Volunteer Opportunity:
Schedule:
Objective:
Desert Purple Martins are amazing birds that nest in saguaro cavities during the summer monsoon season. We need help monitoring our newly designed Purple Martin nestboxes to document usage and preference, as well as finding their nesting saguaros to prioritize our invasive plant work to protect their desert habitat.
Position Description:
Saguaro Searching: Visiting areas where Desert Purple Martins have been reported and trying to locate exactly which saguaro and nesting hole they are using. You need to be able to hike in desert terrain early in the morning.
Saguaro Nest Monitoring: Attend a training workshop on how to use endoscope cameras and extending poles to check inside saguaro holes. Once you are certified and added to our permit, you will be asked to monitor assigned nests or nests you find yourself. For this activity you must be in good physical shape and able to walk over rough desert terrain and manage an extending pole.
Requirements:
Must be able to walk approximately half a mile in rugged outdoor conditions; Lift and maneuver an aluminum extension pole; Ability to maneuver an extended pole into a saguaro cavity up to 25 feet up; Have a smartphone in order to use an endoscope app.
Date:
June-early September on days chosen by volunteer
Number of Openings:
Open
Location:
Sonoran Desert habitat near Tucson – Green Valley, AZ
Interested in Saguaro Searching & Nest Monitoring? Click here to register! For questions: Email Jennie MacFarland, Bird Conservation Biologist (jmacfarland@tucsonaudubon.org).