A graduate student with the Borderlands Research Institute participated in California’s inaugural Bird Atlas Big Weekend, helping collect data on breeding bird populations across the state.
Madi Vastine conducted point-count surveys at several locations in Del Norte County during the June event, according to the institute.
Point-count surveys involve researchers recording the birds they see or hear from designated locations during a set period. The observations will contribute to the California Bird Atlas, a statewide project designed to map where bird species breed and how their populations are distributed.
Researchers and conservation officials are expected to use the completed atlas to guide decisions involving land protection, wildlife conservation and habitat management.
The Borderlands Research Institute is based at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas, and conducts research focused on wildlife, natural resources and conservation.
