The Citizen Scientist Newsletter - Spring 2008 Issue

Gearing Up For Spring!

The Citizen Scientist Newsletter
Volume 4, Issue 1
Spring 2008

Download the PDF version of The Citizen Scientist Newsletter - Spring 2008 (Requires Adobe Acrobrat Reader).

Welcome to our third year of the Citizen Scientist newsletter. We appreciate your interest in wildlife conservation, research and monitoring in the state of Georgia, and we want to extend a "thank you" to all those who have helped in the past. We received about 800 Loggerhead Shrike records and are in the process of analyzing these data. Volunteers helped run 54 Breeding Bird Survey routes last year and have been helping with the final edits on the Breeding Bird Atlas (remember that), which depended largely on volunteer surveyors and writers. We are about to publish the "Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia" (out this spring), which was dependent on volunteer efforts to find and report herp records from across the state. Volunteers helped tally a record number of shorebirds on our coast this winter (103,003) and banded about 400 birds at Panola Mountain State Park and Joe Kurz WMA.

Far from being satisfied however, we have more opportunities for citizen involvement this year than ever, and it is not just for the birds… we have options for plant and herp-lovers as well! We encourage people of all skill levels to find a suitable project and pitch in this year. Whether you want to take on a nightjar or Painted Bunting survey in your area; pick up a Breeding Bird Survey route; look for color banded shorebirds, shrikes or kestrels; help band birds; monitor frogs in nocturnal surveys or herp drift fences during the day; or become a botanical guardian for a local population of rare plants - we can help get you involved!

Clearly, the need for data on a number of species far exceeds our ability to collect it, and we rely heavily on birders, herpers, butterfliers and botanists to put their skills to use.

We are also interested in helping to nurture the next generation of biologists and citizen scientists so we offer a number of educational events as well. Please feel free to join us on a birding boot camp or help mentor a team of young birders for the Youth Birding Competition.

-Nongame Conservation Section staff