For Cedar Keys Audubon’s first Meet and Greet of the season, forty souls gathered and heard Pilot Biologist Jim Wortham of the US Fish and Wildlife Service speak about his sometimes boring yet exciting career counting and monitoring birds as part of the International Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.

It wasn’t until after WWII when the military was disposing of excess aircraft that the program really took off with the use of amphibian planes from the military and Coast Guard.  Between 1947 and 1954, the program went through an experimental phase, trying to figure out how best to accomplish the mission that includes 3.8 million square miles in the US and Canada.  One of the main goals is to prevent over hunting and all areas involved in the study are closed by default until opened by the government.

Using grids, segments, and transects samples are taken and the information put into computer models to determine the estimates.  While the initial airplanes were adapted as best they could be for the terrains involved, there are now nine specially designed Kodiak float planes with all the modern bells and whistles.  Results are recorded on a computer and GPS system is integrated into the control panel.  (For redundancy, Jim takes along his own GPS.)  Because of the remote areas included in these surveys, all supplies must be flown in and the new planes were designed with plenty of cargo area.  

While not flying, Jim also works with other US and Canadian personnel to trap and band birds which are then tracked for distribution, migration routes, and survival rates.  The planes also provide logistical support in disaster areas, most recently after hurricanes in Bahamas, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands.  He helps with nuisance animal relocation and on occasion law enforcement.

Another of their tasks uses remote sensing, thermal imaging, and LIDAR in assuring conservation easements are not being misused and to accomplish real estate assessments.   

Still not quite sure how you count and Identify birds while flying 150 feet above the ground at 90 knots, but somehow they manage.

Pictured here are:

Cedar Keys Audubon  Education Chair Mauaareen Magee modeling her newest t-shirt design and CKA caps.  Cedar Keys Audubon President Jay Bushnell urging foster parenthood for newly purchased purple martin houses.  Jim Wortham and one of his flying machines.

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