I urge conservation biologists, land managers, bird banders and amateur
ornithologists who are interested in helping address the plight of Rusty
Blackbirds to consider attending the following important workshop. As a
bonus, it is taking place at a *superb* birding spot during fall migration.
Feel free to send questions about the workshop to me at the below
address, or to:
Russ Greenberg (GreenbergR@xxxxxx)
Nathan Dias
---
Executive Director
Cape Romain Bird Observatory
http://www.crbo.net/
crbo@xxxxxxxx
843-607-0105
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The International Rusty Blackbird Technical Group (IRBTG) is planning
our next workshop on UNDERSTANDING AND REVERSING POPULATION DECLINES IN
THE RUSTY BLACKBIRD (EUPHAGUS CAROLINUS) for 9-11 October 2008 at the
Powdermill Avian Research Center in Rector, PA. The workshop theme
is: Now that we have captured people�s attention, how do we best move
forward to save the species?
For more information, or to fill out an online registration form, please
visit the following web page:
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/ConservationAndScience/MigratoryBirds/Research/Rusty_Blackbird/workshop_09/default.cfm
( A more palatable URL is: http://tinyurl.com/5g8638 ;)
As with past workshops, the group's successful progress in addressing
critical research, monitoring, conservation, management and other
information needs regarding Rusties depends upon active engagement by
those partners with interest and responsibility for this species - in
particular state wildlife agencies.
The upcoming workshop intends to build upon the momentum of past
workshops, and will cover many traditional topics such as breeding and
wintering ground research, theories and assumptions regarding the
precipitous declines, monitoring needs, engaging citizen science,
promoting appropriate conservation and management, and planning research
and monitoring strategies for the future. We are planning open
discussion sessions and other interactive approaches to advance thinking
and progress on all of these issues.
Some specific topics include:
* What do we know about Rusties and their decline?
* How can we expand our population monitoring tools efficiently
* Can we develop a rapid assessment for locating blackbird hotspots in
the winter?
* Are we getting the data we need to test hypotheses for the decline?
* What management strategies can we test and employ while we wait for
the final answers?
* and more...
LOGISTICS:
Presentations and discussions will take place on October 9 and 10 with
banding demonstrations and workshop on the morning of the 11th. We are
emphasizing discussion and informal presentations of information
organized around focused themes. Presentation of research results will
be limited to short time slots for most oral/ppt reports and posters.
Please notify the program committee (Greenbergr@xxxxxx) if you want to
present, so we can determine the most appropriate format.
Participants may also go birding on the Powdermill grounds during their
spare time. Fall migration there is legendary!
On-site (shared) lodging is available at Powdermill for a slight fee
(around $25 per night). Lodging assistance will be available for students.
We will make every effort to provide ground shuttle transportation to
and from the Pittsburgh International Airport. Please provide whatever
information you can regarding your arrival and departure so we can begin
to arrange the local travel logistics.
Conference registration fee: $30 -- $15 for students or post docs. Make
checks payable to the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh and mail to:
Bob Mulvihill
Powdermill Avian Research Center
1847 Route 381
Rector, PA 15677
* In addition to this fee, the conference will be partially supported by
the USFWS Division of Migratory Birds and the Cape Romain Bird
Observatory. Therefore, it is likely that most of the accommodations,
snacks, and lunches will be subsidized for up to 25-30 participants! If
we have a bigger turn-out, then registrants may need to pay directly for
their accommodations (roughly $30/night). So it pays to register early!!