Bird Studies Canada’s Marsh Monitoring Program (MMP) is seeking Volunteer Marsh Monitoring Program Regional Coordinators

 

Are you interested to help enhance and support wetland monitoring efforts in your area? Bird Studies Canada’s Marsh Monitoring Program (MMP) is currently seeking dedicated individuals to become volunteer regional coordinators to help oversee volunteer-led marsh bird and amphibian monitoring activities in local wetlands. The MMP is a long-term, bi-national program that relies on the skills and dedication of hundreds of volunteer Citizen Scientists from across the Great Lakes basin to annually monitor marsh bird and amphibian populations in local wetlands.

For over a decade, the MMP has worked with local stakeholders within Great Lakes environmental “hot spots”, including the Detroit River and Clinton River Areas of Concern, to provide monitoring data in support of efforts to track wildlife and habitat recovery. To improve its capacity to inform these recovery efforts, the MMP is seeking to engage enthusiastic and motivated individuals to become volunteer regional coordinators in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.

MMP regional coordinators will help to recruit new volunteer participants by promoting the program locally, and help new and existing volunteers by providing one-on-one or group training and survey support prior to and during the MMP monitoring season. They may be professional biologists or amateur naturalists, and have an interest in conserving wetlands and their bird and amphibian inhabitants. Regional coordinators empower local volunteers, helping them to learn about the MMP and wetland conservation, and ensure that they are confident and capable of carrying out their surveys.

For more information about this rewarding opportunity, please view the online brochure with application form at http://www.bsc-eoc.org/download/MMPvolcoordbrochure.pdf and a position description at http://www.bsc-eoc.org/download/MMPvolcoordescription2007.pdf. We ask that those interested please submit their application form ASAP, either by fax to Ryan Archer at 519-586-3532 or by email to rarcher@bsc-eoc.org. Also note that coordinator tasks are flexible to accommodate individuals’ strengths and time commitments, and that bursaries will be available to help reimburse coordinator-related costs. Coordinator orientation and training will be provided. For more information about the Marsh Monitoring Program or to become a volunteer, please visit www.birdscanada.org/mmpmain.html. For any questions, please contact Ryan Archer, MMP Assistant Coordinator, at rarcher@bsc-eoc.org, or toll-free at 1-888-448-2473 ext. 235.