While there aren’t any organized plans for a Spring Blitz this year we are still calling on all birders for their Rusty Blackbird observations.
The Spring Migration Blitz challenged birders to seek and record Rusty Blackbirds during their spring migration northward. We don’t have any plans to organize another effort this year but we are still monitoring observations by analyzing eBird reports.
How can you help? It’s easy! Search for this elusive species anywhere you want, and report your sightings to eBird using the “Rusty Blackbird Spring Migration Blitz” protocol. Although we encourage birders to search for and report Rusties any time between 1 March and 15 June, our suggested time frame for each state and province provides a guide for when you might expect Rusties to pass through your region.
What kind of data are we looking for? Anything and everything! At a minimum, we need to know where you saw Rusties and how many you observed. But any extra data you can provide helps- take photos, capture videos, and record vocalizations if you can, or note information about what your observed Rusties are doing or what habitat they’re using. Also, we’re just as interested in when and where you don’t find Rusties, so don’t forget to report all of your birding effort, regardless of whether you detected the target species or not. For more data collection guidance, you can still check out and use our Spring Migration Blitz Optional Protocol.