Bird Banding

Resident Bird Population Study

This will document bird activity in Certified Backyard Habitats over a period of years. The initial data will be used as a baseline to compare with future data. It will provide insights on which resident (year-round) species are successfully living and reproducing in given habitats. It will also indicate the effect of how an increased number of Certified Backyard Habitats influence our bird populations by species and quantity An increase in bird activity and resident bird populations, will confirm the benefits of supporting habitat restoration and the resulting improved water quality for the streams and fish. Additionally, it will provide the City of Shoreline much needed data for analysis of future park, stream, forestation and other development projects.

Phase II will involve local schools and classrooms; hopefully both Highland Terrace and Shoreline Community College. U.S. Geological Service (USGS) Permitted Bird Banders, working with existing Certified Backyard Habitat property owners in Shoreline, will catch and color band birds per a USGS pre-approved color-banding agreement. Then, local birders, neighbors, and (Phase II) school children will watch for these banded birds. Each volunteer will be given information about the uses of colored bird banding and how to scientifically observe and report sighted birds. They will then record the color banded birds they see in their area over a period of at least three years. Sightings will record the bird species, color band pattern and the time.

This Citizen Science will help monitor the population of individual birds in each area. All data will be entered into the USGS Database at Cornell University. It will establish baseline data for the areas monitored; provide a greater understanding about which areas support successful resident (year round) bird populations; and inform how we, as citizens, can increase our native bird populations by the way we manage our own properties, both individually and collectively. This will be accomplished by comparing baseline data with changes in bird populations as the number of Certified Backyard Habitats increase.

SSEA will make the data available by establishing a website easily accessible by anyone, to list the color banded birds, locations where they were first banded, and subsequent sightings. This will enable anyone interested to track specific birds and/or species.

Phase I: Color banding will start in January, 2008. Training materials for Phase I will be minimal and volunteer citizen-scientists will be primarily local banders and Shoreline Certified Backyard Habitats owners to start.

Phase II: We hope to begin the fall of 2008.

This project will require regular data collection and data entry. Data collection will be done by citizen volunteers Get Bird Band Forms and data entry will be done by SSEA members.

Modified 12/7/2007