Thought I would send this along for anyone interested in participating. 
Lynda

Mark Your Calendars for the Rusty Blackbird Hot Spot Blitz! 
 
The Rusty Blackbird has been steeply declining with estimates of an 85-99% 
population drop over the past 40 years.  The cause for this alarming 
decline is not known and the increasingly sparse and patchy winter 
distribution of the Rusty Blackbird is making it more difficult to learn 
more about distribution, abundance, and ecology as a basis for 
conservation efforts.  Collaborating with Cornell Laboratory of 
Ornithology's and National Audubon Society?s e-Bird project, the Rusty 
Blackbird Technical Working Group (RBTWG) needs your help to find local, 
but predictable wintering concentrations of Rusty Blackbirds by 
participating in the Rusty Blackbird Hot Spot Blitz. 
 
The Rusty Blackbird Hot Spot Blitz will occur, February 7-15, 2009, 
throughout the Rusty Blackbird winter range in over 20 Midwestern and 
southeastern states.  Participants will simply be asked to visit locations 
where they have previously sighted or would expect to encounter Rusty 
Blackbirds and submit their observations via e-Bird.  There are no 
datasheets or daily time restrictions. You can go wherever you like, 
whenever you like, and as often as you like anytime between the dates of 
February 7-15, 2009.   We are simply seeking observations on the number of 
birds present at each location visited, along with very basic habitat 
information.  If you are unfamiliar with areas which may support Rusty 
Blackbirds in your region, contact the Blitz coordinator for ideas. As a 
result of these efforts, the RBTWG is hoping to create maps of wintering 
Rusty Blackbird "hot spots" that will help direct research, monitoring and 
conservation attention. 
 
If you don't use eBird regularly, please consider entering all your 
observations of Rusty Blackbirds (even outside the Blitz period).  Your 
observations of will be used by researchers currently studying their steep 
long-term population decline.
 
Additional instructions and information on identification, habitat 
preferences, etc., will soon be posted on the Smithsonian Migratory Bird 
Center's Rusty Blackbird website:
 
 
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/ConservationAndScience/MigratoryBirds/Research/Rusty_Blackbird/
 
Information and instructions will also be available on Cornell Laboratory 
of Ornithology's e-Bird site:
 
http://ebird.org
 
 

Lynda Andrews
Wildlife Biologist
Wayne National Forest
740/753-0550 voice
740/753-0118 fax

Visit http://www.birdhocking.com for great Southeastern Ohio birdwatching 
opportunities!

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