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The Nature Conservancy Announces the Launch of a New Volunteer Project:  Birds in Forested Landscapes - Citizen Science in the Catskill Mountains

Project will study the population trends and reproductive success of selected forest songbirds in Catskill forests

Arkville, NY—February 6, 2006—The Nature Conservancy, The Catskill Center for Conservation and Development and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology are pleased to launch a new volunteer project Birds in Forested Landscapes - Citizen Science in the Catskill Mountains. The purpose of this project is to study the population trends and reproductive success of selected forest songbirds in Catskill forests.

Many of the forest song birds that help keep our forests healthy are declining in population. This project will train volunteers to study the populations of key bird species and help the research community determine the impact of acid rain, mercury, deer browse and the loss of forest under story on these species. Project volunteers spend a few days during May and June in the forests of the Catskill Mountains to help the Conservancy survey bird populations to learn why these birds are in danger.  The data gathered on these forest birds will also be used to measure of the health of the unique forest ecosystems in the Catskills.

For More Information Contact:
Alan White
Executive Director,
The Nature Conservancy's Catskill Mountain Program
P.O. Box 453
Route 28 Arkville, NY 12406
(845) 586-1002
awhite@tnc.org