Construction Sampling for Breeding Birds. 1. Survey Methods: Breeding bird surveys should be conducted once in May and two visits in June. Points should be established systematically at 250-meter intervals (or at 500 meters in grassland settings) using a grid or track that covers the projected development site. Based on overall project size and project configuration, the PGC will be flexible with regard to breeding bird survey sampling intervals. A circle is delineated around each point of 50-meters and allowance is made for detecting birds outside that ring (unlimited circle). Observers should be experienced or be trained at judging distances, using a range-finder and local landscape features as cues. Sample period should be divided into three periods, starting with the first three minutes, the subsequent two minutes, and the final five minutes. These time bands allow comparisons between these data sets with other point-counts (including the BBS route data) of 3- and 5-minute lengths (Xxxxx et al. 1995). Sampling should occur in the morning when detection of birds is greatest. Counts should not be conducted in periods of heavy rains or high winds. Each location should be approached quietly in order to avoid disturbance of the birds and to observe birds near the sample point, but outside of the detection circle. Each bird should be recorded in the first period it is observed. A small bull’s eye is provided on the point count data sheet for registering the general location of the bird. The up position is North with the lines dividing the circle into four quadrants. Additional notes on location of birds can be made on separate sheets. Birds detected while flying over should be counted separately. The location of each point should be registered on a separate form using GPS (Attachment Form Wind 7008). The use of standard four-letter species alpha codes, breeding bird atlas codes, and other standard abbreviations are helpful to the standardized collection of data (Xxxxx et al. 1993, Xxxxx et al. 1996, PA Breeding Bird Atlas website). A stopwatch or other chronometry is very helpful to ensure conformity to the time band data periods. A compass or GPS unit with compass capacity is needed to identify the position of the birds. The field observer should provide evidence of rare or unexpected species by taking photographs, making field recordings, or field sketches. Digital recordings are preferable because of their ease of storage and transfer. In each successive time-band, the observer should attempt to ...
