network << In the spring of 2007, The Center for Conservation Biology constructed the Nightjar Survey Network to begin the process of collecting data on the population distribution and population trends of Nightjars across broad regions of the United States. The Network was initially introduced into the southeast and is being expanded in 2008 to provide coverage throughout the contiguous United States. The support I have received from many state and federal agency personnel in the Southeast has been great and very helpful. I cannot thank you all enough. I have added a brief report on findings from the initial year of survey on the project website. The Nightjar Survey Network relies on volunteer participation by conservation-minded citizens, biologists, and other like-minded groups to adopt and conduct survey routes. Surveys are conducted much like the United States and Canada Breeding Bird Surveys except for important modifications to accommodate the biology of Nightjars. Nocturnal behaviors of Nightjars are strongly influenced by moonlight. Activities such as calling and foraging increase under bright moonlight and breeding may be directly tied to the lunar schedule. The Nightjar Survey Network was designed to take advantage of this life history trait by restricting surveys to bright moonlit nights. This protocol substantially improves the accuracy and precision of surveys by reducing the systematic errors associated with moonlight and will further act to strengthen the statistical power needed to draw conclusions from collected data. The Nightjar Survey Network has both short-term and long-term objectives that are considered spatially and temporally scalable. As soon as a significant portion of the Network routes are annually surveyed, they will begin to provide results of Nightjar population status for local regions and for broader geographic areas. Short-term objectives have 4-5 year time horizons and include: 1) Gaining a better understanding of the population distribution of Nightjars across their breeding ranges. 2) Learning how the composition of different habitats in a landscape influences Nightjar abundance. 3) Improving the performance of the survey design. Long-term objectives have time horizons of 10 yrs or greater and include: 1) Determining the scale and magnitude of population changes. 2) Providing alarm signals at specific locations if Nightjars are becoming imperiled. I welcome any interest, comments, or suggestions, and any distribution of the program by Southeast PIF members to the general public is valuable. I have also created a 2-page flyer that contains much of the info above as advertisement of the project. This is available for download on the website. Please fell free to email me and I hope you visit the network's website if you haven't yet for more details: http://ccb.wm.edu/nightjars.htm (older Southeastern Nightjar Survey link is also still active.) Mike Wilson Center for Conservation Biology College of William and Mary PO Box 8795 Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795 phone: 757-221-1649 fax: 757-221-1650 email:mdwils@wm.edu www.ccb-wm.org >> birders interested in participatin in citizen science: