Volunteer Opportunities to Help Oregon Birds

Volunteer Field Assistants Needed for Local Pygmy-Owl Research

For those wishing to become directly involved in metro-area pygmy-owl research, March Nature Night Speaker John Deshler will be offering a unique opportunity to get involved in his ongoing research project. John is entering the second year of research on a project studying a pygmy-owl population in the greater Portland area and is looking for volunteer research assistants. During the first year of research, five nest sites were identified and 23 young were observed to have fledged. Fifteen pygmy-owls were banded and released unharmed.
Volunteers should have extraordinary patience and tenacity, the ability to traverse heavily forested landscapes, and intermediate birding skills. The ability to participate regularly during a weeks-long stretch between March and August is a must. Tasks are divided into surveying, nest finding, habitat assessments, telemetry, and nest monitoring. The most determined volunteers will reap the greatest rewards. More information on becoming directly involved will be available at the March Nature Night.

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Western Bluebird Monitors Needed

The Prescott Bluebird Recovery Project (PBRP) seeks volunteers each February to monitor Western Bluebird trail in the April through September nesting season for that year.

Monitors are trained and assigned to a trail under the tutelage of a volunteer bander. Established trails are primarily in Yamhill, Washington, and Clackamas counties. The monitoring season is from late March through August, with monitors expected to visit nestboxes at least once a week, spending 2-3 hours observing and recording information.

Please contact either the PBRP telephone message line at 503 245 8449 or visit the website at www.prescottbluebird.com for more information.