I finally got to complete my first of two Eastern Whip Poor Will surveys at Quabbin on Wednesday night (with the help of a Quabbin biologist for part of it). These surveys are always the toughest to get completed as there are so many variables that have to come together. The surveys can only take place during certain date windows when the moon with be at least half full, the weather has to be clear and calm and I have to have the time off plus they cannot start until at least 15 minutes after sunset. The elements came together on Wednesday night and despite it being my in between day from work and therefore being tired the survey got done. The first survey takes place primarily within Quabbin Park and then continues south down to the Palmer line. The survey has 10 stops separated by a mile which consists of passively listening for the species for six minutes and noting the location and distance from the observer. The data goes to both Quabbin and to the endangered species program with the state of Massachusetts. The survey turned up 13 individuals at the various stops plus at least four more individuals between stops. I got brief looks at one individual but otherwise every bird is heard only. Besides the whips there are always a few late singing bird species plus a few mammals (this year produced White tailed Deer, Virginia Opossum and Eastern Cottontail). The second survey I do for the species is located on the restricted access Prescott Peninsula and I hope to get this one completed sometime in the next several days before the window for the season closes.
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