Florida Audubon EagleWatch Preseason Newsletter

[NewMexiKen]

Hello EagleWatch Volunteers!

I hope you all have enjoyed your summer! We had a handful of late nests that hatched young in April and fledged in July so the season was a little longer than usual for some of us. And now many volunteers are reporting that their pairs are already back in their territories! The new season is almost upon us! But I’m ready, and I know you are too. J

Over the summer I’ve been busy analyzing this season’s nesting data. Overall, it was another successful season for Florida’s eagles and the EagleWatch Program, which grew over 30% in both the number of nests monitored and the number of volunteers reporting data. I’m so proud of our team! All of the details and data will be in the EagleWatch Annual Report, which is scheduled to go out later in September.

I’ve also been working on several fun improvements for the program for this fall, including an updated online Training Manual, a new home for the volunteer website, a more interactive and informative Nest Map and an improved format for the Nest Database. I’ve been able to add several capabilities to the Nest Database that you all have asked for, including the option to download an app on your smartphone or tablet to easily enter observations while at the nest. Or you may continue to enter observations on your computer from home via the database website.

Soon I will be sending out important updates and instructions for accessing the new website, Nest Map and improved Nest Database. That email will go out to volunteers who submitted observations in the Nest Database last season, so please do keep an eye out for that important email.  If you watch nests but have never used the database or if it’s been awhile, now is the perfect time to jump in! Please contact me at [e-mail] so I’ll know to include you in that database update email. I think you’ll be as excited as I am about how easy the improved database is to use.

For those who actively monitored nests last season, I will assume you will continue to watch your same nest this season unless I hear from you. If you are no longer able to monitor your nests, please let me know so I may find another volunteer to watch them this season. As we finalize the improvements to the database, please temporarily hold off from entering any new observations into the current database. I will notify you when the upgrade is complete and we’re ready for observations again.

I’ve begun scheduling Volunteer Trainings around the state in preparation for the 2018-2019 nesting season. All volunteers are invited to attend! I will be debuting the new map and database at the trainings, so you’ll have a chance to see them in action. Current locations include Vero Beach (9/16), Jacksonville (9/22), New Port Richey (9/29), Clearwater (9/30), Winter Haven (10/6), Sanford (10/7), Sebring (10/16), Jonathan Dickinson State Park (10/27) and Sarasota (11/4). To see times and locations and to register for a training, please visit http://www.eaglewatchflorida.org/training_registration.html.  For the first time this season, I will also be offering a live webinar training for those who don’t live near one of the scheduled trainings or are unable to attend the training in their area. Stay tuned for that date and time as well!

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me: 407-644-0190/[e-mail]. I look forward to working together to help monitor and protect Florida’s eagles this upcoming season!
—
Shawnlei Breeding
Audubon EagleWatch Program Manager
407.644.0190, [e-mail]

Audubon Center for Birds of Prey
1101 Audubon Way
Maitland, FL 32751
http://auduboncenterforbirdsofprey.org