Volunteers Gain Hours Monitoring Wildlife Tracks and Sign this summer

Pathways volunteers have been racking up the hours in the field tracking animals, identifying their footprints, and recording what they find into a database.

Cottontail rabbit

 

“Citizen Scientists” gain experience in the field.

Since the workshop on March 28-29, we have had a good showing of volunteers each weekend to go out and practice tracking and monitoring skills. About 15 hours of learning have been accumulated so far, with people gaining confidence in track and sign identification, and becoming familiar with the data collection protocol. Once a clear animal track or scat has been identified and has group consensus as to its specie, we then photograph and GPS the animal’s sign, and measure the track’s width and length. Our data sheets are filled out, and all of this is then entered into our database at the end of the day.

Badger tracks. The hind track registered directly into the front track

 

First Tracker/Monitor Training Workshop a success

After two intense days of power point lectures, engaging stories and field trips to practice track and sign identification and data collection protocol, we came home to practice in our “teams” on our home turf.

Casey in action

[caption id="attachment_108" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Coyote tracks"][/caption]

 

Volunteers make it happen!

Pathways volunteers get the message out about wildlife corridors with a beautiful mosaic mural.

 

Pathways community mosaic mural project, “Protect Our Wildlife Corridors”

Black bears need to be able to move between the Sandia and Jemez Mts.

 

Wildlife Tracker/Monitor training workshop

wtw-flyerHere is the flyer for this workshop coming up in late March. The deadline for registration is Mar. 20th.

Wildlife Tracking&Monitoring Workshop
March 28-29 2009

with professional trackers:
Casey McFarland and Tanya Diamond

Wildlife Corridors of NM (Pathways & Galisteo) are seeking
“Grassroots Naturalists” to help us track and monitor mammals
and other wildlife in the Galisteo to Placitas area.

What: An intensive 2 day workshop for volunteers interested in
tracking/monitoring 6 key species and reporting results for a minimum
of one year to Wildlife Corridors of NM. This data is for use in
County and State plans that “sustain viable and resilent populations”
of wildlife.

How: Volunteers conduct “track surveys” and record data.
Volunteers walk specific transects or monitor locations monthly, re
cording tracks with photos, GPS, and written observations.
Area wildlife professionals join volunteer teams to refine tracking
techniques and wildlife sign recognition.
Volunteers learn where to look for signs and about the ecology and
behavior of local species.

Where: Workshop location is the Arroyo Hondo Fire Station #2, Old Las
Vegas Highway. Directions: take I-25 to Old Pecos Trail Exit, turn north toward
Santa Fe, then right at first light (Old Las Vegas Highway). Take
OLVH east for 6.1 miles. You will see the large new firehouse on your right
just past the turn for US 285 south.

Workshop Times: Sat. and Sun. March 28-29 , 8am to 5pm
Classroom instruction will be held at the Fire Station and trips into the field
will convene there and be led to various locations nearby.

Cost: Workshop fee: $100 which includes two days of training, all materi
als and equipment, and snacks.

Wildlife Tracking Workshop Application Deadline is
Mar. 20th, 2009

Please request an application from the Workshop Coordinator at:
Peter Callen 4winged@gmail.com