Dear Birders, As you scan the mudflats and flooded agricultural fields this fall, be sure to look for color-marked shorebirds. Shorebirds are being marked on the breast feathers as part of an ongoing research project in the southwest Lake Erie Marsh Region evaluating body mass dynamics and shorebird movements across the local landscape. You can help with this project by seeking out color-marked shorebirds during your birding adventures this fall. When you are lucky enough to spot a color-marked shorebird, record information on the color of the marking, your location, the type of habitat the bird is using, and the bird’s behavior; report your sighting to Keith Norris ([log in to unmask], (217)855-6324). More information, pictures of color-marked shorebirds, and a convenient data sheet are available on the Black Swamp Bird Observatory’s website (Click Here<http://www.bsbobird.org/pdf/Shorebird_Migration_Research_Form.pdf> ). The color-marking operation is one aspect of a larger research project. This entire study will provide insights on: - Body mass dynamics of migrating shorebirds - Food and habitat resources available for migrating shorebirds - Local shorebird movements and stopover duration The results of this research will be used to improve the “Shorebird Habitat Conservation Strategy” developed by the Upper Mississippi River & Great Lakes Region Joint Venture. If you have any questions about our research or our preliminary findings, please contact Keith Norris ([log in to unmask] ). Thanks, Keith -- Keith A. Norris Graduate Associate School of Environment & Natural Resources The Ohio State University Project Website <http://twel.osu.edu/projects/Norris.html> [log in to unmask] 217.855.6324 ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]