The Doug Tarry
Young Ornithologists' Workshop
The Doug Tarry Bird
Study Awards foster the development of ornithological interests in
Canadian teenagers. Recipients of the awards attend a week-long
workshop/natural history camp or a month-long student internship at Long
Point Bird Observatory (LPBO).
The Doug Tarry Young Ornithologists' Workshop is a
major component of the Observatory's educational program. Since its
inception in the mid 1970s, the Workshop has been the jumping-off point
for many of today's most talented field biologists.
Thanks to the keen foresight and generosity of humanitarian and
naturalist Doug Tarry, the Workshop is offered free to selected
applicants. It focuses on "hands-on" learning and training in
field ornithology, providing a unique opportunity for like-minded
teenagers to enhance their knowledge and skills in the scientific study
and aesthetic enjoyment of birds. Participants learn how to identify,
age and sex birds, and to study their populations and behaviour. Careful
and skilled instructors teach the secrets of bird handling and banding
techniques, how to prepare specimens for scientific study, and an array
of bird censusing techniques. Regular afternoon field trips are taken to
places of biological interest within the internationally designated Long
Point Biosphere Reserve. Evenings too are busy with slide presentations
and nocturnal field work.
This year, the Workshop is being held from Saturday
3 August to Sunday 11 August 2013. Space is limited to 6 participants,
ranging in age from 13-17 years old. The Award covers all direct costs
of the workshop (accommodation, meals, travel while at Long Point, and
professional instruction), but recipients are responsible for their
transportation to Long Point.
What is a Student Internship?
The student internship is a month-long
position awarded to mature teenagers with clearly demonstrated interests
in field ornithology (often graduates of the Young Ornithologists'
Workshop). Each year, one or more interns spend three to four weeks in
August and September and become involved in all aspects of LPBO's
Migration Monitoring Program to further develop skills gained from the
YOW program. In addition, with help of Bird Studies Canada staff,
interns design and conduct an independent field research project.
Funding for these positions is provided by The Doug Tarry Internship
Award. This year, internships will be held throughout August.
Applications
Prospective participants of the
workshop or the student internship are invited to
download
the application form (Adobe Acrobat Reader required) or request an application
form:
Long Point Bird Observatory
Box 160, Port Rowan, Ontario N0E 1M0
Fax: (519) 586-3532
E-mail: lpbo@birdscanada.org
Applications are due 30 April.
The Young Ornithologist Workshop and
Internship is supported by BSC's Doug Tarry Natural History Fund. Additional
support has been provided through a special grant from Canada's Natural
Sciences and Engineering Research Council's (NSERC) "PromoScience" program
for young scientists.
The Doug Tarry Bird Study Awards are an
excellent opportunity for like-minded teens from across Canada to meet
and learn field ornithological skills and increase their aesthetic
appreciation of birds. But don't just take
our word for it!
"It was one of the most enjoyable weeks I've
ever spent anywhere, and that's the truth."
- Chris Greenwood
- age 15
"I have now met young people who have similar
interests, who are great people, who are now my friends, and we will
keep in touch."
- Sarah Trefry - age 14
"That evening we went to Backus Woods to
listen for owls, and we actually got to communicate with them . . . they
were the most beautiful sounds I have ever heard."
- Lea Ann
Doan - age 17
"This has been an awesome week. We did a lot
of banding each morning, and got to handle at least 16 species of birds
including the Northern Waterthrush, Tennessee Warbler, Warbling Vireo
and Cardinal. We learned about the whole process, from setting up nets
to aging by skull ossification."
- Philina English - age 14
