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Denise LaBerteaux, Terri Middlemiss,
and Dan Burnett devote countless hours to this important
scientific study. |
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A male Nuttall's Woodpecker is a
frequent subject in the riparian forest. |
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Denise LaBerteaux
bands a surprise Sharp-shinned Hawk |
Venture Out into
the Wilds with local volunteer researchers
WINTER
Every month
throughout the winter,
MAWS (Monitoring Avian Winter Survival) Banding Stations
are set-up in the South Fork Valley. Results are submitted to the
Institute for Bird Populations
(IBP). If you would like to volunteer please contact the expert
bander to RSVP as dates may and often do change. Mist nets open
just before dawn and stay open for seven hours. Volunteers do not
need to attend the entire session. You are welcome to stop by and
visit if you don't feel comfortable volunteering. Bring snacks
(sharing with the researchers welcome), drinks, and bug repellent.
Monitoring Avian Winter Survival (MAWS)
The conditions that migratory birds experience on their wintering
grounds may affect their annual survival rates, spring departure
dates and subsequent productivity levels on their North America
breeding grounds. MAWS, which began as MOSI (Monitoreo de
Sobrevivencia Invernal) with 29 stations in Mexico, Central
America and the Caribbean in 2002-2003, has since expanded into
the southern U.S. The Institute for Bird Population facilitates
the development of both MOSI and MAWS programs. Monitoring goals
are to provide, monthly, overwinter and annual survival rates as
well as indices of late winter physical condition for 25 target
landbird species. Management goals are to develop strategies for
reversing bird population declines or maintain populations and to
evaluate current management actions. The Kern River Preserve began
operating a MAWS station in 2005.
Volunteer or
visit: Join the volunteer crew for Winter Bird Banding at the
Kern River Preserve beginning at dawn. Run by EREMICO Biological
Consulting. The banding station is opposite the Mill Pond. Contact
Denise or Bruce to volunteer: 760-378-4278 or
eremico@aol.com
SUMMER
Each summer two teams open MAPS stations (Monitoring
Avian Productivity and Survivorship). One station
is run by the Southern Sierra Research Station and every 10 days
(MAPS) researchers open nets along the Kern River
Preserve nature trail. Another MAPS station is set up at Canebrake
Ecological Preserve by EREMICO Biological Consulting as a volunteer
project.
The MAPS program was created by The Institute for Bird Populations in
1989 to assess and monitor the vital rates and population dynamics
of over 120 species of North American landbirds in order to provide
critical conservation and management information on their
populations. The MAPS Program utilizes constant-effort mist netting
and banding at a continent-wide network of monitoring stations
staffed by both professional biologists and highly trained
volunteers.
Volunteer or
visit: Join the volunteer crew for Summer Bird Banding at the
Canebrake Ecological Reserve beginning at dawn. Run by EREMICO Biological
Consulting. The banding station is along the
ADA trail near the bridge.
Spring and Summer MAPS
Banding project at
the Canebrake Ecological Reserve.
Every
two weeks in spring and summer you can volunteer to help this long
standing volunteer effort to map the health of migratory and breeding
birds. Contact Denise or Bruce for the
schedule and to
volunteer: 760-378-4278 or
eremico@aol.com
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