CONSERVE

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Call for Volunteers 2017 Chick Fencing and surveying

Least Terns are a small migratory bird species that arrive on the beaches of the Florida Panhandle to nest during the summer months.

Sometime these birds settle to nest on gravel rooftops. Gravel rooftops have risks associated with them, including the possibility of chicks falling off the rooftop when they are startled or attacked by other predators.

Audubon Florida installs “chick fencing” along the perimeter of some of these rooftop sites to protect the chicks from falls.

We are looking for volunteers to help install this fencing at the old Officemax in Destin. Volunteers must be physically able to lift 20 lbs., climb a ladder, and be comfortable working on a rooftop.

This site will only take about an hour to complete.

Old Officemax– 15003 Emerald Coast Pkwy- April12^th at 2 pm

If interested in helping out please contact Emily McKiddy at either 608-332-3802 or emckiddy@audubon.org.

I am also looking for a few volunteers to “adopt” a rooftop for the breeding season which includes a 15 minute survey on site each week to observe whether Least Terns have chosen that rooftop to nest on.

If the site does become active, a count of the colony during each survey would be done and reported to me.

Surveys include:

• A weekly, 15 minute survey of the site
• Data sheet to be submitted to Rooftop Coordinator after surveys
• Once colony is established a perimeter check for any fallen chicks is done once a week
• Notify Emily McKiddy of any fallen chicks and  either return to rooftop or drop off with Emily

Sites that need an “adopting” volunteer

• Dirt Cheap Building Supplies- 8102 North     Davis Hwy, Pensacola
• Harbor Freight- 2 East Nine Mile Road, Pensacola
• MDV- 4150 W Blount Street, Pensacola
• CLOSED Bealls Outlet- 6548 Caroline Street, Milton
• Milton High School- 5445 Stewart Street, Milton

By Emily McKidd