In 2005, GCBO began an ambitious project to collect data on migrating birds from important sites around the Gulf of Mexico that are part of our Site Partner Network. This data, collected either from standardized Area Searches or Banding is housed in a GCBO clone of Cornell’s eBird database.  By using standardized methodologies, the data (which will be available to anyone) can be analyzed to detect trends in numbers and routes used by migrating birds. The data will also quantify the importance of coastal wooded habitats for migrants, and help justify the preservation of these sites.

If you would be interested in assisting with this project at one of our Sites, please contact John Arvin at jarvin@gcbo.org, or phone (979) 480-0999.  We hope to get participation from as many sites as possible (both spring and fall), and we would like to monitor at least once a week at each site that participates.  Please see the links above for area searches and banding to learn about the methodology that must be used.

How you can participate

All of our projects rely on volunteer birders and professional biologists to collect these important data. Please click over to the individual monitoring projects and consider joining us in one or more of these fun and rewarding field projects.