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Biologists survey rare birds on Cumberland Island
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| WILDLIFE BIOLOGISTS JOHN Jensen (left) and Bert Rhyne (right) and ornithologist Ray Chandler (center) use scopes and binoculars to count the number of birds on Cumberland Island. The mid-winter bird survey took place Feb. 3 on Coastal Georgia’s barrier islands. (Tribune & Georgian photo/Stella Hatzikazakis) |
By Stella Hatzikazakis
Wildlife biologists and ornithologists participated in a mid-winter bird survey Feb. 3 on the barrier islands of Coastal Georgia. The purpose of the survey was to determine the number of bird species on each of the islands.
The mid-winter survey is conducted once every winter, simultaneously on each of the islands, including Cumberland Island. Information collected from each survey will be used to determine the number of rare birds, if certain bird species are declining in number and what is causing them to decline.
"One year's worth of information doesn't tell you much, but if you do it year after year, you'll be able to tell if the population trends are going up or declining over a period of time," said wildlife biologist John Jensen.
Biologists conducting the survey were equipped with spotting scopes, binoculars and checklists, which would allow them to count and record the number of birds on the islands. There is no way to count the exact number of birds, but, when the numbers are estimated, it is fairly easy to detect trends over a long period of time, Jensen said.
"If we see trends that the numbers are going up we can be encouraged. But if the numbers are going down, we can use this information to guide conservation efforts," Jensen said. "If the numbers are down, something is wrong and we try to figure out what it is and fix it."
The survey focused mainly on counting the number of piping plover shorebirds because this type of bird is an endangered species. The piping plover is a small bird that runs in short distances and stops. The bird has orange legs, a black band across the forehead and a black ring around the base of its neck. A certain population of piping plovers come from the Great Lakes region and migrate to the coastal Georgia islands during the winter in search of food, Jensen said.
Biologists on Cumberland Island counted approximately 20 piping plovers. The total number of piping plovers that come from the Great Lakes is only between 100 and 200, Jensen said.
Other endangered shorebirds that biologists focused on counting included the American oystercatcher, the red knot and Wilson's plover. Biologists on Cumberland Island counted approximately 30 American oystercatchers, 163 red knots and eight Wilson's plovers, Jensen said. "These birds are getting to be a major concern because the numbers are very low," he said.
There are several ways to help protect the birds from declining in numbers. One method is to protect their habitat, Jensen said.
"Some oystercatchers nest on our beaches, so you can flag off the nests and keep people away from the nests," Jensen said. "People should not approach the birds and all dogs should be kept on leashes. If dogs are allowed to run freely they will disturb the birds and cause them to fly away."
The mid-winter survey is conducted once every winter, simultaneously on each of the islands, including Cumberland Island. Information collected from each survey will be used to determine the number of rare birds, if certain bird species are declining in number and what is causing them to decline.
"One year's worth of information doesn't tell you much, but if you do it year after year, you'll be able to tell if the population trends are going up or declining over a period of time," said wildlife biologist John Jensen.
Biologists conducting the survey were equipped with spotting scopes, binoculars and checklists, which would allow them to count and record the number of birds on the islands. There is no way to count the exact number of birds, but, when the numbers are estimated, it is fairly easy to detect trends over a long period of time, Jensen said.
"If we see trends that the numbers are going up we can be encouraged. But if the numbers are going down, we can use this information to guide conservation efforts," Jensen said. "If the numbers are down, something is wrong and we try to figure out what it is and fix it."
The survey focused mainly on counting the number of piping plover shorebirds because this type of bird is an endangered species. The piping plover is a small bird that runs in short distances and stops. The bird has orange legs, a black band across the forehead and a black ring around the base of its neck. A certain population of piping plovers come from the Great Lakes region and migrate to the coastal Georgia islands during the winter in search of food, Jensen said.
Biologists on Cumberland Island counted approximately 20 piping plovers. The total number of piping plovers that come from the Great Lakes is only between 100 and 200, Jensen said.
Other endangered shorebirds that biologists focused on counting included the American oystercatcher, the red knot and Wilson's plover. Biologists on Cumberland Island counted approximately 30 American oystercatchers, 163 red knots and eight Wilson's plovers, Jensen said. "These birds are getting to be a major concern because the numbers are very low," he said.
There are several ways to help protect the birds from declining in numbers. One method is to protect their habitat, Jensen said.
"Some oystercatchers nest on our beaches, so you can flag off the nests and keep people away from the nests," Jensen said. "People should not approach the birds and all dogs should be kept on leashes. If dogs are allowed to run freely they will disturb the birds and cause them to fly away."
