Amateur or pro birders, we need your help monitoring breeding birds in the Ann Arbor city parks. NAP works to protect and improve habitat in the city parks, with the goal of increasing biodiversity and the numbers of nesting birds. Help us see if it is working! Every year we count what birds are out there, and track the data over time. Your skills… • Interest in birds and nature • Some knowledge of bird identification required. The Specifics… Time Requirements • The breeding bird inventory requires an initial one-and-a-half hour training meeting, held in late April. At this meeting you will learn what birds to look for, when, and where. • Field monitoring occurs several times throughout the spring and summer months on your own time, and will take a total of five to ten hours. • You report your findings via email or letter. Orientation & Training • Bird inventory volunteers report directly to the city ornithologist, who is available for consultation and questions. • You can also be pared with a more experienced volunteer for your field work if you would like. Ongoing Support • Your involvement with NAP can lead to many opportunities to share or increase your knowledge of birding and nature through public talks, workshops, and birding outings.

NAP is looking to replace some of its most used Bluebird and Tree Swallow nest boxes. In the past volunteers have prepared the boxes according to plans found on the North American Bluebird Society’s web site at http://www.nabluebirdsociety.org/eastwestbox.htm

This project is based on your availability, our needs, and your overall skills.

 

NAP is looking for a few nest box monitors for our parks and natural areas.

Monitors would be asked to visit the nest boxes about once per week or two weeks during nesting season (April-June), keep records of what’s happening and then make a early March visit to remove old nest debris.

Total time this will take: No more than a few hours total for one park.

IMPACT: Invasive species will be decreased and biodiversity increased in Washtenaw County parks. Help with carrying out prescribed ecological burns in the Ann Arbor city parks. Controlled burns are an important factor in decreasing the invasive species which cause so much damage to the environment. Be part of the team working to improve the biodiversity and resilience of the park ecosystems! Your skills… • In good health and relatively fit • Ability to work as a team and follow the directions of the “burn boss” • Interest in nature and ecological restoration The Specifics… Time Requirements • Burn Season is a few weeks in spring and fall and is very dependent on the weather. Typically NAP staff might burn ten to thirty days in the year. You might join in on a burn anywhere from one to a dozen or more occasions depending on your time and interest. • Burns take place in the afternoons, Monday through Friday, and last from three to six hours. You are not required to attend the entire burn time. • Notification of a burn day is usually last minute--on the morning of the burn. Volunteers report to the designated park where they are issued appropriate clothing and gear. Orientation & Training • There are two meetings in March (combined six hours) that are required for orientation and training. There is also ongoing hands-on training at the burn sites. Ongoing Support • Burn volunteers are under the supervision of the Burn Boss. Note that the burn boss is careful to assign tasks that are suitable to the individual volunteer. You will not be asked to do anything that you are not comfortable with.

Nature enthusiasts we need your help monitoring the reptiles and amphibians in the Ann Arbor city parks. NAP works to protect and improve habitat in the city parks, with the goal of increasing biodiversity and the numbers of amphibians and reptiles. Help us see if it is working! Every year we count what critters are out there, and track the data over time. Your skills… • Interest in nature • No previous experience with animal species identification necessary The Specifics… Time Requirements • The frog, toad, and salamander inventories require an initial two-hour training meeting, held in March. At this meeting you will learn what to look for, when, and where. • Actual field monitoring occurs several times throughout the spring and early summer months on your own time, and will take a total of five to ten hours. • You report your findings via paper data forms. Orientation & Training • Inventory volunteers report directly to the city herpetologist, who is available for consultation and questions. • You can also be pared with a more experienced volunteer for your field work if you would like. Ongoing Support • Your involvement with NAP can lead to many opportunities to share or increase your knowledge of nature through public talks, workshops, and park outings.

Help caring for the natural areas in the Ann Arbor city parks on an ongoing basis. Your skills… • Interest in nature • Light to moderate outside work required (weeding, shrub cutting) • Ability to work with NAP staff for planning purposes, and with other volunteers on workdays To make a difference! • Work in the park of your choice to restore native plant communities, increase biodiversity, and improve the resilience of the ecosystem • Examples of tasks: Walk trails to check for fallen trees, remove non-native plants, lead a workday of other volunteers • Work is variable depending on your skills and interests. You will have help and support! The Specifics… Time Requirements • Variable, depending on interest, from one to several hours per month. Also varies according to the season with less activity in the winter • This is a long-term commitment Orientation & Training •Training is ongoing and customized to the volunteer and the park site—expect an initial meeting of several hours with follow-up phone consultations, park visits, and opportunities for workshops and group meetings Ongoing Support • Park stewards report to the NAP Volunteer Coordinator • Stewards report their volunteer hours for record keeping and research purposes

Help with taking pictures in the Ann Arbor city parks that document changes in the environment due to ecological restoration efforts. Support the goal of increasing biodiversity in the parks! Photo monitoring is important for tracking our progress over time, research, and environmental advocacy. Your skills… • Basic photography skills and have own digital camera The Specifics… Time Requirements • This position does not require a big time commitment, but the work helps NAP make a big difference. Photo-monitoring takes two to six hours of your time per year—ongoing involvement over several years is preferred but not required. Monitor one park of your choice or several Orientation & Training • You can visit our office, call, or email to be registered as a photo monitor. There will also be a meeting in your chosen park to identify the photo-monitoring points. Then there are one or two times a year when you will take the photos and send them to us. Ongoing Support • There is a photo-monitoring kick-off annually in March when all monitors get together. • You are invited to other NAP events and there are many opportunities to be involved according to your interests. • Ongoing help and support is available as needed from the NAP Photo-monitoring Coordinator.

Help care for Ann Arbor’s natural areas. Our work supports the goal of increasing biodiversity in the environment. Your skills… • Interest in working outside in the natural areas of the parks • Enjoy working with a group The Specifics… Time Requirements • NAP sponsors public workdays on weekends throughout the spring, summer, and fall at a variety of park sites. Workdays are generally three hours long. No pre-registration is required for individuals, but GROUPS (5+) are strongly encouraged to email outreach@a2gov.org 1-3 weeks prior to the event they are interested in attending. Volunteers are welcome to attend any number of workdays. Orientation & Training • Projects include removing invasive species, trail maintenance, seed collection and dispersal, and rain garden installation. NAP provides all tools. Volunteers can expect light to moderate physical activity. • Workdays are conducted by NAP staff who lead the group and can help with questions. Ongoing Support • Many opportunities are available at NAP for learning more about the local environment, through hands on experience, workshops, and networking with others in the natural resources community.