Audubon Connecticut Offering Master Bird Conservationist Program

BRIDGEPORT — The new Audubon CT “Master Bird Conservationist” program is a four-day workshop that will take place at Bridgeport City Hall Annex on four Wednesdays between now and early April.

Sessions will occur on February 22, March 7 and 21, and April 4. The first three sessions will be on-site, while the April assembly will be a field trip to important bird areas. Each program will run from 9 am until 5 pm.

The goal of the program is to educate participants in identification and conservation of bird species, and also to train them to act as conservation leaders within their communities. Participants will receive training in bird identification from Ken Elkins and Ted Gilman, and attend talks on conservation strategies and programs led by various professionals including Bill Labich of Harvard Forest, Marjorie Shansky of Yale University, Joan Morrison of Trinity University, and CT DEEP Wildlife Biologist Jenny Dickson, among others.

The workshop is free but participants are expected to commit to at least 20 hours of volunteer service in citizen science programs, educational outreach or conservation advocacy within one year of the program.

Participants are expected to attend all four workshops, and applicants must be at least an intermediate level birder. Participants will also be expected to attend and present volunteer service to fellow Master Bird Conservationists and Audubon Connecticut staff in the spring of 2013.

Space is limited to 20 participants.

For an overview, visit audubonct.org/news_Nov11_MasterBird. An application packet is also available through the website; please note applications are due by February 8. Contact Karen Dixon at 203-869-4437 or KDixon@audubon.org.