Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

Breeding Bird Survey

12100 Beech Forest Road

Laurel, MD 20708-4038

www.pwrc.usgs.gov

Memorandum to Cooperators

SUMMER 2003

CONTENTS C

1 C STOP LOCATION DATABASE 4 C ROUTE MAPS

2 C BBS TRAINING : New Recruits 5 C WEB PAGE UPDATES

2 C 2002 COVERAGE 5 C STATE COORDINATORS

4 C AWARD RECIPIENTS 6 C NOTES FROM THE FIELD

STOP LOCATION DATABASE

As announced in last year=s memo, we are now accepting geographic coordinates and stop descriptions for all BBS stops via the web. In 2002, the stop coordinates for 206 routes were collected and submitted using the BBS web site; our thanks to everyone who provided these data! (See the Geo-ref. Routes column of Table 1 for count of geo-referenced routes by state.) But that still leaves over 3000 routes without geographic coordinate data. So if you have a GPS unit, please take it on your next BBS run, or scouting trip, and collect those stop locations. Our web site will accept location data in latitude/longitude (degrees/minutes/seconds or decimal degrees) or Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) formats. To enter your stop location data follow the AData Entry@ link on the BBS web site (www.mp2‑pwrc.usgs.gov/bbs/) to the AStop Location Data@ link. Instructions for entering these data are available at this site. We recommend reading the instructions before collecting the data to help avoid wasted time and effort in the field.

If you do not have a GPS unit, we encourage you to input your written stop descriptions into the BBS database using this site as well. If the stop descriptions are in the database, you will never have to worry about them being misplaced again. For example, if after entering this information the hard copy of the stop descriptions are lost, just go to the BBS web site and print out a new copy. If your route does not yet have written stop descriptions, please consider compiling a set this year, especially if you make a scouting trip or an assistant accompanies you.

Why go to the extra trouble of collecting stop locations? Well, hopefully it won=t be much trouble especially if you already have a GPS unit and are familiar with its use. In fact, we have had numerous BBS participants write to us saying how easy it is to navigate to their stops using a GPS unit. This is especially true for routes in areas of the country with few landmarks. Additionally, it will give land managers and researchers the information needed to explore other analyses of BBS data. For example, once stop locations are known researchers can group them by habitat type using satellite imagery (i.e., MLRC) and then generate species-specific habitat trend estimates.

BBS TRAINING PROGRAM

If you are new to the BBS this year, you are required to complete the recently developed BBS Methodology training program before we can use your data. The training program is available on CD-ROM from your state or national coordinator and on the BBS web site (www.mp2‑pwrc.usgs.gov/bbs/learning/). The web version of the training program is mainly text-based, while the CD-ROM version is multi-media. Although the web version of the program promises easier access, at least for those with Internet service, it may well be worth the extra effort to view the CD-ROM version. This version contains two video clips, dynamic graphics, audio and recently placed favorably in an international multi-media product competition, winning the Award of Distinction in the Communicator=s Category.

Regardless of the format, the training programs supplement the written BBS instructions and take approximately 30 minutes to complete. Although completion of the methodology training program is only required for new participants, current BBS participants are also welcome and encouraged to take the training.

2002 ROUTE COVERAGE

Our thanks to everyone who participated in the 2002 BBS season! A total of 2760 routes have been returned so far. That=s 118 fewer routes than in 2001 (Table 1, page 3). In the U.S., 2.1% fewer routes were returned, while in Canada 14.7% fewer routes were returned by the time of this writing. Three states showed promising increases in coverage by 9 or more routes. They were Alaska, California, and Georgia. Unfortunately these gains were off-set by losses of similar magnitude in Louisiana, Michigan, and North Dakota.

Of more pressing concern is that in five states C Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, and Rhode Island C more than 50% of the routes are not being sampled, or the data are not being returned in a timely manner! If you hail from any of these states, please help your coordinator by enlisting some of your qualified birder friends into the ranks of the BBS. Other states that are in need of new recruits include: Arizona, California, Connecticut, Minnesota, Nevada, West Virginia, and Wyoming. If you know of someone capable of conducting a BBS route, have them contact your state coordinator.

To get a better idea of your state=s route coverage compare the AAvailable Routes@ column to the A2002" column in Table 1. If the difference between the two numbers is large, we need more participants in the state. If this appears to be the case in your state, you should contact your state coordinator to see about picking up another route, or refer a good birder-friend to the state coordinator. State coordinators are listed in this memo, and on the BBS web site. Thank you for the help.

Table 1. 2001-2002 Coverage Summary

		# of Routes					# of Routes
State/Prov.	Available Routes	2002	2001	Geo-ref. Routes	State/Prov.	Available Routes	2002	2001	Geo-ref. Routes
AL	91	77	77	0	NB	31	19	23	1
AK	102	75	65	1	NF	29	8	8	1
AB	180	77	90	4	NH	23	20	20	1
AZ	67	35	43	1	NJ	28	18	23	0
AR	33	29	33	2	NM	64	57	60	4
BC	136	65	75	4	NY	112	54	59	0
CA	229	127	118	28	NC	95	95	71	0
CO	135	103	104	7	ND	44	29	40	0
CT	16	8	7	1	NS	29	18	25	1
DE	10	8	9	0	OH	68	46	55	4
FL	91	83	78	6	OK	64	39	38