Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kial/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1311571§ionID=1
Beached bird survey in Unalaska Sunday
KIAL News
UNALASKA, AK (2008-07-02) The Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team is inviting people to contribute to climate change research by walking the beach to look for dead birds and bird parts. The program surveys beaches in Washington, Oregon, and Alaska to monitor changes in climates and ecosystems.
"In essence you have citizen scientists and volunteers that are walking the beaches determining how many birds are there on a normal, once-a-month type of time line," said Reid Brewer, the Unalaska organizer. "Over time you start to get a picture of what a natural rate of deposition is."
He says most of the time volunteers won't find any birds, but even that is data.
"So that's kind of what we're shooting for: get out there and walk the beach and say there are no birds washing up at this time. Then when there is, and you start seeing the birds washing in, we'll know that something is going wrong because birds are usually pretty sensitive to changes in the environment."
Volunteers for the program don't need to know anything about birds. The first walk will begin at 2 pm on Sunday. Meet at the PCR parking lot. Families are welcome. If you want to be involved with future surveys, Brewer can train you to identify dead birds just by measuring wings, feet, beaks, or other remaining parts.
? Copyright 2008, kial
Beached bird survey in Unalaska Sunday
KIAL News
UNALASKA, AK (2008-07-02) The Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team is inviting people to contribute to climate change research by walking the beach to look for dead birds and bird parts. The program surveys beaches in Washington, Oregon, and Alaska to monitor changes in climates and ecosystems.
"In essence you have citizen scientists and volunteers that are walking the beaches determining how many birds are there on a normal, once-a-month type of time line," said Reid Brewer, the Unalaska organizer. "Over time you start to get a picture of what a natural rate of deposition is."
He says most of the time volunteers won't find any birds, but even that is data.
"So that's kind of what we're shooting for: get out there and walk the beach and say there are no birds washing up at this time. Then when there is, and you start seeing the birds washing in, we'll know that something is going wrong because birds are usually pretty sensitive to changes in the environment."
Volunteers for the program don't need to know anything about birds. The first walk will begin at 2 pm on Sunday. Meet at the PCR parking lot. Families are welcome. If you want to be involved with future surveys, Brewer can train you to identify dead birds just by measuring wings, feet, beaks, or other remaining parts.
? Copyright 2008, kial