[Va-bird] Nighjar Survey, Highland Co. -- 16 whips
- From: "Spahr MD, John" <Jspahr@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <shenvalbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, <va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 27 May 2008 08:01:29 -0400
Having just completed my first nightjar survey I would like to encourage
others to consider doing one. It was fun and, to my surprise, there
were quite a few whip-poor-wills on my route (rt 614, much of it along
Cowpasture R). Of the 10 stops only 2 were "dead" and three stops had 3
birds each, for a total of 16. Surprisingly, I heard no owls.
Since these counts are conducted during bright moonlit nights the May
window is at end. However, the next period is from June 10-28 -- lots
of time to learn more about this and sign up for a route. Apparently,
there are lots still available according to Mike Wilson who directs this
project. Mike's recent posting on this list serve is copies below.
------------
"The Nightjar Survey Network relies on volunteer participation by
conservation-minded citizens, biologists, and other like-minded groups
to adopt and conduct survey routes. Nightjar Surveys are easy to perform
and will not take more than two hours to complete. Volunteers conduct
roadside counts at night, during specific time windows when the moon is
50 % illuminated, by driving and stopping at 10 points along a
predetermined 9-mile route. At each point, the observer counts all
Nightjars seen or heard by species during a 6-minute period. No
artificial broadcasts of the species' calls are used. Please visit the
United States Nightjar Survey Website for more details including
location of routes, instructions, and results;
www.ccb-wm.org/nightjars.htm"
------------
I started my route at 0350 so it was just dawning when I completed. I
did a little birding on the way back to the Blue Grass Valley with the
following findings. Of special interest were the 5 Bald Eagles, all
juveniles, clustered together along Hevener Rd (643). Two were in a
dead tree and the others were on the ground at its base with two
munching on some prey item or carcass on the ground. Margaret O'Bryan's
farm was buzzing with Golden-winged Warblers.
John Spahr
Staunton & New Hampden
Canada Goose 2
Green Heron 2
Turkey Vulture 8
Bald Eagle 5
American Kestrel 1
Killdeer 4
Mourning Dove 17
Whip-poor-will 16
Chimney Swift 3
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 3
Willow Flycatcher 4
Eastern Phoebe 5
Great Crested Flycatcher 5
Eastern Kingbird 1
Yellow-throated Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 2
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 1
Common Raven 2
Tree Swallow 5
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 2
Barn Swallow 56
Black-capped Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 1
Carolina Wren 2
House Wren 3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
Eastern Bluebird 2
Wood Thrush 3
American Robin 35
Gray Catbird 1
Brown Thrasher 1
European Starling 48
Golden-winged Warbler 4
Northern Parula 1
Yellow Warbler 14
Chestnut-sided Warbler 1
Black-throated Green Warbler 2
Blackpoll Warbler 1
American Redstart 3
Worm-eating Warbler 1
Ovenbird 2
Common Yellowthroat 3
Scarlet Tanager 7
Eastern Towhee 10
Chipping Sparrow 8
Field Sparrow 5
Vesper Sparrow 2
Savannah Sparrow 5
Song Sparrow 3
Dark-eyed Junco 1
Northern Cardinal 1
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 3
Indigo Bunting 8
Bobolink 16
Red-winged Blackbird 55
Eastern Meadowlark 38
Common Grackle 38
Baltimore Oriole 7
American Goldfinch 45
House Sparrow 4
Number of species: 66
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(
http://ebird.org)
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