Volunteer Opportunities

Beach-nesting Bird Program Would you like to help protect beach-nesting birds on Martha’s Vineyard?  We need help protecting nesting habitat, constructing predator exclosures around piping plover nests, fencing areas for least tern colonies, monitoring nesting pairs and their chicks, and removing our signs and fencing from beaches when the birds are finished nesting. Time period:  April – August

Time commitment: at least 2 hours per activity

We need :  Volunteers with have a strong interest in birds who are able to be on the beach in spring and summer for 1 – 3 hours.

Contact: Volunteer Coordinator, Sharon Britton

volunteers@biodiversityworksmv.org

800-690-0993

Millbrook Watershed Survey of Habitat/Vegetation and Macroinvertebrates

This survey work will be conducted under the direction of biologist Dick Johnson for the West Tisbury Millbrook Watershed Committee from June though August 2015.  To volunteer for any part of this work (see schedule below), please contact BiodiversityWorks volunteer coordinator Sharon Britton at volunteers@biodiversityworkmv.org

Volunteer work description

Habitat/Vegetation surveys:  Assist with vegetation surveys on borders of ponds and within ponds along the Millbrook watershed.  Hazards include ticks, poison ivy, biting insects, uneven terrain, and wet areas.  Knee boots and garden gloves recommended.

Macroinvertebrate Surveys: Assist in collecting macroinvertebrates above and below ponds along the Millbrook and placing samples into containers to take back to the lab for identification. Hazards include ticks, poison ivy, biting insects, uneven terrain, and wet areas.  Hip waders or chest waders would be ideal.

Macroinvertebrate Sorting: Sort through samples collected at ponds with tweezers, eyedroppers and tiny paint brushes to isolate macroinvertebrates and preserve them in alcohol for later identification. (Please send an email to indicate interest in this work. Dates will be established according to need.)

Macroinvertebrate Identification: Assist in lab sorting and identifying invertebrates collected and data by site and sample date.  Volunteer qualifications – must be able to look at invertebrates with a magnifying glass, have good attention to detail, and patience to work with species keys. Volunteers will work together to identify invertebrates collected.

Work Flow Timeline For Mill Brook Watershed Study

River Otter Diet Analysis

During our river otter mapping and monitoring study, we collected otter scat samples at different sites around the Island.  All of these samples have been disinfected, rinsed, and sieved to prepare them for diet analysis. Currently, we have only 50 samples to go through and identify prey items, and bones from amphibians.  We have identified the contents of 95% of these samples and have also created a guide to otter diet analysis to identify crustaceans, fish, and insects found in otter scat. We need volunteers to assist with final samples and to use the key to find any errors. If you are a ‘details’ person and enjoy working with slides and microscopes, consider volunteering with us for a unique opportunity to learn fish scale, crustacean, and bone identification.

Volunteer scientists Nancy and Margaret- hard at work identifying fish scales from otter scat

Golden Shiner Minnow scale

Time Period:  August – October 2015

Time Commitment:  minimum 2 hour time blocks

Contact: Luanne Johnson

info@biodiversityworksmv.org