Summer Lake Shorebird Survey
May 18 - May 19
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY – Summer Lake Shorebird Survey
Where: Summer Lake Wildlife Area
What: Volunteers conduct counts of all shorebirds and other waterbirds (excluding waterfowl and American coot) across the entire Summer Lake Wildlife Area.
When: Saturday & Sunday, May 18 and 19, 2024
Why: The survey was established in 2009 to monitor breeding shorebird and other waterbird populations and to document bird responses to habitat enhancement and management actions in each of Summer Lake Wildlife Area’s habitat management units. The Summer Lake Shorebird Survey has been conducted annually (except in 2020) since 2009.
On average, over 3,200 shorebirds representing the 9 breeding species have been counted. In addition, about 5 non-breeding shorebird species have been found each year.
Since 2009, a total of 22 different shorebird species have been recorded including uncommon or rare species such as red knot, wandering tattler and whimbrel.
Other waterbirds such as waders, gulls & terns, grebes, pelicans & cormorants, sandhill cranes and rails are also counted and average over 1,300 individuals and over 20 species.
How: Volunteers count from vehicles along roads, and/or by foot hiking along dikes and levees, cross country and/or wading through marsh and shallow ponds in order to survey all types of wetland habitats.
In the past, bicycles, canoes and kayaks have been used in some areas.
Binoculars are essential and the use of spotting scopes in many areas is encouraged.
Volunteers meet at River Campground on Summer Lake Wildlife Area at 7:30 am and are assigned specific areas to survey.
Historically, many volunteer have camped one of the Wildlife Area’s four primitive sites. Others have chosen commercial lodging at the Lodge at Summer Lake.
In the past, the group has found about 120 species of birds throughout the weekend of birding.
Please contact Marty St. Louis for additional details and information.
PO Box 68, Summer Lake, OR 97640
Cell phone: (541)-219-0879 or email: stlouismartin541@gmail.com