BPP • E-Newsletter • January 2009
Contact the BPP:
Jessica Zelt
USGS
Patuxent Wildlife
Research Center
BARC-East
10300 Baltimore Avenue
Beltsville, MD 20705
Phone: (301) 497-5745
Fax: (301) 497-5624
E-mail: jzelt@usgs.gov
Visit the BPP:
populations across North America
Greetings!
The North American Bird Phenology Program (BPP) is within days of launching the online data entry system. With the hard work of Kevin Laurent, our computer programmer, we have gone through several revisions and testing of the transcription process. Kevin has also been working on a 15 minute training video which all new participants can watch to learn the process of transcribing migration cards. This should help answer many of the questions participants will encounter. Expect an email very soon announcing the launch of the online program. You will then be able to register online and begin transcribing! Stay posted!
The BPP currently has volunteers coming in 6 days a week to scan migration cards. We currently have 140,000 cards scanned in the BPP office from species like the Hooded Oriole, Scarlet Tanager, American Redstart, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. If you would like to see a full list of the species that have been scanned in the office and how many cards have been scanned of that species, please visit: http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bpp/DataEntryLogin.cfm . I would also like to send out a special thanks to Lauren Pulz, one of the dedicated office volunteers who has recently helped in supervising other volunteers and taking on additional office tasks. Also, I would like to acknowledge Mary Ann Hartnett for contributing 50 volunteer hours to the BPP and scanning 20,143 migration cards in the office. It is only with the help of volunteers like these that the BPP is able to consistently meet its goals and continue to grow. So thank you to all the volunteers for their continual hard work in getting these cards ready for the website!
Also, along with other changes to the website, an interview with Chan Robbins has just been posted on the “What’s New” page. Chan Robbins was the last coordinator of the BPP before it came to a close in 1970. In this interview, conducted by Sam Droege, Chan talks about the history of the program and the many people who were involved with it throughout the years. You will also be able to learn more about Chan Robbins who has been working at Patuxent Wildlife Research Center for 60 years and founded the Breeding Bird Survey.
Please contact me if you have any questions or comments and don’t forget to check out the BPP website for more information.
Sincerely,
Jessica Zelt
