WDFW Depending on Citizen Science to confirm bird counts

[CedarPants]

What a concept.  WDFW openly asking for help from citizens in confirming bird counts.  You can even go online at any time for up to date information on the numbers and locations of birds being reported by citizens.

Odd that this type of thing is available for birds but not wolves


http://wdfw.wa.gov/living/crossing_paths/

[pianoman9701]

Very good point, Cedar. I think I'll write a letter!

[CAMPMEAT]

Oh yes, the most important thing to count in Washington !!!!! Idiots !

[Special T]

That is actually how an ESA falcon was removed from the list her in Washington...

[CedarPants]

Very good point, Cedar. I think I'll write a letter!

   So will I!

To warm up for my letter, I provided them with this comment on the news release: 
I like this concept. Relying on citizens to help document and confirm these counts is an extremely sound way to go about collecting valuable data that you would otherwise have no way of obtaining. I especially like being able to go online at any time for up to date information on the information being reported by citizens. This is how wildlife management should work, and I commend you for being humble enough to admit that you need our help. I also commend you for making the data from this kind of citizen science so readily available at our fingertips.
 
My only question .... if you can do this for birds, when should we expect something similar for wolves?

[Killmore]

Excellant last comment ,let us know if they respond and when they want us to start!

Very good point, Cedar. I think I'll write a letter!

   So will I!

To warm up for my letter, I provided them with this comment on the news release: 
I like this concept. Relying on citizens to help document and confirm these counts is an extremely sound way to go about collecting valuable data that you would otherwise have no way of obtaining. I especially like being able to go online at any time for up to date information on the information being reported by citizens. This is how wildlife management should work, and I commend you for being humble enough to admit that you need our help. I also commend you for making the data from this kind of citizen science so readily available at our fingertips.
 
My only question .... if you can do this for birds, when should we expect something similar for wolves?

[JimmyHoffa]

Would be interesting to hear 'their' reasoning.  So they will trust a bunch of mostly urbanites to report on varieties of birds--of which some have very, very minute differences between species.......but they don't believe people that live, work, and spend countless hours in the woods know the difference between a wolf and a coyote.

[CedarPants]

I think I have an idea for the letter I want to submit to WDFW, let me know what you think.  I'm going to just copy/paste the article about the birds word for word and make a few changes/corrections, then send it off to them asking for feedback.  Hopefully this will allow WDFW to see how easy it would really be to let us help, and in fact it points out the process is really already in place (we just need to tweak it from birds to wolves).  If you could all proofread the changes I've made and let me know I'd appreciate it.   

Again, the original letter about birds can be found here:  http://wdfw.wa.gov/living/crossing_paths/

Here are my proposed revisions:

December 2011

We’re counting on you counting birds wolves

The birds wolves you watch in your backyard this winter can be part of two scientific databases that count on you counting them.  The 112th annual Audubon Wolf Society Christmas Bird Wolf Count (CBC) (CWC) is the longest running “citizen science” survey in the world. Between December 14 and Jan. 5, 2012, tens of thousands of volunteers throughout North America will add a new layer to more than a century of data.

CBC CWC volunteers follow specified routes through a designated 15-mile (24-km) diameter circle, counting every bird wolf they see or hear all day. The data collected by observers allow biologists to study the long-term health and status of bird wolf populations across the continent.

If you live within a CBC CWC circle, you can arrange in advance to count the birds wolves by species the dozen at your backyard habitat provisions or feeders pretty much everywhere and submit that data to your local compiler.

Counts are being coordinated in several communities across Washington, from Anacortes to Yakima. Some counts may charge small fees ($5 or less) to cover the cost of materials for compilers, the annual CBC CWC summary, and maintenance of the CBC CWC website and database. You can find counts by community and date, and learn who to contact for data compilation, at the Washington Ornithological Wolf Society website at http://www.wos.org/cbc.html .

Even easier for backyard birders wolfers is the Great Backyard Bird Wolf Count (GBBC) GBWC, and the 15th annual will be conducted February 17-20, 2012.

GBBC GBWC participants count birds wolves anywhere for as little or as long as they wish during the four-day period. They tally the highest number of birds wolves of each species seen together at any one time. To report their counts, they fill out an online checklist at the GBBC GBWC website, http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/.

As this count progresses, anyone with Internet access can explore what is being reported from their own towns or anywhere in the United States and Canada. They can also see how this year's numbers compare with those from previous years. Participants may also send in photographs of the birds wolves they see for the GBBC’s GBWC's on-line photo gallery.

“Both of these bird wolf counts are good ways to learn more about the birds wolves you see in your backyard or neighborhood or local wildlife area,” said Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) biologist Christopher Anderson of Mill Creek. “They’re also a great way to add to our collective knowledge about birds wolves.”

Anderson noted that this year CBC CWC participants may have a chance to add a uncommon non-native species to their counts – white owls canadian grey wolves are in Washington earlier than usual for the first time ever and possibly in greater numbers than usual our agency is willing to admit.

These big white owls wolves, with round heads and big yellow eyes, breed on northern tundras pretty much everywhere and migrate just into the northern tier of the country pretty much everywhere when food becomes scarce. WDFW staff have reported ignored individual owls wolves in Stevens County, just south of Colville, in Lincoln County north of Davenport, in Skagit County near Puget Sound, and other places.

“We seem to be having bit of an erruption year for snowy owls wolves,” Anderson said. “A sudden increase of migrating individuals of any given species is usually based on changes in food sources or weather conditions. The last one was the winter of 2005-2006 if I remember right.”

Anderson noted that current reports of snowy owls wolves across the country are being mapped on-line by birders wolfers at http://bit.ly/vBWj73. Information about snowy owls wolves is available at http://www.birdweb.org/birdweb/bird/snowy_owl and http://www.owlpages.com/owls.php?genus=Bubo&species=scandiacus .

“It’s a great time to see these cool diurnal arctic owl wolves,” he said. “Whatever birds wolves you see or help count this winter, just remember to watch carefully from a distance and avoid disturbing them.”  

[ICEMAN]

HA! good one!

[Special T]

believe it or not CP i was thinking about writing a letter also. It would simply state that me and some of my friends are interested in documenting wolves so that the state can meet it's BP numbers. How would they like help and what is the documentation that establishes proof. Since there is no definition, maybe we could get one from them. 

[bearpaw]

believe it or not CP i was thinking about writing a letter also. It would simply state that me and some of my friends are interested in documenting wolves so that the state can meet it's BP numbers. How would they like help and what is the documentation that establishes proof. Since there is no definition, maybe we could get one from them. 

Perfect, my exact thoughts, but I don't have time, hope you do it... 

[CedarPants]

Ya all kidding aside, I completely agree and will be doing the same thing.

Should we send individual letters?  A unified letter?

I'd be very curious to hear WDFW's reasoning as to why they would NOT want our volunteer help.  A "no-thanks, we got it from here" attitude won't help their rapidly fading public image

[Special T]

Well i'm not too concerned about thier image and doubt they are. I think that a couple a differnt letters might work. I don't think my name is going to work because i have written the corritical but polite letters in the past... I'll try and rough one out this weekend and we can run some ideas CP. 

[CedarPants]

Well i'm not too concerned about thier image and doubt they are. I think that a couple a differnt letters might work. I don't think my name is going to work because i have written the corritical but polite letters in the past... I'll try and rough one out this weekend and we can run some ideas CP. 

Completely agree with this as well.  And ya, they don't care about their image.  Get's back to a post I put in another thread about the example of Montana's Fish and Wildlife Department having the common sense to state to the public in their mission, vision, and goals that serving/working for the department is a privelage and responsibility.

Foreign concept to WDFW.  I truly think they feel we are the ones that should feel privelaged for letting them dictate things, and they long ago lost track of their responsibility

[pianoman9701]

My email to Director Anderson.

Dear Director Anderson,

I see the notice each year about the December bird counts. This is a good program that gets the public involved to help your department with counts that you couldn't possibly do within your staff's limitations.

The same type of civilian reporting could be used in the reporting of wolf sightings. Hunters, hikers, campers, and other sportsmen could increase your eyes in the woods by thousands to one. Please consider launching a wolf observation program that includes verifiable observation specifics like color, numbers of wolves sighted, GPS coordinates, paw print pictures with perspective, hair and stool samples, etc.

I would appreciate the courtesy of a reply. Thanks so much.

Most Sincerely,

John W
Vancouver, WA