I'm excited to announce that Ecostudies Institute will once again be
coordinating the annual Puget Sound Shorebird Count
<https://ecoinst.org/conservation-programs/avian-conservation/puget-sound-shorebird-count/> ! This event is part of the Pacific Flyway Shorebird Survey
<https://data.pointblue.org/apps/pfss/>, a long-term monitoring program for
wintering shorebirds led by Point Blue Conservation Science. The data
gathered from these counts helps provide a better understanding of
shorebird populations and the habitats they utilize along the Pacific
Flyway, while allowing for the creation of more effective conservation
management plans.
Last year, we counted a total of *24,672 shorebirds and 69 raptors *with
the help of 42 volunteers across 22 sites! Dunlins once again dominated the
shorebird count with over 20,997 individuals sighted, while the raptor
count was led by 49 Bald Eagles.
After reviewing tide predictions, we will be conducting the 2024 count the
afternoon of *Saturday, December 7th* across the majority sites,
including Whidbey
Island and Samish, Port Susan, and Skagit Bays. Due to differing tidal
influences, our sites near Padilla Bay will be surveyed in the
afternoon on *Monday,
December 9th*. Our backup survey dates will be *Decem**ber 21st/22nd* if
the weather and tidal conditions on the 7th/9th are not ideal.
Thank you for your interest! We will follow up with more information and
site coordination once we receive form responses. We hope to see you at the
count!
