FWC wants to know: Have you seen these birds?

SARASOTA, Fla. -- The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is asking for the public’s help in locating three species of rare birds during their breeding seasons.

Jeanne Dubi loves the outdoors and watching nature. She has a small native outdoor garden where she raises monarch butterflies and has seen over 70 species of birds in her backyard over the years. “I mean the world is less rich with fewer wildlife.”

Dubi is also the president of the Sarasota Audubon Society. “We in Audubon are very interested in citizen science. We help in lots of ways.”

One way they help is by assisting the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The FWC is asking the public and citizen scientists to help locate three species of rare birds during breeding season that last through July.

The southeastern American kestrel, the burrowing owl and the painted bunting are rare and declining species and the FWC has created a Rare Bird Registry where the public can quickly map locations where they observe these species.

“I think FWC is more interested in the breeding cycle of these birds, but never the less we will start try and start monitoring them in non breeding cycles as well.”

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FWC: Help us find these rare upland birds

Staff report

Published: Wednesday, June 11, 2014 at 2:37 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, June 11, 2014 at 2:37 p.m.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is asking the public's help in locating three species of birds during their breeding season.

The Southeastern American kestrel, the burrowing owl and the painted bunting are "rare and declining species" often overlooked by other monitoring programs, according to an FWC news release.

The kestrel and burrowing owl are classified as threatened in Florida. FWC scientists say the painted bunting's population is declining.

The agency is asking people to use its Rare Bird Registry to map locations where they see the species. They also have the option to upload photos and comments.

The website contains in-depth information on the species.

FWC scientists will use the data provided by the public to identify breeding areas and estimate populations.

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How to protect 60 species of imperiled animals.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has opened up a forum that the agency hopes will create an open conservation with the public about how to protect 60 species of imperiled animals. 

The FWC invites the general public to visit their site to review their new draft action plans and to comment on them.

"We hope the public and stakeholders will comment on the draft species action plans and share their ideas on common themes or actions among plans," said Claire Sunquist Blunden, the stakeholder coordination for imperiled species management planning for the FWC.

Twenty-three species have been covered in the plans that have been released by the agency so far, while the rest are expected to be unveiled in late spring and summer.

"We invite you to be part of the process. You have the opportunity to learn about these birds, fish, frogs, invertebrates, mammals and reptiles that contribute to keeping Florida's natural areas functioning and alive," the agency posted on their site.

"You will be able to read and comment on the draft species action plans for each species, as well as the imperiled species management plan."

Imperiled beach-nesting birds were included in the second group of the recently released draft action plans, including the White Crowned Pigeon, the Osprey, Saltmarsh Songbirds and Wading birds.

(Photo : Reuters ) Peebles, United Kingdom

Two endangered Osprey chicks.

 The Tweed Valley Osprey Project has successfully

 reared eighty five endangered Osprey chicks since 1998.

"The dynamic nature of Florida beaches, from natural changes caused by storms and erosion to the presence of beachgoers and the loss of habitat, poses significant challenged to the survival of beach-nesting birds," said Blunden said.

After all of the groups of action plans are evaluated, a master Imperiled Species Management Plan will be compiled for the 60 threatened species that are on the list. 

http://www.latinospost.com/articles/14629/20130317/florida-fwc-opinion-protect-60-endangered-species.htm