June 6, 2005

Contact: Rosalind Renfrew, 802-457-2779, ext 127

CALLING ALL WHIP-POOR-WILLS!

Woodstock, VT ˆ Once heard, the song of the Whip-poor-will is not forgotten. The species‚ melodic, loud, and persistent proclamation of its own name is burned into the minds of those who grew up with Whip-poor-wills at their home or camp.

But Vermonters have been hearing fewer Whip-poor-wills than they used to, a trend that is echoed throughout the Northeast. The species is believed to have declined severely over the past 50 years. However, the exact nature of their plight is unknown. Because Whip-poor-wills are active at night, they are usually missed by typical bird surveys that are carried out in the mornings, when most other species are active.

To find out exactly where Whip-poor-wills are still breeding and how many there may be, a group of organizations in the Northeast is kicking off a region-wide survey. „We want to document where Whip-poor-wills are, and keep tabs on their numbers for years to come,‰ says Rosalind Renfrew of the Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS). „The results will help us track population trends and determine the species‚ current habitat hot-spots. The information collected on their distribution and abundance will guide future management and research on this species of conservation concern.‰

The distinctive song of the Whip-poor-will makes it easy for anyone to participate in the short and simple surveys. Once per year volunteers make stops in the evening along a pre-determined road route, and listen for the Whip-poor-will song. Completing a route takes only an hour. Renfrew is also encouraging people to listen at local gravel pits, a favorite hangout of Whip-poor-wills, and to report locations where they have heard Whip-poor-wills within the last couple of years.

Whip-poor-wills, or „whips‰ as birders often call them, prefer to nest in woods adjacent to clearings. Although now fairly rare in Vermont, they could be breeding anywhere in the state where suitable habitat exists. They sing most frequently on clear, calm nights when the moon is at least half full. For this reason, the „window‰ of opportunity for surveying Whip-poor-wills peaks between June 15 and June 22 in Vermont this year, around the full moon.

"The Whip-poor-will survey provides an excellent opportunity for Vermonters to contribute to a field in which Vermont is long recognized as a leader", says Renfrew, who serves as the Director of the Atlas. "It will give us an updated, complete picture of this declining species, so that we may understand how to conserve its populations."

Determining Whip-poor-will locations will also contribute to the Vermont Breeding Bird Atlas. The most comprehensive bird mapping project in the state, the Atlas documents the nesting status and location of every bird species every 25 years. VINS conducted one of the first atlases in North America 25 years ago, and has embarked on the second „round‰ of atlassing. Fueled by over 300 volunteer bird enthusiasts, the second atlas is now in its third of five years of data collection.

This is a pilot year for the Whip-poor-will survey, and results will help biologists in the Northeast determine where to place permanent monitoring routes for 2006 and beyond. The surveys are part of a larger trend in wildlife conservation called "Citizen Science", ¬ the participation of amateur wildlife enthusiasts in collecting valuable information for conservation while learning about the natural world. "The documentation of Whip-poor-wills will rely heavily on volunteers,‰ says Renfrew, „anyone can contribute to this important effort."

Initiated by the Northeast Partners in Flight (PIF) Working Group, the Whip-poor-will surveys are a collaborative effort between VINS, New Hampshire Audubon, and other statewide conservation organizations throughout the Northeast.

To sign up for a Whip-poor-will survey or to report a known location of a Whip-poor-will, contact Rosalind Renfrew at rrenfrew@vinsweb.org or 802-457-2779 Ext. 127.