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March 22, 2023 - March 23, 2023
Virtual Snowy Plover Patrol Training – March 22 & 23, 2023
We will be hosting two events for Snowy Plover Patrol training. This training series will be presented twice, virtually on Wednesday/Thursday March 22 and 23 from 6-8 p.m., or an in-person at Nehalem Bay State Park on Saturday March 18 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.. Each version of the training will be broken into four modules. They cover all relevant topics needed to understand snowy plovers and what we can do to help them. Anyone interested in learning about Snowy Plovers or in participating in our Plover Patrol Community Science program is welcome to attend.
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Bird Alliance of Oregon is partnering with Oregon Parks and Recreation Department and the Institute for Natural Resources to monitor endangered western Snowy Plovers at four sites on the North Coast (from Clatsop Spit in Astoria to Sitka Sedge beach near Pacific City) starting in April and continuing through the summer. We are looking for folks to perform surveys twice a month but can do fewer if needed. Surveys will take 2-4 hours (depending on the site). Some sites will require a fair amount of walking on sandy beach habitat. Learn more about the Snowy Plover Patrol.
For more information, please contact Allison Anholt at aanholt@birdallianceoregon.org.
Training Modules and Requirements
New volunteers must take Modules 1-4 to meet the requirements for the Section 10 permit that allows us to survey for this threatened species. While not mandatory for returning volunteers, they will be very beneficial for touching up on Snowy Plover Knowledge. There will be a recap and quiz at the end. Regardless of your interest in volunteering, all are welcome to join the virtual trainings to learn more about Snowy Plovers and the Plover Patrol program.
Module 1: Life history, threats and decline
Content covers: Snowy Plover Identification, Similar Species, Life History, Habitat, Behavior, Threats and Decline.
Module 2: Legal status, management strategies, and recovery
Content covers: Understanding the Endangered Species Act, Legal Status, Management Strategies, and Recovery.
Module 3: Survey training, data collection, and beach safety
Content covers: Survey Protocol, Tips, Data Collection, Beach Safety
Module 4: Armchair Survey
Content covers: Beach Simulation, Recap, Quiz
