Visit Protocol: Visit One

The purpose of Visit 1 is to determine if your target species are present at each of your BFL survey points while also recording any signs of breeding activity.

     You should determine which species you will survey for and try to select your BFL points before the birds return from their wintering grounds. As mentioned in the beginning of the survey instructions, Visit 1 must be after the arrival of your study species that breeds latest in the season, a few days after this bird is present on territory. You can survey as many or as few study species as you like depending on your comfort level. Since some of your study species will begin to breed at different times during the spring and the habitat they choose to use for breeding will vary, you do not have to survey for the same species at each site.

    

Observation Period (mandatory 10 minutes)

Each survey begins with a 10-minute Observation Period conducted at every point. Conduct only one 10-minute Observation Period per visit regardless of the number of species you study. During this period, listen and look for all the possible study species that you have chosen for this site, as well as cowbirds and predators. Record your findings on a Field Form. Even if you quickly detect your study species, please complete a full 10-minute observation period, continuing to observe for cowbirds and predators while noting your species’ behaviors. Please record any observed breeding activity at this time. No playback is involved during this portion of the protocol, simply look and listen.

    

Playback Period (mandatory 5 minutes per species)

Immediately after the 10-minute Observation Period, you will conduct sequential, 5-minute Playback Periods for each of your study species, even if they were detected during your 10-minute Observation Period. Complete the entire 5-minute playback sequence for each study species, even if you detect your bird during the middle of its Playback Period or during the Playback Period for another study species. By conducting the entire Playback Period for each species, even if the bird is detected immediately, you are increasing your chances of discovering the breeding status of your study species and detecting additional individuals. For example, a male might come into the first sequence of songs and begin responding to the CD. During the second sequence of songs a female might join him, and then you have confirmed a breeding pair. One goal of these visits is to standardize your effort (playing the full five minutes) to get the highest breeding level possible (see Recording Breeding Status).

     After completing the playback period for your first species and recording data on your Field Form, you may begin the Playback Period for the second species. You should complete the Playback Period for each study species in sequence at an individual site on the same day.

     Play one minute of recorded songs, calls, or drums, then stop the CD while you watch and listen for one minute. Next, play another minute of recorded songs, calls, or drums for the same species followed by a final two-minute watch-and-listen period. Record any breeding status information by checking the appropriate box on the Field Form next to the atlas term listed here in this section of the manual. Predators that you observe during this playback portion or while traveling between census points may be recorded in the “Comments” section of the data form.

    

Behavior Watch Period (mandatory 10 minutes)

After completing a 5-minute Playback Period for each of your study species, you will conduct one 10-minute Behavior Watch Period per site even if you have already detected all your study species at that site. The primary purpose of the Behavior Watch Period is to provide a low impact method of determining your study species’ breeding status. We hope this protocol is less invasive than nest searching but still able to provide us with critical information on breeding activity. In response to the owl and chickadee calls, many birds are likely to approach the speakers, appearing agitated and giving alarm calls or additional mobbing vocalizations. You’ll need to look carefully at all individuals, as not only the study species will respond. It is good to look for females, pairs, family groups, fledged young, and interactions among individuals that give additional clues about breeding status. Observe and record any behaviors that might help us determine possible, probable, or confirmed breeding (see Recording Breeding Status).

     On the BFL CD there are two five-minute sequences of mobbing calls, one recorded for eastern North America (track 49) and one for western North America (track 50). Select the appropriate track and play the entire five-minute sequence while looking and listening for all species that you have chosen to study at this site, then stop the CD while you watch and listen for five more minutes. Record any breeding status information by checking the appropriate box on the Field Form next to the atlas term listed here.

Example of protocol for BFL study species

Observation Period (mandatory 10 minutes)
Look and listen for predators, cowbirds, and study species
Playback Period (mandatory 5 minutes per species)
Species 1: play songs, calls, or drums for 1 minute
Species 1: watch/listen for 1 minute
Species 1: repeat songs, calls, or drums for 1 minute
Species 1: watch/listen for 2 minutes
Species 2: play songs, calls, or drums for 1 minute
Species 2: watch/listen for 1 minute
Species 2: repeat songs, calls, or drums for 1 minute
Species 2: watch/listen for 2 minutes
Behavior Watch Period (mandatory 10 minutes)
• Play eastern or western mobbing calls for 5 minutes while looking and listening for study species
• Watch/listen for 5 minutes