IRC's bird monitoring volunteers.
For years now, Irvine Ranch Conservancy has dedicated its efforts to bird monitoring and habitat restoration throughout the open spaces of Orange County, including OC Parks’ Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve, Agua Chinon and Weir Canyon. The data findings from these monitoring projects are significant as they contribute to IRC’s understanding of wildlife populations and the impact of rehabilitation and enhancement efforts.
Using a “point count survey,” 2-3 volunteers visit specific points on the land together and count every bird that’s seen or heard within five-minute intervals, recording the total number and species of birds observed. These point count surveys typically take place during the spring migration, April-June, and the fall migration, September-October, with an additional survey of overwintering birds occurring in January.
Using a “point count survey,” 2-3 volunteers visit specific points on the land together and count every bird that’s seen or heard within five-minute intervals, recording the total number and species of birds observed. These point count surveys typically take place during the spring migration, April-June, and the fall migration, September-October, with an additional survey of overwintering birds occurring in January.
With the help of these skilled volunteers, IRC has been able to observe migratory bird populations and how they’ve been affected by natural disasters like wildfires. Volunteers frequent six routes within canyon sites, chosen for a variety of reasons, to survey the bird populations several times per year. The oldest of the sites, Limestone Canyon, has been surveyed since 1996 and maintains the most historical data of the sites. This archive of data allows IRC the opportunity to track changes in populations and activity over longer stretches of time.
Preliminary analysis of data collected in recent years suggests local bird populations are indeed resilient and capable of rebounding after wildfire events, such as the Bond and Silverado fires of 2020. Though team members on this project acknowledge that trends may not materialize for more than a decade, these surveys and habitat restoration projects create a baseline for future data and help the IRC team conceptualize the impact of their rehabilitation and enhancement efforts.
To learn more about bird monitoring and restoration efforts, visit IRConservancy.org, LetsGoOutside.org or follow the Landmarks on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Preliminary analysis of data collected in recent years suggests local bird populations are indeed resilient and capable of rebounding after wildfire events, such as the Bond and Silverado fires of 2020. Though team members on this project acknowledge that trends may not materialize for more than a decade, these surveys and habitat restoration projects create a baseline for future data and help the IRC team conceptualize the impact of their rehabilitation and enhancement efforts.
To learn more about bird monitoring and restoration efforts, visit IRConservancy.org, LetsGoOutside.org or follow the Landmarks on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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