Las Cienegas Grasslands IBA Survey #1 - edited from past? not sure

Grassland winter survey with emphasis on finding Chestnut-collared Longspurs - the species that qualified this site as a Global IBA. The strategy is to drive slowly along an assigned route and walk to cattle tanks and ponds to wait for flocks potentially coming in to drink. We also walk through patches of habitat to hopefully flush flocks of grassland birds.

This year we will also continue assesing native vrs non-native grasses as we survey. 

We have also added some short transects within routes. More information about this survey, a PDF of the protocol and a video about our new survey methods is here: https://aziba.org/?page_id=2820

Timing: We will start around 7:30 and likely out until early afternoon, approx 2pm or 3pm if your route has lots of birds.  

What to bring: All participants need to dress in warm layers, wear boots, hat and sun protection. Please bring water, snacks, sack lunch as well as binoculars and a scope per team is reccomended. 

Right photo: Flock of Chestnut-collared Longspurs in flight by R. Fray