Volunteer Nest Box Monitor
Do you like to watch birds? Do you want to get outdoors to watch spring emerge?
Nest Box Monitors regularly visit and observe bird activity at assigned kestrel nest boxes through the breeding season.
(Please Note: As of April 2023, this position is currently full. You are welcome to indicate your interest on the Volunteer Intake Form. If openings arise in the future, we will contact you.)
Our Kestrel Nest Box program was featured on WGBY’s “Connecting Point”. Watch the video here.
Responsibilities
- Starting in late March, visit each assigned box every week to determine whether it is being used, and if so, by what species of bird.
- Visit each box hosting an active American Kestrel pair 1 cumulative hour per week during the breeding season (approx. late March through July).
- Report observations using our online form once per week.
Qualifications
- Interest in spending time outdoors and a commitment to conservation.
- Strong bird identification skills.
- Willingness and enthusiasm to take the responsibility of monitoring a Kestrel nest box.
- Reliability in completing weekly visits, following protocols, and reporting observations.
- Ability to travel independently to the nest box sites and navigate potentially wet or rough terrain by foot.
- The volunteer must supply own transportation, binoculars and/or spotting scope.
Typical Time Commitment
- March through July (maximum commitment). If box is unused by Kestrels, monitor may choose to stop observing in late April or May.
- 1 hour per week for each box monitored (observation time may be broken into shorter periods).
- Additional time as required to report observations weekly.
Tools & Training Provided
- Detailed monitoring protocols.
- Online reporting form.
- Maps of box locations.
- Directions and additional orientation as needed.
