I recently received word that George Gavutis has retired from doing his Breeding Bird Survey route in East Kingston (after 24 years!). The route starts in East Kingston and wanders southeast to the Windham/Salem area. As with all BBS routes, it consists of 50 stops spaced half a mile apart and is surveyed once a year during the peak breeding season (typically June). Observers must be able to identify most local breeding species by sight and sound (mostly the latter on BBS routes) and ideally be willing to commit to doing the survey for several years (this helps with data consistency). I'm sure there must be a few birders meeting these criteria in southwestern Rockingham County, so feel free to reply to this email with your interest or questions.
There also still a possible opening for the Gilmanton route than starts in the named town and works west to Northfield. There may be a candidate in line for this route, but nothing is confirmed, and it can't hurt to build up a list of interested parties for when other routes become available.
The BBS has been going on in NH since 1966 and generates most of the data bird conservationists use to assess populations at state, regional, and continental levels. Except for state coordinators such as myself, it is almost entirely a volunteer effort. Many thanks to the folks who do their routes each year and those who might be interested in joining the team.
Pam
Pamela D. Hunt, Ph.D.
Senior Biologist for Avian Conservation
NH Audubon
603-224-9909 x328 (office)
Voicemail gets forwarded to email so please leave a message so I know you called and can get back to you.
How are NH's birds doing? Check out our "State of the Birds" report at:
https://stateofthebirds.nhaudubon.org/ ___
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