Author Archives: Maren Gimpel

Klamath Bird Observatory is offering a Bird Banding Workshop at its Upper Klamath Field Station in southern Oregon on August 5-9 2019.  This is a North American Banding Council (NABC)-approved training session instructed by certified Trainers.  Registration fees contribute directly to funding our long-term monitoring and banding training program.

This four day workshop will combine morning sessions learning hands-on in the field with afternoons in the classroom and provide participants with an excellent opportunity to experience an active bird monitoring station and learn the theory and skills required to operate it. Participants will receive training in bird safety, mist net use and maintenance, data collection, bird identification, bird banding, and sexing and ageing techniques.  The workshop program is designed as a comprehensive introduction for those with little to no prior experience but is also appropriate for more experienced banders looking to build upon their existing skills and knowledge. Participants should not expect to emerge from this workshop as fully qualified bird banders, however, this course provides an excellent start in preparation for those interested in pursuing the NABC Bander certification. This workshop is designed for undergraduate and graduate students, bird observatory volunteers, naturalists, and others interested in pursuing careers in ornithology or assisting at bird banding stations.

The non-refundable registration fee is $1,600 per person.  Registration includes all meals (as well as beverages and snacks) beginning with dinner Monday, August 5^th, and ending with lunch Friday, August 9^th.  There is space for free tent camping at KBO’s Upper Klamath Field Station and lodging is available nearby at the Rocky Point Resort, Comfort Point Lodge, and Harriman Springs Resort and Marina.

Join us for a top-notch banding learning experience and help support Klamath Bird Observatory’s long-running monitoring and training program.  For more information, and to register, please contact Lauren diBiccari at led@klamathbird.org.

Registration deadline is July 15, 2019. To register, go to the KBO Online Store at

[https://squareup.com/store/klamath-bird-observatory/]

POSITION AVAILABLE: MAPS FIELD BIOLOGIST

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Open until filled
The Institute for Bird Populations (IBP) seeks two field biologists to serve as a bird banding biologists under the Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS) program at Fort AP Hill, Virginia. The position runs from approximately May 7 through August 8, 2019.

Successful applicants should have previous experience with the MAPS protocol, be proficient at Eastern bird identification, and MUST have advanced skills in mist-netting, bird banding, and ageing and sexing of birds in the hand. Applicants will be expected to use Peter Pyle’s Identification Guide to North American Birds, Part I, to identify plumages and molts of landbirds. Attention to detail, good physical condition, a tolerance of long days that begin before dawn, and the ability to endure sometimes difficult field conditions are required. Applicants must provide their own transportation to the work site at Fort AP Hill, Virginia, but will be provided with a work vehicle once there. Lodging will be provided free of charge. The biologists will be living at or near the army base (lodging details have not been finalized) with other workers, and are expected to spend a minimum of 6 out of every 10 days in the field, contingent upon weather and logistical considerations.

COMPENSATION: These positions are considered independent contractors, not IBP staff. Biologists will receive payment of $2,500 per month, but no fringe benefits.

TO APPLY:
Submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information for 3 references (all as a single attachment) to:
Lauren Helton The Institute for Bird Populations Phone: (415) 663-1436 Email: lhelton@birdpop.org
Please put Fort AP Hill MAPS Position in the subject line.

The workshop will begin before dawn on Wednesday (9/18) and end Sunday (9/22) at noon. Participants will want to arrive Tuesday evening (9/17) prior to the workshop. The majority of time will be spent in the field with live birds, and these sessions will be complemented with afternoon presentations and discussions. This workshop is an excellent primer for NABC (North American Banding Council) Bander Certification as we will cover banding ethics, banding methodology, molt terminology, and use of the Pyle Guide. The focus of this workshop is on training participants to age and
sex passerines via plumage and molt limits, and will include discussions on molt terminology and how to decode the “Pyle Guide”. Participants are expected to have prior experience handling and extracting birds from nets. The cost is $750 per person and includes on site lodging (with kitchen) and breakfast. This workshop will be NABC-approved.

To sign up please fill out the following Google Form:
http://goo.gl/forms/kaQiLhs1aZ

An advanced banding class will be held at The Clifton Institute (http://cliftoninstitute.org//) near Warrenton, Virginia. The class is scheduled for September 15-19, 2019. Please contact the staff of The Clifton Institute (email: info@cliftoninstitute.org) for more information about the class and information on how to register.

A beginner banding class will be held on Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership (http://www.hurricaneisland.net/) off the coast of central Maine. The class will be held July 7-13, 2019. Please contact the class host, Teddy Simpson, (email: registration@hurricaneisland.net; phone: 207-867-6050), or see the banding class registration page (http://www.hurricaneisland.net/bird-banding/) on Hurricane Island's website for more information about the class, including how to register. Additional information is also available on their class information sheet (http://birdpop.org/docs/misc/2019_IBP_on_Hurricane_Info_Sheet.pdf)

Three banding classes will be held at the Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center (http://wolf-ridge.org/) in northeastern Minnesota. The beginner class dates are June 23-30, 2019, the advanced class dates are July 2-6, 2019, and a youth ornithology camp (entering grades 10-12) will be held July 7-13,2019. Please contact the class host, Peter Harris (peter.harris@wolf-ridge.org) or check out the banding class page for the beginner and advanced classes (http://wolf-ridge.org/camp/advanced-bird-banding-courses/) or for the Youth Ornithology Camp (https://wolf-ridge.org/camp/ornithology-field-camp/)  on Wolf Ridge's website for more information about the classes and how to register.

The Opossum Creek Retreat (http://www.opossumcreek.com/) and The Institute for Bird Populations (IBP) are cooperating to host a beginner bird banding class April 20-26, 2019. The class will be located in the hills of West Virginia, just minutes from the beautiful New River Gorge, and promises stunning scenery while you learn to handle some amazing birds.

Please contact the class host, Keith Richardson (email:retreat@opossumcreek.com; phone: 888-488-4836) to register or for more information about the class.

Every detail you need to present or attend our upcoming EBBA annual meeting can now be found on the meeting website.  We hope to see you April 12-14 in Rochester NY!

The Harris Center for Conservation Education and New Hampshire Audubon will host a Spring Beginner Bird Banding course in Hancock, NH from April 22 – 28, 2019.

The beginner course is intended for birders and wildlife biologists to obtain bird handling skills and will be taught by Dr. Patricia Wohner. Patricia has been banding birds on research projects and MAPS stations for over 19 years and will teach necessary skills for monitoring and research programs involving bird banding. The specific skills taught will include: safe operation of mist nets, methods of extraction of birds from mist nets, bird-handling skills, a primer on in-hand ageing and sexing techniques, and data scoring and recording using MAPS protocol and forms. Target netting skills may also be taught depending on interest.

The course will be taught at the beginning of spring migration in young and mature forest at the beautiful Harris Center for Conservation Education in Hancock, NH. Each student will handle many different passerines and near-passerines including Warblers, Sparrows, Woodpeckers, Thrushes, and others.

Each day will consist of a morning practical mist netting and banding birds, and an afternoon class session at the Harris Center.

Cost of the course including lunch is $975/ person.

A $150 non-refundable down payment is required to hold a spot in the class.

Classes fill quickly, so be sure to register early! The Beginner Bird Banding Course is limited to 7 participants!

To register or for questions email pjwohner@gmail.com or call 423-999-9019. In the registration email, please include your name and phone number where you can be reached. Payment by check can be made payable to Patricia Wohner. Send checks to Carol Foss, Audubon Society of New Hampshire, 84 Silk Farm Road, Concord, NH  03301