by Amy Seaman, Director of Policy & Science – Montana Audubon
Are you ready to hear the ‘currlleeee’ of the Long-billed Curlew? Well, grab your binoculars and get ready, because curlew season is just around the corner! These charismatic shorebirds will be trickling back into the state in early April and we need your help finding as many as possible in and around the Mission, Blackfoot, and Helena Valleys!
With 2022 being the 10th year of the Long-billed Curlew surveys, we made a historic push to survey this state species of concern and need to keep up the energy in 2023! The volunteer-driven surveys record curlew sightings and habitat data in these three Montana valleys. The data then helps inform statewide habitat models as well as highlight important tracts of intact grassland that are in need of conservation. As a species specific survey, this is a great time for aspiring citizen scientists and veteran birders alike to contribute to the conservation of a treasured Montana bird species.
In addition to supporting citizen surveys, this year we are hosting an online webinar to learn more about the project and how to participate. Keep an eye out for more details about our online training in our March eNews! For now, you can find everything you need to participate on Montanabirdsurveys.com. You can reach out to our new Volunteer Coordinator, Cassidy Dinkle, at cassidy@mtaudubon.org for more information and to sign up!
The Long-Billed Curlew Citizen Science survey will take place from April 8 – May 7 and May 8 – May 31.
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