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October 2011
News from Watsonville Wetlands Watch
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Upcoming Presentation: Raptor Rehabilitation,
with Live Raptors ![]()
Student Projects Begin for Fall Restoration Work
![]() Citizen Scientists Are
For the Birds Local Bird Watchers Track Changes
in the Watsonville Wetlands ![]() Local birding experts participated in the most recent bird count. Last year the Watch launched a project to involve local bird watchers in long-term tracking of bird populations in the Watsonville Slough system. Debbie Diersch, a volunteer with Watsonville Wetlands Watch, joined a group of birding experts on a recent bird count in a small area along Watsonville Slough. Debbie stated: "Within just a few hours we counted over 39 different species of birds. The most exciting bird for me was the Horned Lark - it was my first sighting ever of this bird."
The original project kicked off last September with 10 local experts visiting 10 sites around the sloughs and wetlands. The 800-acre project area includes the Watsonville, Struve, West Struve, Harkins, Gallighan and Hanson Sloughs, adjacent marshlands, and the Pajaro River Estuary. The data collected by the citizen scientists is logged to an online database to help track diversity and growth of species. This long-term data is used by researchers and graduate students to identify trends and track progress of restoration efforts. The Watch has posted online a list of about 200 bird species known to frequent the wetlands. The list shows when various birds arrive by season and whether they breed within the sloughs. You do not need to be an expert birder to help with the count. Please watch for future opportunities in our newsletter.
You Can Support Our Restoration Programs
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Watsonville Wetlands Watch advocates for wetland issues, educates elementary, middle, and high school students, restores degraded habitats, preserves what remains whole, and teaches appreciation for the unique beauty and life of the Pajaro Valley wetlands. In cooperation with numerous other agencies, we support studies of and planning for these sites. |