Northern CA PPSR Projects 1

PRIDE Shorebird Surveys (Proud Residents Investing in a Diverse Estuary)

• Organization Name

  La Purisima Audubon Society
• Project Website

  http://www.lapurisimaaudubon.org/PRIDE.html
• Organization Website

  http://www.lapurisimaaudubon.org/index.html
• Partners

  PRBO Conservation Science
• Contact Name

  Tamarah
• Contact Email

  bima55@msn.com, using SUBJECT: PRIDE
• Contact Phone

  N / A
• Other Contact Information

  http://www.prbo.org/cms/556

• Project Purpose (taken from project materials)

  Survey shorebirds at the Lower Santa Ynez River (LSYR) to assess whether restoring mudflat habitat will increase the abundance, distribution, and diversity of shorebirds utilizing the Lower Santa Ynez River.  The project uses data gathered by volunteers and professional scientists to test the hypothesis that shorebird abundance, distribution and diversity within the LSYR is limited by the amount of available mudflat habitat.

• Participant Activities

  Hike to observation points in Vandenberg Airforce Base and record observations of shorebirds. Volunteers will note the number of birds within broad categories: small shorebirds such as Sanderlings, sandpipers, and Dunlins; medium shorebirds such as Willets, dowitchers and yellowlegs; and larger shorebirds such as Long-billed Curlews, Whimbrels, and Marbled Godwits. Large pictures of target birds will be available to guide you, and you'll find it easier to identify them by looking at their silhouettes than you might guess! When experienced birders are available for surveys, we will collect data on individual species in addition to the broad categories.

• Data Entry

  • Unknown
• Other Participant Activities

  N / A
• System Studied

  • Birds
• Geographic Scope

  Local
• Region

  Santa Barbara
• Location

  Mudflats at the outlet of the Lower Santa Ynez River
• Location - Map

  Ocean Beach Park, Santa Barbara County, California
• Time Commitment

  • Other (see Other Information below)
• Volunteer Qualifications

  No prior experience is necessary. (See notes below for team composition.)

  Long pants--tick repellant will be available. Waterproof hiking boots are ideal. Rain boots are OK if you don't need ankle support; sneakers work if you don't mind wet feet. Bring water and a snack. A hat and sunblock are recommended. 

• Volunteer Training

  Training on protocol and bird identification provided at the beginning of the observation period.

• Cost to Participant

  N / A
• How will the findings be used?

  Findings are reported on PRBO and La Purisima Audubon Society websites, and used to inform management and restoration decisions

• Other Information

  Contact organization to ensure that surveys will be happening in the current year.

  Surveys are twice a month from August to May, to include fall migration, overwintering, and spring migration. Please note that all surveys are on Saturdays except in December 2008, when both surveys are on Sunday.

  Each survey team will have a minimum of four volunteers:

  • an experienced birder
  • a beginning birder
  • two people new to birding (we'll have optic gear & equipment for you!) 

  We welcome more than four volunteers (citizen scientists) per survey so your friends can sign up, too.

  
  

• Photo

  N / A
• last update:

  N / A