We all are aware of how surveying birds in the winter is challenging--plumages are less vibrant and colorful and breeding songs are silenced. We all know that sparrows in particular can present a frustrating learning curve. They often only allow you fleeting glimpses of brown plumage and seemingly identical "chips". And we all know that looking for birds in grasses and thickets is no cakewalk. But how about a triple whammy of winter, sparrows and grasslands!?

Yet grasslands, oldfields, and agricultural fields are just as important in the winter and during migration for many species as they are during the breeding season, so it's important that we get a handle on winter bird use here on the Northern Neck as well as throughout the mid-Atlantic. However, many refuges or parks do not have the resources to keep highly qualified birders on their staffs to collect this information. The Rappahannock NWR is about to start its third year of a pilot study to hone a winter grassland survey technique that staff with average birding skills (which describes the skill level of most refuge staff) could employ. It is hoped that this would encourage more winter data collection and could be adopted by others as well.

In the previous two years, we learned that it is important to use transects placed so that good field coverage is obtained. Two observers walking abreast and recording data independently not only flushes the birds for viewing better than one person walking alone, but also dramatically increases the probability of detection. We also learned that, to get good survey results, surveys should be run over the course of several days (5 is ideal) to avoid confounding results due to bad weather and the roving tendencies of flocks.

This year, we will be comparing the results between teams of expert and non-expert birders in short and tall grasslands using the double-observer, transect method developed in the previous years. Non-expert teams will be given an opportunity to practice identifying the expected common species as well as time to consult their field guides during the survey. Will the non-expert surveyors be able to compete with the experts in identifying those LBJs most of the time? Stay tuned for the next issue to find out!

Common species using grassland, agricultural field, and hedgerow habitats on the Refuge and environs during the winter are song sparrow, white-throated sparrow, swamp sparrow, field sparrow, chipping sparrow, American goldfinch, American robins, eastern meadowlark, killdeer, mixed blackbird flocks of red-winged blackbirds, common grackles and European starlings, and Northern harrier. Somewhat common to less common are white-crowned sparrows, Northern bobwhite quail, wild turkey, and American pipits. Rare to occasional appearances of Le Conte's sparrow, clay-colored sparrow, common redpoll, common yellowthroat have been recorded.

The Wilna Unit of the Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge is open from sunrise to sunset everyday, no reservations are required. Call the Refuge headquarters at 804/333-1470 (8 am to 4:30 pm, M-F) for more information.

Submitted by,
Sandy C. Spencer, Wildlife Biologist
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Eastern Virginia Rivers National Wildlife Refuge Complex