CLIMATE WATCH

 Audubon’s Climate Watch Program - Kitsap Audubon’s Locations

Kitsap Audubon Society’s Climate Watch program has filled all of the assigned squares (see map below).

Surveys are conducted twice a year. Once between May 15 and June 15, and once between January 15 and February 15. Participants identify 12 survey locations within each square. All 12 survey locations within an individual square must be surveyed on the same day, but squares can be surveyed on any day within the survey period. The requirements for survey locations are simple; they must be 200 m apart, located on publicly accessible property, and contain habitat that is likely to support the target species. Participants in Kitsap County are asked to focus on the Red-breasted Nuthatch as their target species; but Western Bluebird, Spotted Towhee, and American Goldfinch are also species of interest. Surveys should be completed in the morning or evening when birds are likely to be more active. Depending on the distance between survey locations, it usually takes 3-4 hours to survey each square.

The survey protocol consists of a five-minute point count at each of the 12 survey locations. GPS coordinates are recorded at each site (the eBird mobile app will do this for you), and then a timer is set. All birds seen or heard during the five minutes are entered on an eBird checklist, and the checklists are submitted to National Audubon and shared to Kitsap Audubon’s eBird account.

For more information, please visit the Climate Watch website. If you are interested in participating, please contact Jennifer Standish at magma1306@gmail.com.