A $45,000 state grant will help an Erie birding organization document about a million birds over the next year.
The Erie Bird Observatory received $45,277 from the Department of Environmental Protection for songbird migration research and visitor engagement at Presque Isle State Park.
“Coastal areas, like along Lake Erie, get heavily used by birds during migration season, both spring and fall,” said Sarah Sargent, executive director at the observatory.
The nonprofit organization, located at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center at Presque Isle State Park in Erie, is dedicated to avian research, education and conservation in northwest Pennsylvania and beyond.
Members of the group monitor birds during their spring and fall migrations.
Small landbirds like songbirds mostly migrate at night. Those birds are stopping along the coastlines to spend the day and are able to be observed.
The grant the observatory received will help fund this year’s research.
“The Coastal Zone Grants are aimed at supporting programs that measure the impact of various pollution sources, improve public access, preserve habitats and educate the public about the benefits of the state’s coastal zones,” Jessica Shirley, DEP interim acting secretary, said in an announcement about the grant. “Each year, recipients of these grants do amazing work and the DEP is committed to continue supporting these partners with grant funding and technical assistance.”