Shorebird Monitoring

Duties and responsibilities: Conduct counts of various species of shorebirds present on the bay, sandspit and strand during spring and fall surveys. Sites are accessed via land and kayak.

Qualifications: Experience in shorebird identification. Must be comfortable on the water for sites accessed via kayak or canoe. Be able to drive and walk to land-based sites. Complete data sheets thoroughly and legibly, completing all required fields.

Training: Initial orientation prior to the field survey will ensure that all participants understand the monitoring protocol. Any follow-up questions can be answered by VMP staff and birding experts who are participating in the survey.

Time required: Surveys are twice a year, typically in April and September. Each survey typically takes two to three hours.

Commitment required: We hope that participants will continue with future surveys to increase consistency, but it is not required.

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