Hi folks, The MN DNR and Hawk Ridge are teaming up to begin a citizen science component to the DNR's Northern Goshawk monitoring program. Gaea Crozier from the DNR has written up a detailed description of the project and what we're looking for in volunteers. Please read the following call for volunteers CAREFULLY, and if you're interested in becoming a volunteer, please contact me at dwaters at hawkridge.org and include the following information: Name Address Phone Email Qualifications related to this monitoring opportunity I'm also happy to answer any questions you may have related to the project. THANKS!! _____________________________ Volunteer opportunity with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources conducting Northern Goshawk surveys The MN DNR is looking for volunteers to monitor breeding activity in Northern Goshawk territories in northern Minnesota. The territories are primarily located on the Chippewa National Forest, Superior National Forest, and in St. Louis County. Volunteers are needed to choose one or more territories to monitor in 2009, with the possibility of continuing the monitoring in following years. Following a survey protocol, volunteers will survey each territory (500m radius circle) approximately three times a breeding season: once in early March - mid April to determine if goshawks are present in the territory, once in late April - early May to determine if the goshawks are nesting in the territory, and once in late June - July to determine if the nest was successful. Surveys entail searching the territory for the presence of goshawks, examining goshawk nests for signs of activity, and broadcasting goshawk calls to elicit a response. Volunteers will be expected to carefully adhere to the survey protocol and fill out data sheets. Volunteers should have a background in biology, be comfortable identifying forest raptors by sight and sound, have good vision and hearing abilities, be willing to follow the survey protocol carefully, have access to binoculars and XC skis and/or snowshoes, be physically capable of hiking long distances in rough terrain, and be able to navigate using a GPS, compass and map. Volunteers will be provided with survey equipment; however, volunteers with their own compass and GPS are preferred and volunteers must have their own transportation. It is likely that volunteers will be given a modest reimbursement to help with transportation costs, etc. Volunteers will be required to attend a 1-day training session in February or March 2009 in the Grand Rapids area on raptor identification, survey protocol and navigating with a GPS. If possible, the MN DNR would like volunteers to participate in one goshawk survey in 2008 (occurring from March - June) to gain a better understanding of what the goshawk surveys entail and to learn the survey protocol. The location of the goshawk territories is sensitive information, and volunteers must agree that they will not share this information with others. Volunteers should not have a conflicting interest with the project, and any volunteers that are falconers must agree that they will not take young from the nest. If you are interested in receiving more information about this volunteer opportunity, please contact Debbie Waters at <mailto:dwaters at hawkridge.org> dwaters at hawkridge.org. __________________________ Debbie Waters Education Director Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory P.O. Box 3006 Duluth, MN 55803-3006 218.428.3539 dwaters at hawkridge.org www.hawkridge.org
What's the current fall raptor count? www.hawkcount.org/month_summary.php?rsite=288 Need info on visiting Hawk Ridge? www.hawkridge.org/visit/visit.html -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://moumn.org/pipermail/mou-net_moumn.org/attachments/20080312/247966ee/attachment.html
