Raptors observatory: call to volunteers
To all the birdwatchers, raptors and nature's lovers:
With 70 squares listed in 2007, decision is taken to keep on the birds of prey inquiry! We would like to thanks all the observers who allowed, thanks to their participation in 2007, to see the project continuing. We still count on you so that the participation keep growing until all the French departments join the project!
The raptors observatory, it is the most exhaustive possible inventory of the presence of birds of prey on a 5 x 5 km square . In every department, at least a square must be checked. This square is to be chosen among five squares (and either three as the previous years) drawn lots, every year, by the CNRS. The technique of enumeration of birds of prey is left to the choice of the observers
If you wish to participate in the project, please contact Fabienne David ( 01.53.5... or fabienne.david@lpo.fr or Marie-Françoise Canevet (05 56 97 47 81 or mfcanevet@gmail.com) for Aquitaine. We shall send you then all the information (edition of squares, protocol, techniques of enumeration of birds of prey, etc.).
Novelties 2008:
- A news bulletin completely dedicated to observatory of birds of prey, but also to the other projects led in narrow collaboration with the CNRS of Chizé has just been printed by LPO mission Raptors. You can download the very first number on the Web site of the LPO (http: // to www.lpo.fr / rapacious / index.shtml). It is also available in paper size format by request to the LPO mission Raptors.
- in 2007 and 2008, a pair of Leica (10x42 BN) binoculars will be offered to one of the raptors inquiry participants of the observatory. The winner will be appointed by drawing one of many squares done. Then if you have not participated in the project yet, hurry up! You may be the lucky one to be the happy 2008 winner ! (The name of the 2007 winner will be communicated in January).
In order to have the maximun number of people participating in this raptors inquiry, make to know the project around you, spread widely this call, etc.
Thank you for your contribution and to your binoculars!
National coordination: Fabienne David, scientific Raptor manager LPO mission: Vincent Bretagnolle, CNRS (Centre National pour la Recherche Scientifique) and Jean-Marc Thiollay