Michigan Audubon Society
Overview
"Citizen science" is integral to Michigan Audubon's efforts to provide data that help identify threats to bird populations and habitat. This research data, collected by volunteers, leads to programs and policies designed to protect species and the habitats in which they live. Key research activities of Michigan Audubon include:
Bird Surveys: Michigan Audubon members and the public collect data througout the year for seasonal bird surveys, the Great Backyard Bird Count, the Christmas Bird Count, and Spring and Fall Migration.
Michigan Bird Records Committee (MBRC): The MBRC maintains the official checklist of Michigan birds, defines the status of each species on the checklist, and solicits and reviews documentation for all observations of Michigan review species. The committee maintains a permanent archive which includes all documentation submitted to the committee, at the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.
Michigan Birds and Natural History: The journal of record for bird research data in Michigan is published quarterly. It contains articles on bird research and other natural history topics.
Michigan Breeding Bird Atlas:Michigan Audubon has served as a major sponsor for both the first and second editions of the Michigan Breeding Birds Atlas (MBBA).
In the 1980s, volunteers surveyed the entire state in a massive effort to record and map in an atlas the birds which breed in Michigan. This information has proved invaluable to scientists and natural resource managers, but there are indications that bird distribution and abundance has changed since this atlas was created.
Starting in 2002, the Kalamazoo Nature Center was contracted to coordinate the creation of a second Michigan Breeding Bird Atlas. The data collection portion of this process is scheduled to be completed soon. Its success depends on the dedication of a corps of volunteers: backyard birdfeeders, hunters, amateur birdwatchers, and professionals.
