Training and Volunteer Opportunities at Long Point

There are several on-site programs at Long Point which offer extensive training as part of our volunteer experience. The Observatory is one of the most productive songbird banding stations in North America. Over 850,000 birds of about 281 species have been banded since 1960. Other on-site activities include additional migration research, a long-term breeding study of Tree Swallows (1 May to 10 July), breeding-bird censuses (25 May to 5 July).

LPBO relies very heavily on volunteer assistance in one form or another. If you can't take isolation, communal living, long hours, physical exertion, bugs, the heat, the cold, irregular supplies of fresh food, or rustic working conditions, then this may not be the sort of experience for you. But if you thrive on that sort of situation, and have a passion for birds, wild storms, pristine habitats, some of the best birding in North America, snakes, frogs, and butterflies, we'd love to hear from you. There are essentially 2 categories of volunteers:

How to Apply:

Individuals interested in participating as long or short-term volunteers should fill out the accompanying application, follow the instructions, and send it to LPBO at lpbo@birdscanada.org. Short term guests looking for accommodation should also contact us at lpbo@birdscanada.org.

All of LPBO's volunteers recognize that our facilities have been paid for, constructed and maintained by other volunteers and expect to do their share to maintain and improve these facilities. As all of our stations welcome visitors, living quarters must at all times be kept clean, tidy and presentable. Detailed Operations Manuals are present at each station and must be read thoroughly on arrival, particularly those sections dealing with general operations and safety.

1. Long-term Volunteer Field Biologists (VFBs):

Migration Monitoring

LPBO offers long-term support to up to a dozen people each field season, primarily engaged in the migration monitoring program. VFBs often remain for a full season, or longer, but a month is the minimum. VFBs tend to be keen birders and/or banders who can perhaps even look after a field station on their own after a brief training period. However, a few positions are always reserved for, and filled by, quite inexperienced (but very keen) people. VFBs are required to work long hours, 7 days a week, implementing various aspects of the Observatory's migration monitoring program, including bird (and butterfly) censusing, banding, turtle marking, data entry, facility upkeep and maintenance, training other volunteers, and participating in LPBO's educational and social events. They report directly to the Bander-In-Charge, or LPBO Program Coordinator, who provide logistical support, advice, management, and in-depth training. VFBs are provided with free accommodation and food (T- bone steaks, caviar and fine wine excluded). The migration field seasons generally run from late March to early June (Spring) and from early August to mid November (Fall), but one or two assistants may be needed year round. "Summer" positions deal only with the Breeding Bird Census project and the Tree Swallow project (see below).

Breeding Bird Census Assitants:

Two or three assistants are required to work on the Breeding Bird Census project (25 May to 5 July) annually. As VFBs, they receive free accommodation and food, as well as intensive training from on site staff. BBC assistants usually have some experience in bird identification, but this is a great project for those who want to improve their abilities to identify birds by song. LPBO has established 15 10-hectareplots in various vegetative communities across the dunes and marshes of Long Point, and each year 4 or more are sampled. Assistants rise, very early, and commute by ATV or boat to arrive at their study sites at dawn. Then, over the next few hours, they map the locations of all singing birds, look for nests, and try to determine the number of bird territories on the plot. Ten or more visits are made to each study site, enabling assistants to refine their estimates of the numbers of birds breeding there.

Tree Swallow Assistants:

Four to six assistants are usually required to work on the Tree Swallow project each year (1 May to 10 July). As VFBs, they stay for a month or more and receive the same benefits: food, accommodation and training. Classified as Volunteer Field Biologists, they usually don't have the birding experience that volunteers in the migration program must have. Often, they are primarily interested in obtaining field experience, particularly as it relates to their future education. Work involves checking nestboxes, weighing eggs and young, banding adults and young, sampling food resources, facility maintenance, and record keeping under the supervision of a scientific authority. During May, most Tree Swallow Assistants also have an opportunity to take part in the migration monitoring program. For more information about the Tree Swallow project click here.

2. Short-term Volunteers:

Short-term volunteers are a highly diverse group. The one thing they have in common is that they are able to stay for only a short time, preferably for a week or two, but weekend volunteers are also welcome. Short-term volunteers generally do not stay at one of the remote stations unless they plan to visit for at least a week (see below). Some short-term volunteers are highly qualified birders and/or banders, while many just want to learn more about identification, banding or any other aspect of LPBO's activities. Even a complete novice can be very useful (e.g. as a "scribe" for the banders). Assistance is by no means restricted to matters ornithological and help with facility maintenance, clerical work, art work, etc. is most welcome. Unlike long-term Volunteer Field Biologists, short-term volunteers are required to pay a modest fee ($35/night) for food and accommodations. You may not be specifically interested in birds, but merely want to experience Long Point, or concentrate on plants, reptiles, amphibians or photography. If space is available, you are welcome, but all volunteers are expected to help out with daily activities.

What to Bring if you've been Accepted:

If you have special favourite foods or personal indulgences (e.g. chocolate bars, potato chips, tobacco, vino), you better bring them in bulk. These can all be purchased in Port Rowan, but it is often more expensive than in a large supermarket and you'll save time by shopping before you arrive, particularly if you are bound for a remote station. Once at a remote station, you are far away from any kind of store or fast-food outlet! As a matter of convenience, personnel always pool their food and cook, eat and cleanup together, especially for dinner. Breakfast and lunches are normally less structured. Staples such as sugar, assorted spices, toilet paper, dish detergent, etc. are provided at each station, but contributions to the common stock are always appreciated. Also, keep in mind that the boat's payload is apt to be limited, so please try not to go overboard on heavy canned and bottled goods.

All volunteers must bring a warm sleeping bag, personal toiletries (including towel and face cloth), outdoor clothes for all occasions (especially warm clothes for cold weather in early to mid spring and from mid to late fall), rain gear (head to toe), a flashlight, a day pack, a battery powered alarm clock, wrist watch, pocket notebook and pencil. A sun hat, sunscreen and sunglasses are strongly recommended, as is a good insect repellent (late May through September). Musical instruments and transistor radios are (usually) welcome. Lake Erie is bathtub-warm from mid June through September, so a bathing suit is essential (or not). The beaches are fantastic! Naturally, reasonable quality binoculars and a good field guide (the Sibley guide is recommended; Peterson's or National Geographic are acceptable) are an absolute MUST! A spotting scope is very useful too. Finally, you'll definitely want to bring your camera and lots and lots of memory cards or film!