[Tweeters] Winter raptor survey opportunities

[Jeff Fleischer via Tweeters]

Hi Everyone,

My name is Jeff Fleischer and I am Project Developer / Coordinator for the Winter Raptor Survey Project sponsored by the East Cascades Audubon Society chapter based in Bend, OR.  Last winter (our 20th survey season), we had 572 active survey routes throughout all of WA, ID, and OR, the northern parts of CA and UT, and western MT covering more than 34,000 miles of transects surveyed by more than 460 primary project volunteers.

The purpose of this message is to advertise available established routes around the state.  We ask our volunteers to commit to doing one survey each month during the months of December through February.  Optional months for additional surveys include November and March.  Folks can do their surveys on a day of their choosing and should have a good working ID knowledge for the more common species such as Red-tailed Hawks, American Kestrels, Northern Harriers, Bald Eagles, and Rough-legged Hawks.  These 5 species account for more than 90% of all species counted in this project each winter.

Here is a list of available routes and their driving lengths:

Raymond - Holcomb.                     55 mi
Aberdeen.                                      37
Oakville.                                         56
Castle Rock.                                  52
Enumclaw.                                     77
Arlington NW.                                58
Fidalgo - Whidbey Island North.    80
Whidbey Island South.                  58
Moses Lake North.                        66
Wapato.                                         67
Selah.                                            51
Chatteroy.                                      49
Kennewick South.                         79
Kennewick SW.                             55
Prosser West.                                90
Touchet.                                        73
Walla Walla NW.                           84
Walla Walla East.                           53

If you are interested in any of these routes, please email me directly and I will be happy to provide further information to get you started.  I will necessarily fill these on a first come first served basis so if you wish to do a particular route, please get back to me at your earliest convenience :).  These surveys are fun to do, especially with family or friends along to share the experience.  I can guarantee that going through one season of survey work will enhance your knowledge of this wonderful family of birds to your delight :). Hope to hear from you soon,

Jeff Fleischer
Project Developer / Coordinator
Winter Raptor Survey Project
East Cascades Audubon Society chapter - Bend, OR.  (project sponsor)