Just 12 days remain for Ohio birders to complete blitz protocol data sheets
detailing Rusty Blackbird sightings during the Ohio target period for the
2014 spring blitz. Please make a final effort to contribute, today through
April 15!

Ohio birders deliver: Through March 31, 2014, 281 eBird checklists included
RUBL records since Ohio's blitz target period launched March 1. That's a 73
checklist increase over the same period last year. Thank you. I do not have
numbers of protocol data sheets completed for Ohio, yet. I will share when I
do. The data sheet information is essential for current efforts to
understand population dynamics for RUBL. Your help is needed, it's valuable,
more so than you know. I'm confident that generosity among Ohio birders will
deliver again as we did during the two fall blitz periods past.

Steps to success:

Go birding, have fun!

Visit birding hotspots where you have seen RUBL in the past, consider taking
datasheets with you (below).

Complete a data sheet (described below) to document your visit, EVEN IF YOU
DID NOT SEE Rusty Blackbirds.

Use eBird for record-keeping, it's easy and pays you back for your effort by
giving you free access to your organized records.

Log into eBird and select the tab along the top, "Submit Observations"

Select your "Observation Location" using the dropdown menu for birding
hotspots and locations you have recorded before, or use the map to zoom in
on where you are/were.

Select your "Observation Date", the date you recorded field records of RUBL,
or just visited a hotspot.

Select the "Observation Type" "Other" then use dropdown menu--scroll down
and select, "Rusty Blackbird Spring Migration Blitz"

Read the summary found here and follow instruction carefully, please. Your
effort will help dedicated researchers sort out the challenges resulting in
decline of RUBL populations.

Data sheet:
http://rustyblackbird.org/wp-content/uploads/Rusty-Blackbird-Blitz-2014-data
sheet.pdf

Tom Bain
OOS Conservation
Ohio blitz coordinator

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