Posted by David La Puma on August 14, 2002 at 17:02:53:
This is just an informative email about something new going on in Everglades National Park. Last year Rafael Galvez and I wrote a proposal to initiate a semi-regular shorebird survey of Lake Ingraham, on Cape Sable, in Everglades National Park. Last week we (Sonny Bass and I, Rafael will be coming beginning next week!) headed out for a preliminary survey, mostly to see how the flats and tides effected the birds out there. Tomorrow (Thursday) we'll begin actual counts of the shorebirds utilizing the flats. In the future, once we have a dependable boat source, we'll be inviting volunteers to help us collect our data, so any interested parties should email me and let me know if you'd be available.
So far the most interesting sightings from last week were:
Hundreds of Red Knots (many still with significant BP)
One lone Long-billed Curlew
20+ Whimbrels
Many S.B. Dowitchers, Least, Western, and Semipalmated Sandpipers
It will be interesting to watch the different age classes show up as we move through migration (most of the peeps I've been seeing this week have been first-years, in contrast to the majority of adults a few weeks ago)
I'll post our survey results as they come in.
Good birding!!!
David