Government Needs Permission to Keep Counting Birds Annually
Published Date: 1/7/2025
Notice
Summary
The U.S. Geological Survey wants to keep collecting info for the North American Breeding Bird Survey and is asking for your thoughts by March 10, 2025. This affects bird watchers and anyone who helps track bird populations, with no new costs but a chance to improve how data is gathered. They’re making sure the process stays easy and useful for everyone involved.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Time burden for survey volunteers
If you collect Breeding Bird Survey data, each response takes about 11 hours on average. USGS estimates 1,650 respondents, 2,600 annual responses, and a total of 28,600 respondent hours each year for this annual survey.
Out-of-pocket mileage costs for respondents
Respondents may incur travel costs: the agency estimates average nonhour costs of $67 per response based on an approximate 100-mile round trip and the GSA rate of $0.67 per mile. The total estimated annual nonhour burden cost is $174,200.
Participation is voluntary
You are not required to respond to this collection; participation in the North American Breeding Bird Survey is voluntary. The document lists the respondent obligation as "Voluntary."
Survey data released to public
USGS will make bird count data and the analyzed relative abundance and population trend estimates available via the internet and through special publications for government agencies, industry, education programs, and the general public.
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