Introductory
Bird Monitoring and Banding Workshop
March 28-30, 2008

The Rocky Point Bird Observatory is offering a bird monitoring and banding
workshop at Royal Roads University in Victoria, BC, Canada on March 28-30.
The 3-day workshop will focus on bird identification, sexing and ageing
under the direction of Gabe David, Bander-in-charge at Rocky Point Bird
Observatory and international banding workshop instructor. This year's
program has been developed for people with little or no bird handling and/or
banding experience, but those with intermediate skills will also find the
workshop a good way to build knowledge. This is an excellent opportunity for
undergraduates, graduate students, wildlife biologists, bird observatory
volunteers and naturalists to explore aspects of the operation of an avian
monitoring project, including bird safety, mistnetting, data collection,
bird banding, identification, sexing and ageing. This is an introductory
course and participants should not expect to emerge from this short workshop
as a qualified bander. Much of the work will be with bird specimens
although there will be some opportunities to work with live birds to learn
safe bird handling and basic banding techniques. Skills practiced in this
workshop will be beneficial for a variety of projects including
productivity, survivorship and migration monitoring field work.

Workshop goes ahead rain or shine. In inclement weather, more time will be
spent working with specimens. Tentative Schedule (subject to change)
Friday
(under discussion) - optional birding day in Victoria. This is not part of
the workshop, but has been requested in the past by attendees. If you are
considering arriving early, guided birding in the area may be available.
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm - Field session-mistnet set up, introduction to
terminology and protocol
6:00 pm-9:00 pm classroom session- bird anatomy, age classification system,
introduction to molt patterns, ageing and sexing strategies
Saturday
7:30 am - net opening
8:00 am-11:30 am field session- bird safety and appropriate handling,
observing bird extraction from mistnets, limited banding
1:00 pm-4:30 pm lab session- working with the frozen and/or dried bird
collection, bird identification, taking measurements, banding, aging,
sexing.
Sunday
7:30 am - net opening
8:00 am -11:30 am, field session, mist netting, (including ageing,
sexing, measurements, etc.)
1:00 pm- 4:00 pm lab session- bird identification, ageing and sexing
frozen birds, workshop wrap up

The cost is $350 per participant with a $50 reduction for students. Dorm
room accommodations available at Royal Roads University for approximately at
student rates (~$46 for dorm rooms, $74 for rooms with private ensuite, per
night). Space is limited, so be sure to book as soon as possible after
confirmation of your enrollment in the workshop.

Enrollment is limited to 18 participants.
Note, our previous workshops have filled quickly. We recommend early
registration.

To enroll, please send your registration form and full workshop fees in the
form of a cheque or money order made out to Rocky Point Bird Observatory
Society to:
Rocky Point Bird Observatory Workshop
C/o Donna Ross
3 - 163 Wellington Ave.
Victoria, BC V8V 4H8

You may submit your registration form by email if you like, but you will not
be confirmed in the workshop until your payment is received. Registrants
will receive a receipt, pre-course reading material, course and
accommodation information.

For more information or to confirm that there are still spaces available,
contact: Donna Ross (hoshihana at shaw.ca)

Registration Form
Rocky Point Observatory Bird Banding Workshop
March 28-30, 2008
Victoria, BC Canada

Please note: All participants will be required to sign a liability waiver

Full Name:

Address:


Phone Number(s):

Email address:

I am a student at ______________________________________________
(institution).

Are you associated with a bird banding organization? If so, which one(s)?



Please describe your level of experience with bird handling.



What do you hope to get out of this workshop?



Do you have Peter Pyle's Identification Guide to North American Passerines
_____and Dan Froehlich's Ageing North American Landbirds by Molt Limits and
Plumage Criteria: a Photographic Companion to the Identification Guide
______. If not, would you want to purchase them at the workshop?
___________

The following questions will help us determine how to design the course to
best fit the participants' needs. The course is open to people with all
levels of experience, so please answer as accurately as possible.
Approximately how much time have you spent in the field identifying birds?

How many hours have you spent banding birds?__________ Approximate number of
birds banded?_________
Types? (passerines, waterfowl, raptors, etc.) ________________

How many hours have you spent extracting birds from mist nets?
______________

Indicate your ability to identify and age/sex(without the assistance of
others) bird species in the following groups: (Excellent, Good, Fair, No
experience)

Identify
Age/Sex
Warblers and vireos


Sparrows and finches


Thrushes


Empidonax flycatchers



Please add any additional information that will help us plan our course so
that it meets your needs.