New NestWatch Volunteer Program

What is NestWatch? NestWatch is a nationwide monitoring program designed to track status and trends in the reproductive biology of birds, including when nesting occurs, the number of eggs laid, how many eggs hatch, and how many hatchlings survive. The database is intended to be used to study the current condition of breeding bird popu- lations and how they may be changing over time as a result of climate change, habitat degradation and loss, expansion of urban areas, and the introduction of non-native plants and animals. How Can You Help? Participating in NestWatch is easy and just about anyone can do it, although children should always be accompanied by an adult when observing bird nests. Simply follow the directions on the NestWatch website to become a certified NestWatcher, adopt a numbered nestbox around Oldfield, visit the nestbox every 3-4 days (or at least once a week) during nesting season (March-August) and record what you see, and then report this information on the NestWatch website. You can also download the NestWatch Mobile App for iOS and Android and record what you see at the nest in real-time. Your observations will be added to those of thousands of other NestWatchers in a continually growing database used by researchers to understand and study birds. Simply put, without your help, it would be impossible to gather enough information to accurately monitor nesting birds across the country. And while you are contributing extremely valuable information to science, you will learn firsthand about birds and create a lifelong bond with the natural world. We have 16 Nestboxes up for adoption around Oldfield that are numbered. Contact Staff Naturalist, Leanna, to adopt a nestbox or two and start your NestWatch journey to benefit Oldfield’s bird data along with nationwide bird data and re- search. We will have an informational program to discuss the new Oldfield NestWatch Program at the beginning of January.