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Opportunity Details

Grassland Bird Monitor - Notchview

Opportunity Overview:

The Trustees is seeking local birders and naturalists to help survey grassland habitat to document grassland bird populations. The Trustees has long identified the management of suitable nesting habitat for grassland birds as a key goal and is actively working to balance habitat needs with other priorities, such as the production of high-quality forage for its agricultural operations. The Trustees has taken steps to ensure nesting success of grassland birds in certain fields by restricting activities during the breeding season. Comprehensive volunteer monitoring of grassland bird populations across fields with a range of management types will clarify the effectiveness of these efforts.  

Responsibilities (may include but are not limited to the following): 

  • Conduct a minimum of three site visits from May – July to assigned grasslands (weekly or biweekly site visits are preferred).

  • Conduct standardized point count surveys on each visit for Bobolink, Eastern Meadowlark, Savanna Sparrow, and Grasshopper Sparrow.

  • Record survey results on a standardized data sheet or on eBird and submit results to the Trustees current TerraCorps member via email. 

  • Photograph survey points.

This data will be used to help determine which hayfields/pastures/other fields are important for sustaining grassland species and will inform field management activities. Over the long-term, these surveys will allow The Trustees to assess grassland bird trends in our fields and evaluate the success of our management regimes to support grassland birds.  

Qualifications: 

  • Be confident in identifying target grassland birds by sight and sound or have a desire/willingness to familiarize themselves with common grassland birds, especially Bobolinks. 

  • Have the ability to make a minimum of three morning visits to their assigned grasslands (have access to transportation and have the time to commit).

  • Be able to navigate using aerial photographs and other maps and follow survey protocol.

  • Be comfortable participating in light walking/hiking on variable terrain.

  • Have the ability to withstand hot/humid conditions. 

  • Have access to binoculars.

Volunteers will be given data sheets to record survey results, aerial photos of their assigned grasslands with survey points highlighted, and detailed instructions about how to conduct the surveys and submit the data.​​​​​​​

 
The opportunity date and time you are looking for is no longer available.
Volunteers Needed
S M T W T F S
Ecology

Age Minimum (with Adult): 10+, Minimum Age:17+

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© 2020 The Trustees of Reservations   --  The Trustees is a 501c3 nonprofit organization  --   Est. 1891

Volunteer Information     |     Volunteer@TheTrustees.org

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