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Powell Butte Prairie Nesting Bird Surveys – Field Training
March 30 @ 7:30 am – 9:00 am
Calling all birders! Join our 2024 Prairie-Nesting Birds survey team! The Prairie-Nesting Bird surveys are a community science project started in 2019 to monitor grassland birds breeding in Powell Butte Nature Park. It’s a joint project between the Johnson Creek Watershed Council, Portland Parks and Recreation, Conservation InSight, and amazing community scientists like you!
What: Powell Butte Prairie-nesting Bird Surveys
When & Where: Virtual AND in-person training sessions required
Virtual orientation (REQUIRED) on Wednesday, March 27th from 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
One in-person training (REQUIRED) at Powell Butte Nature Park. You can sign-up for an outdoor training session after registration. Check your email!
Friday, March 29th from 7:30 am – 9:00 am OR
Saturday, March 30th from 7:30 am – 9:00 am
Both trainings (virtual and one in-person) are required to participate in surveys.
Survey Season – April through June. Two survey dates are required (two surveys per day on two different dates) sign-ups will occur during the virtual training. Surveys typically take 30-45 minutes to complete. Surveys are to be completed within two hours of sunrise.
How to prepare:
Volunteers must have a minimum of intermediate bird identification skills. You should feel comfortable identifying most of the birds you will encounter on Powell Butte. If you’re not confident in your bird ID skills but still want to be involved, come to the online orientation! We may be able to pair you with a more experienced birder.
Volunteers must provide their own binoculars. We have a very limited number available to borrow for the season. If you need to borrow binoculars please email sara@jcwc.org.
Volunteers need an eBird account and should have eBird downloaded and set up on their phones. All data collection will take place using the eBird app.
Due to Portland Parks & Recreation policies a background check and volunteer application is required to participate in these surveys. Those forms will be sent to you after registration. If you have questions please contact sara@jcwc.org.
Covid-19 safety: We will follow current Oregon Health Authority guidelines. Masks are not required, but encouraged in indoor spaces where social distancing is not possible. Stay home if you are experiencing symptoms of any contagious illness or have had recent contact with someone exhibiting symptoms of any illness.
Accessibility: These surveys require walking along dirt/gravel paths for up to 2 hours at a time. These surveys require the use of binoculars and the ability to identify birds by sound. Bathrooms are available for use at the visitor’s center.
Want to learn more about how we use the important data collected by our volunteers? Check out Dr. Tom Virzi’s talk on March 19th at 6:00 pm at Double Mountain Brewing in the Woodstock neighborhood.
Thank you to our funders and partners for supporting watershed health. East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District, The City of Portland’s Bureau of Environmental Services, Conservation InSight and Portland Parks & Recreation.