Naturalists Needed: OSCSP
Explore the Coyote Valley with us! The Oak Savanna Community Science Project is a three year project funded by the Open Space Authority to bring the community into nature and introduce high school students to community science at the North Coyote Valley Conservation Area.
BioBlitz Naturalists: On March 12, 9am-12pm SCVAS will be holding our second BioBlitz in the North Coyote Valley Conservation Area. Naturalists will be asked to help guide groups of 5-10 people in exploring the site and helping document sightings using iNaturalist.
Ages 14 & up with parent participation, familiarity with native species and iNaturalist preferred.
Monthly Bird Surveys: Wednesday morning, once a month, 7:30-11am. Birders survey transects in the North Coyote Valley Conservation Area, making special note of breeding and nesting birds. This site is closed to the public and has been the location of birds like the Prairie Falcon, Ferruginous Hawks, and even a Lark Bunting!
Ages 12 & up with parent participation, some birding and eBird experience preferred.
Contact programs@scvas.org with interest/questions.
Outreach Opportunities: Introducing birds to people
Let's Go Birding Together: April 2, 10am. We need a couple of experienced field trip leaders, but also a couple of people to play host and engage the attendees so that they feel welcome and enjoy the birds! This is an in person volunteering opportunity.
Vietnamese Translator: SCVAS is looking for a volunteer that is fluent in Vietnamese to help in our outreach efforts with that portion of the community. Volunteer work would involve translating materials such as self-guided field trips. This volunteering opportunity is largely virtual.
Tabling Volunteer: From time to time SCVAS takes part in local festivals, allowing us to interact with the public and introduce them to both our organization and our love of birding. We're looking for friendly, enthusiastic volunteers interested in sharing their understanding of SCVAS and birds with the public in tabling events throughout the year. Typical volunteering shifts are three to four hours, and take place primarily in the fall.
Reach out to our Outreach Committee Chair, Ann Hepenstal with interest here.
Field Trips: Bringing people to birds
Field Trip Leaders: Hey Birders! Have a favorite birding spot that you’d like to share with others? Consider joining our team of volunteer field trip leaders. We have a lot of fun! And, we provide all the resources that you need to feel confident such as co-leads, shadowing opportunities and access to SCVAS birding classes. Contact the SCVAS Field Trip Coordinator, Eve Meier, at fieldtrips@scvas.org for more information.
Self-guided Field Trips: Do you have a favorite birding place that would make a great self-guided field trip? We are looking for more submissions. This task does not require any technical skills besides email, it only requires a love of your location and basic birding knowledge. We will make the maps for you, collect any bird photos you need, and even take the location photos. Please contact Eve Meier at fieldtrips@scvas.org for more information.
Environmental Advocacy: Get involved in your community
Help Prioritize Birds and Biodiversity in the Moffett Park Specific PlanSunnyvale City Council is hosting a Moffett Park Specific Plan (MPSP) Study Session on Monday, March 7th at 6:00pm. They will discuss open space and urban ecology and they need to hear from us! Please email Sunnyvale City Council (council@sunnyvale.ca.gov) and ask for strong habitat protections, protective lighting and bird safety standards, and measures to ensure that birds and wildlife in the wetlands thrive.
Volunteer at Foothills Preserve Saturday, March 5th 10am-12pmIf you haven’t yet visited Foothills Preserve, here’s your chance to see this lovely community gem! Join Friends of Foothills this Saturday, March 5th from 10am-12pm to take part in their invasive species thistle pull! Volunteers get free entry to the preserve. Location: Foothills Preserve, 3300 Page Mill Rd., Palo Alto, (GPS Address 11799 Page Mill Rd., Los Altos), Meeting Place – Along the road by Coyote Trail trailhead. Instructions: Long pants and sleeves recommended. Sturdy closed-toed shoes. Bring work or gardening gloves if you have them. Email Friends of Foothills (fof@earthlink.net) to reserve a spot, arrange free entry, and complete a waiver.
San Jose Residents: A letter to the editor in support of riparian corridorsThe Sierra Club sued the City of San Jose for the City's abandonment of the City's riparian protections when the City Council approved the Almaden Office project by Boston Properties - two connected 16-story office buildings perched right on the banks of the Guadaluope, across from the Children Discovery Museum). In a recent Mercury News story the City's planning Director is quoted, "the riparian corridor adjacent to the project is extremely limited in its habitat value and influence" - and this is despite the fact that this location is an eBird hotspot with dense and healthy riparian forest! We believe that riparian forests in urban settings are important to birds and wildlife! Please consider writing a 150-word letter to the editor in support of birds, riparian corridors and our friends at the Sierra Club! Ask the City to adhere to riparian buffers for the benefits of the environment and the community.
Education Docents: Engaged in the environment
Do you love nature? Do you have experience with students or a passion for sharing an appreciation for the environment? We're looking for docents to be available on weekday mornings to volunteer in schools and lead field trips for the Wetlands Discovery Program. Volunteers teach students grade 3-5 about local wetlands, adaptations, and migration in the classroom and out in the field in this program, all while sharing their love of local birds. Minimal birding and education experience required. All volunteers must be fingerprinted and submit a county vaccination record.
Upcoming training event on March 18, 9am-11:30am at Charleston Slough.
Please contact Carolyn Knight at programs@scvas.org with interest/questions.