Protocol
Individual surveyors or teams are assigned a specific city area which can be successfully surveyed that day. Surveyors visit all water bodies with safe and reasonable viewing access. Surveyors must annually obtain official permission before entering any signed restricted or closed areas, such as gated communities, resorts and golf courses. Most water bodies are highlighted in blue on maps provided.
Background
As part of the implementation of the Arizona Coordinated Bird Monitoring Program sponsored by the Arizona Bird Conservation Initiative, a preliminary survey of some key urban areas was conducted by seven surveyors on 21 January 2006. Even with this limited effort, it was determined that this extensive urban area likely held a significant density of wintering aquatic birds that previously had not been realized.
Wintering waterbirds concentrate in exceptional numbers in several highly urban water sources in the Phoenix metro area, one of the fastest growing regions of the country, and more lakes and ponds continue to be constructed in new residential neighborhoods and golf courses attracting even more wintering aquatic birds which includes wild geese, ducks, cormorants, grebes, coots, rails, egrets, herons, bitterns, shorebirds and fish-eating Bald Eagles, Ospreys, and Belted Kingfishers.
Factors that contribute to the tremendous density and diversity of wintering aquatic birds to this highly urbanized area include the abundant supply of unfrozen water bodies in this otherwise dry, southwest desert location, and a safe haven from hunting pressure. Many lakes and ponds are located within parks and golf courses that provide fresh winter rye for grazers such as American Coots and American Wigeons. Other waterbirds are attracted to the high concentration of fish, mollusks, and crustaceans. Adjacent agricultural lands provide foraging areas for flocks of geese and Cattle Egrets which roost and loaf at urban lakes and ponds.
Since the 2006 preliminary survey, this single-day census is now conducted annually on the third Saturday of January by over 65 volunteers. This census has documented 40,000-65,000 wild waterbirds of 50-60 species wintering in this otherwise desert urban area. The survey area encompasses 26 cities within the metro area and over 50 square miles. In comparable size, there is no other location in Arizona with this high of diversity and density of wintering waterbirds.
Survey results not only assist in monitoring annual winter populations, but also identify high concentration areas and/or species richness locations. High concentration of certain species may locally lead to potential urban management conflict areas. These include concentrations of cormorants at urban fishing sites stocked with fish and turf damaged and soiling caused by grazers such as coots and wigeons on golf courses and in parks. Potential future urban wildlife viewing areas are also being highlighted through these surveys.