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Citizens Behind the Science: The Use of Citizen Volunteers in Urban Bird Research William P. Mueller WI Society for Ornithology WI Bird Conservation Initiative Timothy L. Vargo Urban Ecology Center Owen D. Boyle WDNR An urban bird study - - • Some of the most effective studies of bird species and changes, such as population declines, begin with a discussion of birds in the landscape… Changes in the landscape: fragmentation (Curtis 1956) Patches of habitat in urban areas are surrounded by areas much less suitable for bird use Milwaukee County’s parks comprise a fragmented set of habitats for migrating land birds… …BUT, these fragmented woodlands can be vital refuges for migrants! Milwaukee County Avian Migration Monitoring Partnership (MCAMMP) Project Goals: 1. Assess bird use of small habitat patches in an urban matrix 2. Sampling & analysis of differences in vegetation that help to explain #1 3. Determine refueling rate of migrants in variable patch types, and thereby measure habitat quality 4. Train and utilize citizen scientists to accomplish these research goals and establish a long-term Citizen-based monitoring program Importance of this research • Migrants utilize a variety of stopover sites • One often-neglected set of sites are in urban areas • Urban habitats include parks and natural areas, often characterized by some degree of disturbance • This is one of the first studies nationwide to focus on how refueling rate and body condition are affected by quality of urban stopover habitats Components of the MCAMMP Project • • • • • GPS mapping of sites Transect counts of species on each site Study design/ site selection Vegetation sampling protocol Mistnetting and banding of migrants and blood sampling of target species • Environmental education: students and citizen scientists All study sites and transects were GPS’d, and mapped on aerial photos MCAMMP Transects • 250 m in length X 40 m in width • Data on all species found, weather, time of day and duration of transect, degree of leaf development in canopy • 8 study sites in 2006-2007; 4 additional sites in 2008 In the first 2 field seasons, ~90 species were found on transect counts, including: 2 forest raptor spp. 3 wrens Black-b. Cuckoo Gr. Horned Owl 5 thrushes, B.-g. Gnatcatcher C. Waxwing 4 woodpeckers Br. Creeper 7 flycatchers 4 vireos 5 swallows 23 warblers Am. Crow & Blue Jay 2 grosbeaks, Sc. Tanager, Indigo Bunting 4 sparrows, 3 blackbirds & Baltimore Oriole Black-c. Chickadee & White-br. Nuthatch Volunteers and the Transects • The Plan: – Volunteers seek certification by the Wisconsin Birder Certification Program (Bob Howe, UW-Green Bay) • The Reality… MCAMMP Vegetation Sampling Vegetation Sampling: Questions • What are the differences in the vegetation between sites that could explain differential bird use? – Plant species composition – Vegetation structure • How is habitat quality affected by the presence of invasive exotic plant species? Vegetation Data Collection • What are the differences in the vegetation of sites that could explain differential bird use/ refueling rates? – identify species – relative abundance/ % cover – canopy closure – bare ground/ leaf litter Vegetation Data Collection • How is habitat quality affected by the presence of invasive exotic plant species? – abundance of dominant exotics correlation with site use (transect/ banding data) or bird condition (blood analysis)? Challenges of sampling vegetation with citizen scientists • No trails! (buckthorn/ honeysuckle thickets, steep-sided ravines) • Longer hours/ field season • Random sampling Benefits of sampling vegetation with citizen scientists • Data collection assistance – data recording – plant I.D. – estimating percent cover/ canopy closure – tree measurements • Doubled the number of teams (data collected) per day MCAMMP Mistnetting and Banding MCAMMP banding program • Pilot Year: Two Stations - Riverside & Kletzsch Parks • Two teams banding on same day for comparison • Blood sampling of 7 target species: – Seed-eaters: SCJU & WTSP – Frugivores: SWTH & HETH – Insectivores: AMRE, YRWA, MYWA In the first two field seasons, 44 species were banded, with blood samples taken from all 8 target species. Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2 kinglets 4 woodpeckers Brown Creeper 1 flycatcher 4 thrushes 1 swallow Gray Catbird 2 vireos 11 warblers Blue Jay 5 sparrows Black-capped Chickadee 2 grosbeaks & Indigo Bunting White-breasted Nuthatch 3 blackbirds House Wren Am. Goldfinch ASSESSING RATES OF FUEL DEPOSITION AND STOPOVER HABITAT QUALITY FOR MIGRATORY BIRDS Christopher G. Guglielmo University of Western Ontario Circulating lipid metabolites reflect the metabolic state of migrants METABOLITE TRIGLYCERIDE B- OH- BUTYRATE FEEDING FASTING Metabolite profiles change rapidly after a change in feeding rate in Wilson’s Warblers (Wilsonia pusilla). ** * Zajac et al. 2006 JAB 37:405-408 MCAMMP: blood sampling A very small blood sample, taken from the brachial vein (sample size varies in relation to size of bird) Blood Sampling: Questions • How do migrants fare on small habitat patches in an urban matrix? • How effectively can they re-fuel? The Volunteer Training Process: Creating an MCAMMP Citizen Scientist • Volunteer workshop – Recruiting: introduction to the project partners, goals, and volunteer opportunities • Detailed training in the field • On-the-ground experience • Opportunities for team building – picnics and parties! MCAMMP Volunteer and Intern Effort (2006-2007) $$ saved Project Volunteers ($15/hr. for field Component & Interns Hours assistants) Transects 15 121 $1,815 Vegetation 16 134 $2,144 Banding 93 1,420 $21,300 TOTAL 124 1675 $25,259 Benefits Increases data-collection power Cost-effective alternative or addition to paid assistants Local support & “ownership” Data usually same quality as paid technicians Citizen scientists gain an education and learn skills to carry with them Citizen scientists gain an appreciation of the natural world and conservation Volunteers have unique talents that can help in unexpected ways Challenges Limited volunteer availability (jobs, family, etc.) Increased time and effort of training and coordinating schedules Often requires technical skills and knowledge of species identification which may seem daunting Physically demanding conditions/ long hours Vargo et al. (in press) The most extraordinary thing about the MCAMMP project is simply its people. Volunteers and visitors are not always students… …but many are: MCAMMP’s environmental education component A bird in the hand is…priceless!