Project Highlight: Monitoring of Owls and Nightjars
The nightjars - Chuck-will's-widow (Antrostomus carolinensis), Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor), and Eastern Whip-poor-will (Antrostomus vociferus) - are spring and summer breeders and have since left the northeast region. The same is true for the Short-eared owl (Asio flammeus), an Illinois Endangered species. However, the Great Horned Owl, Eastern Screech-Owl, Barred Owl, and Barn Owl are year-round residents. Even the Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) has been making appearances in Illinois in recent years!
Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)
Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio)
Barred Owl (Strix varia)
Barn Owl (Tyto alba) - Illinois Endangered
Changes in land use for things like cattle grazing and agriculture have resulted in habitat loss and lack of food sources for MOON's target species (INHS 2019). Illinois Natural History Survey programs like the Spring Bird Count (SBC), Christmas Bird Count (CBC), and the Breeding Bird Count (BBC) have proven useful for understanding these impacts. However, INHS came to realize that these projects are inadequate when it comes to identifying population trends in nocturnal species.
Although this isn't a primary project for the purpose of the course for which this blog was created, I'm thrilled to share that I'll be participating in the MOON project this fall and winter. The "volunteer season" normally runs from May to June, so I wasn't sure this would be possible. Luckily, I heard from the director today and was informed that monitoring data is always welcome. It may be "off-season" because four of the eight target species and most of the volunteer base are no longer present, but the species that remain will be gearing up for mating season in the coming months. It's an ideal time to be monitoring with audio playback and I'm delighted to be a part of it.
I'll be patrolling a newly created route in the northeast region of the state. Routes are at least nine miles in length and stops are made every mile; the distance ensures owls are not counted more than once. Routes can be walked or driven with at least ten stops in total. Surveys can't begin until at least 30 minutes after sunset and no later than 15 minutes before sunrise. Protocol also requires that the moon is 50% or greater illumination. In addition to owl call playback and recording responses, I will also record atmospheric conditions (clouds) and wind speed. I'll be using an anemometer and making visual observations accordingly. Data is then recorded in the sheet below and submitted to INHS.
The moon won't be more than 50% illuminated until November 5, so I won't make any progress on this project until at least that time. My participation will also be weather permitting since I'll have to camp overnight in Illinois Beach State Park to gain access to the route after dark. I'll work on this project through the winter months - long past the time this blog is reviewed for the purpose of my coursework. I guess you could say it's more of a personal endeavor for me. I've always loved owls. Owling is something I've already been doing for years, so I figured I might as well contribute to science in the process. I hope you all continue to follow along to read about my encounters!
I'll be patrolling a newly created route in the northeast region of the state. Routes are at least nine miles in length and stops are made every mile; the distance ensures owls are not counted more than once. Routes can be walked or driven with at least ten stops in total. Surveys can't begin until at least 30 minutes after sunset and no later than 15 minutes before sunrise. Protocol also requires that the moon is 50% or greater illumination. In addition to owl call playback and recording responses, I will also record atmospheric conditions (clouds) and wind speed. I'll be using an anemometer and making visual observations accordingly. Data is then recorded in the sheet below and submitted to INHS.
The moon won't be more than 50% illuminated until November 5, so I won't make any progress on this project until at least that time. My participation will also be weather permitting since I'll have to camp overnight in Illinois Beach State Park to gain access to the route after dark. I'll work on this project through the winter months - long past the time this blog is reviewed for the purpose of my coursework. I guess you could say it's more of a personal endeavor for me. I've always loved owls. Owling is something I've already been doing for years, so I figured I might as well contribute to science in the process. I hope you all continue to follow along to read about my encounters!
Resource
- Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS). (2019). Monitoring of Owls and Nightjars (MOON) in Illinois. Retrieved from https://www.inhs.illinois.edu/research/moon/.
- University of Illinois. (2019). Illinois Natural History Survey: About. Retrieved from https://www.inhs.illinois.edu/organization/.
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