Date: 3/23/26 9:41 am From: Chuck Otte <00001b0b31b1d152-dmarc-request...> Subject: Looking For Breeding Bird Survey volunteers
A few years ago I "inherited" the job of Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) state coordinator from Bill Busby. Since that time weīve been through a pandemic and the passing or "retirement" of some long time BBS route volunteers. As a result, we do have about half of the routes in the state that are currently available for assignment.
The BBS is a long-term, large-scale, international avian monitoring program initiated in 1966 to track the status and trends of North American bird populations. Each year during the height of the avian breeding season, June for most of the U.S. and Canada, participants skilled in avian identification collect bird population data along roadside survey routes. Each survey route is approximately 24.5 miles long with stops situated ideally 0.5-mile apart. At each stop, a 3-minute point count is conducted. During the count, every bird seen within a 0.25-mile radius or heard is recorded. Surveys start one-half hour before local sunrise and take about 5 hours to complete. In Kansas routes can be run mainly in June but in reality itīs from Memorial Day to the 4th of July.
If you go to: https://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBS/RouteMap/Map.cfm you can work your way through and find a map and listing of Kansas BBS routes. Routes in red are routes that are currently vacant. Thereīs a box you can check to see the path that the route is assigned to.
If, after reading this information, you think you want to participate, send me your contact and mailing information at <cotte...> I will enter you into the database and assign you to the route that you are interested in. You will need to successfully complete an online methodology training session. It really is important that you can identify bird songs from the breeding season as many of the individuals you will be recording will be heard not seen (Iīd say about 3/4 heard and 1/4 seen. As we get closer to survey time you will receive a packet of information and a map - Iīd strongly recommend you drive the route prior to doing your first survey so you know the road conditions and where to stop. I have a few stops where I adjust my stopping point a hundred yards so that Iīm not stopping right in front of someoneīs house or near a barking/mean dog! One last thing, if you arenīt an early riser - this probably isnīt a volunteer job for you!!
