Description

Expedition Summary
Help Earthwatch monitor migratory and resident songbirds to discover the reasons for their declining numbers.

Expedition Details
Many songbird populations in the Jackson Hole area are declining, and you can help researchers study these birds and their habitats in an effort to stop this decline. You'll search for migratory birds nests and relocate color-banded birds, providing much-needed information on seasonal survivorship and productivity. Some teams will spend one morning at the bird-banding station and will have the opportunity to observe birds up-close as project staff remove them from mist-nets and band them. Other teams will assist with vegetation measurements near bird nests. In the evenings youll enjoy dinner followed by a speaker or time to relax and socialize. During your recreational time you may choose to explore Jackson Hole, tour the National Parks, or visit the National Museum of Wildlife Art.

Meals and Accommodations
You will stay at the Kelly Campus of the Teton Science Schools. Meals will be prepared for you and will include typical American fare, such as sandwiches, salads, and pasta. Located just 45 minutes outside Jackson, the campus offers rustic cabins and new and remodeled meeting and dining facilities. Its prime location within Grand Teton National Park guarantees stunning views and the chance to live amongst wildlife. Each cabin houses 3-4 people and has toilet and shower facilities for participants to share.

About the Research Area
Jackson Hole, Wyoming is home to Grand Teton National Park, the Bridger-Teton National Forest, and the National Elk Refuge. It is surrounded by amazing views of the three mountain ranges serving as its borders, with the Teton Range to the west, the Snake River Range to the south, and the Gros Ventre Range to the east. The famous Yellowstone National Park makes up Jackson Holes northern border. The area serves as a beautiful and majestic research setting, with flowing rivers, mountain vistas, and abundant North American wildlife including bison, elk, and bears. The Snake River flows out of Yellowstone and Jackson Lakes to the north, through the valley and to the south into Idaho.

Highlights

You'll be the early bird on this expedition, rising daily at dawn to head off to one of five permanent mist-net sites, where you will spend the morning gently handling, identifying, and banding the birds caught in the net. The birds are released after banding, unharmed. You may also spend some time looking for previously banded birds, which you'll be able to identify by their distinct color-bands, and marking down their GPS locations. In the afternoons, after a break for lunch, showers, and rest, you'll look for bird nests, as well as for color-banded and juvenile birds. Evenings include dinner, followed by a speaker or time to relax and socialize. In your recreational time, you may explore Jackson Hole, take a wildlife tour through the national parks, or visit the National Museum of Wildlife Art.

Travel Types

• Eco Tours
• Ecology
• Environmental Studies
• Hiking
• Nature Tours
• Volunteering
• Photography
• Tours

Qualifications

No experience is necessary - all you will need is enthusiasm and the desire to make a difference. For over 40 years Earthwatch Institute has pioneered the involvement of ordinary people in peer-reviewed scientific research worldwide. By joining an Earthwatch Expedition, you have a unique opportunity to get up-close and personal with some of the world's rarest animals and visit remote and beautiful locations, while directly supporting conservation science. We offer life enhancing experiences in nearly 50 countries each year, with projects for teens, adults, and families.

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

1,995 USD

Cost Includes:

• Emergency evacuation services
• Excursions
• Food
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Medical insurance
• Medical services
• Pre-departure orientation/Training
• Registration fees
• Written materials abroad
• Written materials pre-departure

Program Fees Include:

Our volunteers not only contribute essential funds that help to cover the cost of the research, but also, through their inspiration and effort, they provide the people power without which many of our vital projects simply couldn't take place. We are a non-profit organization but accommodation, meals, insurance, training and transport in the field are also included in your contribution cost. As a non-profit organization that supports scientific research, your contribution and airfare costs are usually tax-deductible for U.S. citizens.

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Typical Volunteer

Earthwatch expeditions appeal to a variety of people, including students, retirees, families, educators, and anyone seeking an exciting journey that enables them to give back to the environment. Our expeditions have a wide range of activity levels, from hiking intensive to easy expeditions with limited physical activity. There is an Earthwatch expedition out there for everyone!

Age Range

Adult (age 18-90) teams available.

This Program is open to

Worldwide, American, Asian, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi and South African Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Group living
• Other

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

in Groups of 4 - 12

Scholarships are Available

Very limited fellowships may be available, mainly for high-school students and educators. Visit our website for more information.

Application Process Involves

• Phone/Video Interview
• Physical Exam/Health Records

Typically The Application Process Time is

Brief

Post Services Include

• Alumni Network

Earthwatch Institute's Mission Statement

Our mission is to inspire connections between people and the environment by engaging them in worldwide scientific field research and education. These efforts will promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment. Earthwatch enables scientists to pursue research goals and members of the public to gain hands-on experience with science. We believe it is essential that people participate in solving the environmental challenges we face.

Year Founded

1971