When: The full month of June, 2008

Brief description: Canoe-based, point-count surveys of birds along selected Virginia rivers.

Skills needed: Proficiency in bird indentification by sight and sound or ability to handle a canoe (or both!).

The 2008 Breeding Bird Foray is exciting for two reasons: 1) it will be the first ever canoe-based foray and 2) it will be the first official collaboration between the VSO Foray and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF). Initiated by the VDGIF, this survey is a response to recent concerns that road-side surveys, while valuable, are limited in scope. Observation along riparian corridors could provide insightful information about bird distributions in Virginia by cutting through habitat not accessible by auto. During the month of June, VSO participants will assist the VDGIF by deploying to canoe routes along rivers such as the Rappahannock, Rivanna, and Nottoway. Through this foray, we can contribute to a rigorous scientific effort to document Virginia’s breeding birds away from the highway. So, if you’re as good with paddles as you are with Prothonotaries, you will be especially valuable to us!

How do I participate? (Before volunteering for the Foray, please read the survey instructions thoroughly and make sure that you are comfortable with what they entail. It is anticipated that the surveys will involve moderately strenuous exercise in portaging and paddling canoes/kayaks. Your scheduling of the surveys will depend on a variety of factors associated with weather and river conditions. Finally, the surveys will make for relatively long days out on the water.)

Click on each item below to view:

1) Survey instructions

2) Data form

3) Updated descriptions of foray routes

4)  Map of river segments 

5) View signup sheet ( To view, you may need to create a Google account. If you already have a Google account, sign in first, then you will be taken directly to the spreadsheet.)

6) Send an email to adolby@umw.edu with your signup information. Andrew Dolby will add you to the signup sheet. Check signup sheet again to make sure your information is correct.

Contact Information:

Sergio Harding: VDGIF, 4010 West Broad St., P.O. Box 11104, Richmond, VA 23230

Email: sergio.harding@dgif.virginia.gov

Andrew Dolby: Dept. of Biological Sciences, Univ. of Mary Washington, 1301 College Ave, Fredericksburg, VA 22401

Email: adolby@umw.edu

For questions about this web page contact Andrew Dolby.