[mou] Opportunity for Raptor Research volunteers

[Alt, Mark]

An opportunity for those raptor lovers in need of a mission.......

Mark Alt=20
MOU President
mark.alt@bestbuy.com
C/O J. F. Bell Museum of Natural History
University of Minnesota
10 Church Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455-0104
MOU.mn.org

-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Lind [mailto:jslind@frontiernet.net]=20
Sent: Sunday, May 15, 2005 9:09 PM
To: mark.Alt@bestbuy.com
Subject: final draft of raptor request

The Minnesota Ornithologists' Union and the University of Minnesota's=20
Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) in Duluth are requesting=20
volunteers to help survey three study plots in northern Minnesota for=20
breeding raptors and other species.  Three 1-square mile plots have=20
been selected in northern Pine (near the Net Lake Road),  western=20
Cass (near Walker), and Lake (near Isabella) counties for a pilot=20
study investigating the feasibility of conducting a large scale off-
road raptor monitoring program in Minnesota.=20

Copies of topographic maps of the plots will be provided, and=20
participants will be free to survey as much or as little of the plot=20
as they like.  Each of the plots have at least one gravel road that=20
runs through or along it, but the majority of each plot has no roads=20
or  trails (i.e. bushwacking will be needed).  The methodology will=20
simply be to search each plot for raptors from now through mid-July=20
(preferably in the morning hours), paying particular attention to=20
nesting activity.  Participants can visit the plots as often as=20
they'd like, and they will be asked to keep track of the type (sight,=20
vocalization, nest, fledged  young, etc.) and number of raptor=20
observations, the amount of time spent surveying the plots, and the=20
approximate areas of the plots they covered.  =20

One goal of this semi-formal effort is to get an idea of the=20
densities and sample sizes of breeding raptors that could be expected=20
if a similar effort was expanded across larger portions of the state.=20
 Depending on the plot and habitat, raptor species that could be=20
encountered include Broad-winged Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's=20
Hawk, Merlin, American Kestrel, Red-tailed Hawk, and potentially=20
Northern Goshawk or Red-shouldered Hawk.  Motivated observers could=20
also listen and search for owls at night, but this is not expected. =20
Participants are also encouraged to note all non-raptor bird species=20
encountered, including nests and young.=20

Anyone interested in participating should contact Jim Lind as soon as=20
possible at NRRI  (218-720-4384; jlind@nrri.umn.edu).=20