Puget Sound Bird Observatory monitors activity, survivalship

Published 1:30 am Friday, April 3, 2026

Whidbey Audubon Society welcomes all to its Thursday, April 9 general meeting and program.

Ornithologist Scott Markowitz of the Puget Sound Bird Observatory presents the MAPS program. MAPS stands for “monitoring avian productivity and survivorship.” Since 1989, more than 1,200 MAPS stations spread across the United States and Canada have used capture, banding and release of birds during the breeding season to collect data on more than 2.5 million birds. MAPS data is used to assist the conservation of birds and their habitats.

Markowitz will discuss MAPS and other banding research and take us through the reasoning and methodology of the Institute for Bird Populations, www.birdpop.org, study for Monitoring of Avian Productivity and Survivorship. Markowitz will share how the Puget Sound Bird Observatory’s two stations operate, and how the data contributes to the scientific understanding of bird population health.

Scott Markowitz is the director of research at Puget Sound Bird Observatory and is a faculty fellow at Pacific Lutheran University. He is also conducting research on the mechanics of sexual selection in Western Bluebirds, including studying coloration as an indicator of successful foragers, which he will also share.

This event is at the Coupeville Recreation Hall at 901 NW Alexander Street in Coupeville. Doors open at 7 p.m. for socializing and treats. A brief meeting begins at 7:15 p.m. and the program begins at 7:30 p.m. It is free and open to the public.