Involving Students in Bobolink Surveys by Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
© Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Bobolink habitat
Often, in order to determine what conservation actions are needed for a priority species, more information is needed. In Oregon, the bright and bubbly call of the bobolink is rarely heard – due to land use change and other factors, this grassland species is declining.
To get a population estimate and determine what habitats the birds use, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife worked with a local high school biology teacher to gather data. During the summers of 2007 and 2008, teachers and students helped trap and band bobolinks. This type of collaborative research plays an integral part in helping to conserve the bobolink before it becomes rare and costly to protect.
