<div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:16.8667px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Hi all,</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:16.8667px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:16.8667px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">My name is Julia Trautmann and I’m an avian science technician with the <span style="color:rgb(0,112,192)"><a href="https://ecoinst.org/" target="_blank" style="color:blue"><span style="color:rgb(0,112,192)">Ecostudies Institute</span></a> </span>in Olympia, WA. I am reaching out to spread the word about the annual <span style="color:rgb(0,112,192)"><a href="https://ecoinst.org/conservation-programs/avian-conservation/puget-sound-shorebird-count/" target="_blank" style="color:blue"><span style="color:rgb(0,112,192)">Puget Sound Shorebird Count</span></a></span><font color="#000000">--a citizen science/volunteer event that we have been coordinating since 2012</font><font color="#000000">.</font><span style="color:black;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"> <span lang="EN">This event is part of the </span></span><span style="color:rgb(0,112,192)"><a href="https://data.pointblue.org/apps/pfss/" target="_blank" style="color:blue"><span lang="EN" style="color:rgb(0,112,192);background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">Pacific Flyway Shorebird Survey</span></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color:black;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">, a long-term monitoring program for wintering shorebirds led by Point Blue Conservation Science.</span><span lang="EN" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:16.8667px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span lang="EN" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:16.8667px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span lang="EN" style="color:black;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">This event involves volunteers conducting shorebird counts at about 23 sites across the Puget Sound. </span><span lang="EN" style="color:black;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">In</span><b><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"> 2021</span></b><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">, 25 volunteers surveyed 22 sites and counted a total of </span><b><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">24,875 shorebirds</span></b><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"> and</span><b><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"> 118 raptors</span></b><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">. </span><span style="font-size:11pt">The data gathered each year from this count helps provide a better understanding of shorebird populations in the Puget Sound region and the habitats they utilize, while allowing for the creation of more effective conservation management plans.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:16.8667px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:16.8667px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">After careful review of tide predictions and other factors, we have chosen the <b>weekend of December 3rd </b>to conduct the surveys across all sites, including Samish, Padilla, Fidalgo, Port Susan, and Skagit Bays and Whidbey Island. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:16.8667px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:16.8667px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">If you are interested and available to help with the survey, please fill out this <span style="color:rgb(0,112,192)"><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfpazv7rsYk_qtHABa2JzpzrrIsxaIgeP0jHDv6lmvAbxuvqQ/viewform?usp=sf_link" target="_blank" style="color:blue"><span style="color:rgb(0,112,192)">Google Form</span></a></span> indicating your interest and availability. We also recommend you review the <span style="color:rgb(0,112,192)"><a href="https://ecoinst.org/conservation-programs/avian-conservation/puget-sound-shorebird-count/volunteer-resources-for-the-puget-sound-shorebird-count/" target="_blank" style="color:blue"><span style="color:rgb(0,112,192)">protocols and other resources</span></a></span> on our website and information about the <span style="color:rgb(0,112,192)"><a href="https://data.pointblue.org/apps/pfss/" target="_blank" style="color:blue"><span style="color:rgb(0,112,192)">Pacific Flyway Shorebird Survey</span></a></span>. On the volunteer resources page, you will also find a recording of last year’s virtual training event, which would be highly beneficial to review. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:16.8667px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:16.8667px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">If you are new to this event or have any questions regarding this year’s count, training, and/or protocols, please feel free to reach out to me at this email address (<a href="mailto:jtrautmann@ecoinst.org" target="_blank">jtrautmann@ecoinst.org</a>).</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:16.8667px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:16.8667px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Thank you for your interest!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:16.8667px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:16.8667px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Sincerely,</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:16.8667px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Julia Trautmann</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:16.8667px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:16.8667px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:16.8667px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>Helpful links and additional information:</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:16.8667px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:16.8667px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Puget Sound Shorebird Count General Info</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:16.8667px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(0,112,192)"><a href="https://ecoinst.org/conservation-programs/avian-conservation/puget-sound-shorebird-count/" target="_blank" style="color:blue"><span style="color:rgb(0,112,192)">https://ecoinst.org/conservation-programs/avian-conservation/puget-sound-shorebird-count/</span></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:16.8667px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:16.8667px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Pacific Flyway Shorebird Survey Info</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:16.8667px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(0,112,192)"><a href="https://data.pointblue.org/apps/pfss/" target="_blank" style="color:blue"><span style="color:rgb(0,112,192)">https://data.pointblue.org/apps/pfss/</span></a></span><span style="color:rgb(0,112,192)"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:16.8667px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(0,112,192)"><a href="http://climate.calcommons.org/article/pacific-flyway-shorebird-survey" target="_blank" style="color:blue"><span style="color:rgb(0,112,192)">http://climate.calcommons.org/article/pacific-flyway-shorebird-survey</span></a></span><u><span style="color:rgb(0,112,192)"></span></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:16.8667px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:16.8667px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Volunteer Resources</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:16.8667px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(0,112,192)"><a href="https://ecoinst.org/conservation-programs/avian-conservation/puget-sound-shorebird-count/volunteer-resources-for-the-puget-sound-shorebird-count/" target="_blank" style="color:blue"><span style="color:rgb(0,112,192)">https://ecoinst.org/conservation-programs/avian-conservation/puget-sound-shorebird-count/volunteer-resources-for-the-puget-sound-shorebird-count/</span></a></span><span style="color:rgb(0,112,192)"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:16.8667px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:16.8667px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Shorebird Identification Guide</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:16.8667px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(0,112,192)"><a href="http://migratoryshorebirdproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/PFSS_shorebird-ID-slides.pdf" target="_blank" style="color:blue"><span style="color:rgb(0,112,192)">http://migratoryshorebirdproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/PFSS_shorebird-ID-slides.pdf</span></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:16.8667px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><br></p>-- <br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><b>Julia Trautmann (she/her)</b><div>Americorps Avian Science Technician </div><div>Ecostudies Institute </div><div>Olympia, WA</div></div></div></div>