Abstract
The Gulf Coast Bird Observatory (GCBO) and the Southeastern Working Group of Partners in Flight have developed a protocol to monitor landbirds with volunteer observers performing avian censuses in the field. Field observations are compiled within a powerful internet database, and recording and summary capability is maintained by the GCBO. More than 100 observers have supplied data from sites primarily in the southeastern United States. Results of three case studies are presented, illustrating the application of migration monitoring data to land conservation, community education, and research hypothesis generation, not only in southeastern United States, but across the Caribbean Basin as well. Such results will allow us to make appropriate decisions for habitat conservation of migratory songbirds during their passage through the southeastern United States. Because the protocol is easy to perform and widely applicable, we suggest this protocol be used as a means to monitor migration throughout the Caribbean Basin.
Parent Publication
Keywords
citizen science,
conservation planning,
internet-based data management,
monitoring migration,
Neotropical Migratory Birds,
stopover habitats,
volunteer observers
Citation
Hamel, Paul B.; Riley, Cecilia M.; Hunter, W. C.; Woodrey, Mark S. 2005. Monitoring bird migration in the Caribbean basin: multi-national cooperation can close the loop. In: Ralph, C. John; Rich, Terrell D., editors 2005. Bird Conservation Implementation and Integration in the Americas: Proceedings of the Third International Partners in Flight Conference. 2002 March 20-24; Asilomar, California, Volume 2 Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-191. Albany, CA: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station: p. 729-733
