Have to wonder if it's partly a case of "where the birders are" . Yes, I
have been reporting my negative data - glad to see Jan Frye and Jack
Esworthy reported them from Robious Landing as I'd tried twice and didn't
find any there.
Wendy Ealding
Chesterfield County
On Mon, Mar 17, 2014 at 10:35 AM, Robert Ake <rake@xxxxxxx> wrote:
The Ides of March have passed, so we're half-way through the survey period
for contributing to the Rusty Blackbird Spring Migration Blitz. Virginia
has made a good start with its part of the survey. I had prepared a map
showing the locations in Virginia where Rusties have been reported this
month. Unfortunately, the map made the email too large for our listserve.
Alas! In the map I summarized those sightings which have been submitted
to ebird thus far. If you're interested in seeing the map, you can go to
eBird, select "Explore Data" and then "Range and Point Maps" and fill in
Rusty Blackbird, March to March, current year, Virginia, and on the right
hand menu "Show Points Sooner" and you'll get the map. There are some
clusters of activity and some places in our lovely state that haven't yet
reported any Rusty Blackbirds. If you've completed some surveys but have
yet to submit the results, please do so. If you've put off getting out and
looking for Rusties, your time to "spring" into action is now. I know the
weather hasn't been kind. But visit those good Rusty Blackbird habitats
and check them out. Please remember that if you don't actually find any
Rusties, submit a report since negative data is needed as well. For those
who may have lost the link to the website, here it is with all its
information on habitat preferences, identification tips, survey protocol,
data sheets, and more:
http://rustyblackbird.org/outreach/migration-blitz/
Let's finish the month in true Blitz fashion.
Bob Ake
State coordinator for Virginia
Rusty Blackbird Spring Migration Blitz
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