The Rocky Point Bird Observatory is offering an introductory bird monitoring and banding workshop at Royal Roads University in Victoria, BC, on March 30-April 1, 2012. The 3-day workshop will focus on bird identification, monitoring procedures and techniques, sexing and ageing. Components this year will include owl monitoring and banding demo and an optional session on specimen preparation. The program has been developed for people with little or no bird handling and/or banding experience, but those with intermediate skills will also find the workshop a good way to build knowledge.
This is an excellent opportunity for undergraduates, graduate students, bird observatory volunteers and naturalists to explore aspects of the operation of an avian monitoring project, including bird safety, mistnetting, data collection, bird banding, identification, sexing and ageing. This is an introductory course and participants should not expect to emerge from this short workshop as qualified banders. Much of the work will be with frozen and dried bird specimens although there will be some opportunities to work with live birds to learn safe bird handling and basic banding techniques. Skills practiced in this workshop will be beneficial for a variety of projects including productivity, survivorship and migration monitoring field work.
Workshop goes ahead rain or shine. In inclement weather, more time will be spent working with specimens. Tentative Schedule (subject to change)
| Friday | |
| | 3:00 pm Meet at the entrance to the Nixon Residences. Wear suitable clothing and footwear for outdoor work. It is about a 10 minute walk from the residences to the banding area.
3:00 pm – 5:00 pm – Field session—mistnet set up, introduction to terminology and protocol (rain or shine.)
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm Dinner or rest—your choice. The cafeteria should be open and there are several restaurants nearby.
6:00 pm-9:00 pm classroom session- bird anatomy, age classification system, introduction to bird handling, molt patterns, ageing and sexing strategies |
| Saturday | |
| | 7:15 Coffee, tea, muffins and other breakfast goodies at the Cedar Building, Room 105.
7:30 am – net opening
8:00 am-11:30 am field session- bird safety and appropriate handling, observing bird extraction from mistnets, limited banding, extraction practice with specimens, bird identification in the field
11:30 am – 1 pm – Lunch – Cafeteria will be open
1:00 pm-3:30 pm lab session- working with the frozen and/or dried bird collection, bird identification, taking measurements, banding, aging, sexing.
3:30 pm – 5:00 pm Presentations/demos of raptor and/or hummingbird banding (work on the specimen collection can also continue.)
Dinner: Typically, many of the participants and volunteers will get together for dinner at a nearby restaurant/pub. Cafeteria will be open.
6:30 pm-7:30 pm – More on Molt. Slide show and specimen demo of various molts.
7:30 pm-9:00 pm – Owl banding demo. We will be setting up an owl square and using an audio lure to attract owls in the area. |
| Sunday | |
| | 7:15 Coffee, tea, muffins and other breakfast goodies at the Cedar Building, Room 105.
7:30 am – net opening
8:00 am -11:30 am, field session, mist netting, (including ageing, sexing, measurements, etc.), extraction and banding of live birds under supervision
11:30 am – 1 pm -- Lunch – Cafeteria will be open.
1:00 pm- 4:00 pm lab session- bird identification, ageing and sexing frozen birds, Study skin preparation (optional), workshop wrap up |
The cost is $300 per participant with a $50 reduction for students and a $20 reduction for RPBO members.. Dorm room accommodations are available at Royal Roads University at student rates (~$46 for dorm rooms, $75 for rooms with private ensuite, per night). Space is limited, so be sure to book as soon as possible after confirmation of your enrollment in the workshop.
Enrollment is limited to 18 participants.
Note, previous workshops have filled quickly. We recommend early registration.
For more information or to confirm that there are still spaces available, contact:
workshop@rpbo.org See the RPBO website for the registration form and payment details:
http://www.islandnet.com/~rpbo/rpboworkshop12.htm
