Date: 4/27/26 9:07 am From: Megan Massa <mmassa...> Subject: [VTBIRD] Volunteers needed for long-term bird monitoring
Several of Vermont’s long-term bird monitoring projects are in need of
volunteers this year!
If you enjoy birding by ear and want your skills to support conservation
science, there are vacancies with the Breeding Bird Survey, Forest Bird
Monitoring Project, Northeast Nightjar Survey, and Mountain Birdwatch.
1) US Breeding Bird Survey: Long-term roadside surveys across the US and
Canada, critical to monitoring continental landbird trends
- ID requirements: All species on the route by sound and sight
- Time commitment: One morning driving a 25-mile survey route with 50
stops, multi-year commitment required
- Openings: 1 route available in VT (S Wallingford)
- Learn more: https://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBS/participate/ - Contact: Megan Massa <mmassa...>
2) Vermont Forest Bird Monitoring Program: Long-term surveys of undisturbed
forests in the northeast
- ID requirements: Forest-breeding birds by sound and sight
- Time commitment: Two mornings hiking a 0.5-1 mile route with 5 stops,
multi-year commitment preferred
- Openings: Several, email for more info
- Learn more:
https://vtecostudies.org/what-we-do/projects/forest-bird-monitoring-program - Contact: Dana Williams <dwilliams...>
If you don't consider yourself an ID expert, the following two projects are
also great options:
3) Mountain Birdwatch: High-elevation hikes in boreal forest
- ID requirements: 10 bird species + red squirrel
- Time commitment: One (possibly overnight) hike in June
- Openings: Several routes available in northern NH, ME (see webpage)
- Learn more:
https://vtecostudies.org/what-we-do/projects/mountain-birdwatch - Contact: Jason Hill <jhill...>
4) Northeast Nightjar Survey: Moonlit drives in search of Eastern
Whip-poor-wills
- ID requirements: Only nightjars
- Time commitment: One ~90-minute roadside survey within a week of a full
moon (May 30 + June 30)
- Openings: Fair Haven, South Tunbridge, Vernon, others
- Learn more:
https://vtecostudies.org/what-we-do/projects/eastern-whip-poor-will - Contact: Sara Zahendra <szahendra...>
If any of these projects sound like fun to you, contact the listed project
coordinator. Please forward this message to any birders you know who may be
interested.
Happy birding!
Megan Massa
Data Manager, Vermont Center for Ecostudies
vtecostudies.org
