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yard creeper and web gleanings



Howdy folks,

The cold and rain had the feeder area hopping today. Nothing new at the
feeder itself, though the butter-butt trying in vain to chase a Carolina
Wren off the suet before finally deigning to wait its turn was good
entertainment. But the big old White Oak behind hosted a Brown Creeper
today, hopping its way up the underside of some slanty limbs. After an
overdue American Goldfinch a couple of days ago (just a silouette eating
the seeds of the neighbor's Sweet Gum, ID'd by call), the Lynch Street
yard list is up to 56 species. The Ninth Street yard never even reached 50
in two years of my residence, but I still need about 30 more here to
exceed my Hillgrand Drive (next to the Duke Forest) total.

On the other listservs: a person posted to the Georgia list about starting
a birding club in northeastern Georgia; might be of interest to folks in
the western Carolinas. See
http://www.sauteenacoochee.org/birding/birdindex.htm

For some reason, a post to the North Florida listserv announced some
seasonal jobs surveying grassland birds near Richmond, Virginia. I'll
paste this below. Meanwhile, the latest post on the Bird Jobs list
includes a summer position studying Painted Buntings along the SC and GA
coastline; see
http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/BJOB.html
There are some similar summer bird-internship-type positions in West
Virginia and other nearby states advertised in there too.

Good birding,

Josh


Joshua S. Rose
Duke University
Department of Biology (Zoology, R.I.P.)

jsr6@duke.edu
http://www.duke.edu/~jsr6/

----------------------------Forwarded Message------------------------

Subject: Bird surveyors needed (again)!!!
From: Joseph_Reinman@fws.gov
Date: Tue, 25 Feb 2003 09:05:43 -0500

The Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) is seeking
bird surveyors to assist with a regional Grassland Breeding Bird Study and
with our landbird point count surveys for the 2003 season. Three positions
are open for the Grassland Breeding Bird Study. One position is open for
the landbird point count surveys in a variety of habitats on Refuge
property.

Thirteen refuges throughout the Northeast are participating in a 3-year
study on habitat use by grassland breeding birds and their response to
different management techniques.  Results will be used to help establish
regional grassland breeding bird objectives and management strategies on
refuges. Landbird point counts are helping establish baseline biological
values on the Refuge and will be the basis for future management
objectives and strategies, and for developing a Refuge bird checklist.

The Refuge headquarters is located in Warsaw, on Virginia=s Northern Neck,
a great location for outdoor recreation, and steeped in history. We are
about 2 hours from Washington, D.C., one hour from Richmond and
Fredericksburg, and 90 minutes from Williamsburg.

WHO QUALIFIES?
Observers must be capable of identifying all land-birds in the survey area
by both sight and sound.  Accurate identification of vocalizations is
essential, since many individuals will be detected only by sound during
the breeding season. Additionally, observers need to be able to hear high
frequencies in order to detect high- pitched calls, such as those made by
grasshopper sparrows. Excellent birding skills are required to maintain
the high statistical standards of the regional study.  Observers must also
be familiar with using a GPS unit to find the established bird points, and
with Microsoft Access for entering data each day. Observers must have own
transportation to and from lodging to survey sites.  All materials, except
for personal gear, will be supplied.  An audio test of bird identification
skills will be given before final selections are made, and only qualified
observers will be selected!

WHEN?
Grassland Breeding Bird Study:  A mandatory one-day training session will
be held the day before the surveys begin, May 24, 2003. Grassland breeding
bird surveys are done in two 5-day rounds, 2 weeks apart.  The first round
is from May 26-30; the second round is from June 16-20, 2003. Observers
must be committed to working a 40 hour week during survey bouts.
Landbird Point Counts: Points counts for this latitude should take place
between May 18 and June 25, 2003. One day for orientation is required.
There are 8 routes, each of which takes one morning to complete. Each
point must be visited twice and no less than five days between visits.
Thus, 16 days are required to complete the survey.

PAYMENT?
Each observer receives a stipend of $120/day (including meals & incidental
expenses) for the number of days of the project period.  For the Grassland
Breeding Bird Study, the project period is 11 days (includes one day
training). For the landbird point counts, total project days is 17
(includes one day orientation). Limited housing is available if needed, at
no charge.

HOW DO I APPLY, WHAT=S THE DEADLINE?
Résumés which clearly describe your relevant work experience and
competency will be accepted up to April 30, 2003.  Please mail to:
            Sandy Spencer, Wildlife Biologist
            Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge
            PO Box 1030
            Warsaw, VA 22572
            (804)333-1470
            E-mail: Sandy_Spencer@fws.gov