Tracy Aviary Citizen Science Indoor Training – Beginner Group February 18, 2017

Who we are Tracy Aviary inspires curiosity and caring for birds and nature through education and conservation

Who you are Name Hometown Favorite hobby Why you joined Tracy Aviary’s citizen science team

Citizen Science Project Overview

Tracy Aviary Citizen Science Background 2011 2017 Water Reclamation Facility 1 study site Regional Athletic Complex Jordan River Golf Course 8 study sites 8 volunteers City Creek Canyon ~30 volunteers Liberty Park Parley’s Historic Nature Park City Creek Canyon Big Bend Habitat Restoration Area Alta Galena Soo’nkhanni Preserve

Why do we study birds? (relatively) Easy to identify Contributors to healthy ecosystems Indicators Charismatic ambassadors American Dipper

American Three-toed Woodpecker Program Objectives Science for everyone Engaging citizens Collect & Interpret data Share results & Inform decision-making ? American Three-toed Woodpecker

How do we use the data? Create a baseline Inform managers Species present, habitat usage Recommendations-voice for the birds Long-term monitoring Trends over time Data sharing Contribute to the big picture eBird BCOR

Study Sites and Partnerships Alta City Creek Canyon Jordan River Big Bend Galena Soo’nkhanni RAC/Jordan River Golf Course Liberty Park Parleys Historic Nature Park Water Reclamation Facility Water Reclamation Facility Regional Athletic Complex Jordan River Golf Course City Creek Canyon Liberty Park Parley’s Historic Nature Park Big Bend Habitat Restoration Area Galena Soo’nkhanni Preserve Alta

Utah Division of Wildlife

Things to keep in mind when doing science Learn and follow protocols Be consistent in data collection Question your knowledge, double check yourself Ensure assumptions are being met

Survey Protocol and Methods Breeding Bird Surveys - Point Counts (Distance Sampling) 2 Roles: Recorder Observer Start Time: dawn (5:15am – 6am depending on site) End Time: several hours after dawn (8am-10:30am depending on site) Survey Dates: Mid-April to July (varies by site)

Survey Protocol and Methods Point Transect Surveys (Distance Sampling)

Distance Sampling Species Richness Abundance Density Community Composition

Assumptions of Distance Sampling Birds are identified correctly Nearby birds are detected All birds at 0m are detected Birds are detected at their initial locations Distance measurements are exact No “binning”

Learning Goals for Beginner Group Learn to identify 20 common birds by sight and sound Learn how to conduct field surveys as recorder

Trainings, Weekly Practices, and Assessments 1. Indoor Training and Pre-assessment 2. Trainings and Practice: Field Trainings* (March 4 through June): Saturday mornings Thursday afternoons Same topic *Minimum of 4 required Weekly Practices (Feb 28 through May): Online bird ID practices and quizzes Optional in-person birding by ear practices: Tuesday evenings 5:30-6:30 3. Post-assessments: Indoor post-assessment – early May Field assessment – early May 4. Breeding Bird Surveys (April 15 through July)

Training Resources tracyaviaryconservation.org ***Password to access schedule: woodpecker

Break Northern Flicker

What birds do you know?

QUIZ PART 2 TURN OFF PROJECTOR

LAZB: http://www.xeno-canto.org/74088 WETA: http://www.xeno-canto.org/14092 YEWA: http://www.xeno-canto.org/103455 AMGO: http://www.xeno-canto.org/103304 BCCH: http://www.xeno-canto.org/216075 DEJU: http://www.xeno-canto.org/253589 BHGR: http://www.xeno-canto.org/205391 CHSP: http://www.xeno-canto.org/205440 AMRO: http://www.xeno-canto.org/171727 NOFL: http://www.xeno-canto.org/74639

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Break Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Identifying Birds by Sight and Sound Western Meadowlark Red-winged Blackbird Wilson’s Snipe Identifying Birds by Sight and Sound Downy Woodpecker Cinnamon Teal

Bird ID by Sight Size & Shape Movement & Behavior Habitat & Time of Year Color Pattern & Field Marks

Black-capped Chickadee 1. Size & Shape Black-capped Chickadee Black-billed Magpie Belted Kingfisher Mourning Dove

1. Size & Shape Sharp-shinned Hawk Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Cooper’s Hawk

2. Movement & Behavior House Finch Northern Flicker California Quail American Robin

3. Habitat & Time of Year Alta City Creek Jordan River Elevation

3. Habitat & Time of Year ebird.org: Green-tailed Towhee Spotted Towhee Western Tanager

4. Color Pattern & Field Marks American Goldfinch Lesser Goldfinch Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Yellow Warbler Wilson’s Warbler

Bird ID by Sound Parts of bird vocalization Distinguishing features Rhythm, pitch, repetition, tone Mnemonics Differentiating songs that sound similar

1. Parts of bird vocalization American Goldfinch House Finch Call notes Songs Hairy Woodpecker Other (non vocal) sounds

2. Distinguishing features Rhythm Pitch Repetition Tone House Wren American Robin Mourning Dove Cedar Waxwing Canyon Wren repeat phrases 3+ times Northern Mockingbird Belted Kingfisher Yellow Warbler

put on your tea-kettle-ettle-ettle! 3. Mnemonics Black-capped Chickadee American Robin Song Sparrow Chick-a-dee-dee-dee-dee Feee-bee! Cheese burger! Cheerily cheer-up cheerily Yellow Warbler Maids-maids-maids, put on your tea-kettle-ettle-ettle! Sweet-sweet-sweet-little-boy-sweet

4. Differentiating songs that sound similar American Robin Western Tanager Hoarse and burry: Robin with a cold? Hairy Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker vs. vs. Lower, even-pitched rattle sharp “peek” Descending whinny flat “pick” call note

Learning Resources All About Birds allaboutbirds.org Macaulay Library macaulaylibrary.org Dendroica natureinstruct.org/dendroica ebird ebird.org Merlin ID app merlin.allaboutbirds.org Larkwire app http://www.larkwire.com Xeno-Canto http://www.xeno-canto.org/ Utah Birds http://utahbirds.org/

Practice Practice Practice!

Training Assessment American Avocet