DEP Wildlife Volunteer Opportunities
The Connecticut DEP depends on volunteers for assistance with conservation programs. Opportunities for citizen scientists include the following areas:
Forest Interior Bird Survey - Experienced birders are needed to conduct three surveys of forest birds in targeted large tracts of forest. Go here for more information.
Night Bird Callback Survey - If you like to work in the wee hours of the morning, surveying nocturnal birds may be just for you. Two surveys are conducted in winter and two in summer. Volunteers are provided with recordings of targeted species. Go here for more information.
Chimney Swift Watch - Chimney swifts can be found soaring overhead as they hunt insects. It appears that the chimney swift population has declined in recent years as fewer chimneys are avaiable for nesting. More data is needed to understand exactly what is happening and what mitigation efforts are needed. There are three ways to participate:
- Monitoring Chimney Watch Routes
- Monitoring Your Own Chimney
- Monitoring Roosting Locations
Go here for more information.
Wild Turkey Brood Survey - To determine turkey reproduction rates, counts of hens and poults (young birds) are taken from June through August. If you would like to participate, you can download a DEP Wild Turkey Observation Form (pdf) to record your observations. Instructions can be found on the data sheet. This is a great way to partner with the DEP Wildlife Division to help monitor the state's wild turkey population.
