Virginia Working Landscapes isseeking skilled birders to assist with grassland
bird surveys across the Piedmont of northern Virginia for spring and summer
2013. Surveys are conducted on private and public lands spanning Frederick
County south to Albemarle and Shenandoah east to Loudoun County. These surveys
are part of a study of working grasslands that examines bird, pollinator and
plant diversity under various management regimes and at different stages of
warm season grass establishment.Training and surveys are supported by the
Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) in Front Royal.
Introductory training will be held on April 13th from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
and will include a brief overview of project goals, survey protocols, data
collection and site assignments. A practice survey session for new volunteers
will be held May 12th from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00a.m and will focus on point count
techniques. Knowledge of local bird species is essential, although there may
be opportunities to pair up with more experienced birders if we have enough
interest. Survey season begins May 15th and runs until June 30th. Point counts
are carried out within 4 hours of sunrise and take approximately 45-60 minutes
per site (three 10-minute counts). Time commitment is a minimum of 6 survey
sessions plus training (estimated 15 hrs not including travel). You will need
personal binoculars and a field guide, all other survey supplies provided.
In addition to grassland bird surveys, there are also opportunities to
participate in pollinator and plant surveys. For more information please visit
http://www.vaworkinglandscapes.org/content/volunteer
What you will gain from volunteering your time:
1. An opportunity to apply your naturalist skills to ground
breaking scientific research.
2. Training and knowledge of identification of key elements
in Virginia grassland bird communities.
3. Training in point count surveys.
4. Opportunities to network and communicate with others of
similar interests.
5. Admission to 2013 VWL sponsored workshops.
What we will need from you:
1. A Volunteer Application form.
2. Your participation in introductory training sessions and
sampling days.
3. Agreement to undergo fingerprinting and background check.
4. Completion of your field surveys within the allotted time
period.
5. Prompt replies to emails concerning logistics and data
management.
For more information, or to register for bird surveys contact: Amy Johnson at
scbiecology@xxxxxx. Please provide your name, cell and/or home phone numbers,
email, city of residence and a short description of your relevant skills.
Please also indicate which counties you’d be willing to travel to for surveys
(Frederick, Clarke, Loudoun, Rappahannock, Warren, Shenandoah, Page, Madison,
Greene, Orange, Albemarle, Culpeper Fauquier, Prince William, Augusta).
Virginia Working Landscapes is a network of large and small landowners, land
conservation organizations and public research institutions that have come
together to study, share and generate information on sustainable landscape
management with the goal of restoring native biodiversity to the northern
Virginia landscape.
For more information, visit www.VAWorkingLandscapes.org
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Amy Johnson | Project Coordinator
Virginia Working Landscapes
Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
1500 Remount Road, Front Royal, VA 22630
P 540.635.0032 |johnsonae@xxxxxx
www.vaworkinglandscapes.org
