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 April 30, 9am-12pm SCVAS will be holding our third 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 (of any taxa) 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 Tri-colored Blackbird and Grasshopper Sparrow!
Ages 12 & up with parent participation, some birding and eBird experience preferred.
Curriculum Consultant: SCVAS is looking for a current or recently retired science teacher at the high school level to help us develop our curriculum for the coming school year. Volunteers will work with the education committee to help develop accessible curriculum for introducing students to field biology and community science within the oak savanna ecosystem.
Contact programs@scvas.org with interest/questions.
Outreach Opportunities: Introducing birds to people
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. Upcoming events include Sunnyvale's Library Outdoor Expo on June 18th.
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.
Wondering where to lead? We are looking for more people to lead short beginner bird walks in easy to access urban parks such as McClellan Ranch, Ulistac, Almaden Lake, Vasona, or Cuesta Park. We also need leaders for regular beginner friendly Palo Alto Baylands walks. And, we always need leaders for the harder to reach parks such as Coyote Lake, Monte Bello and Joseph D Grant.
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.
Guides needed are Pacheco State Park (including where the county lines are), Rancho Cañada del Oro, Sanborn Main Entrance, Uvas Canyon and Rancho San Antonio.
Self-guided Field Trip Editor We are looking for someone who has strong editing skills to help get the guides ready for uploading to our web page. Tasks would include reading through the guides to make sure they are clear, proofreading, making sure photos are added and include captions, checking to see if the interactive map is referred to in the text of the guide, and helping collect the gps coordinates for the interactive map if needed. You should be comfortable using Google Docs.
Please contact Eve Meier at fieldtrips@scvas.org for more information.
Black-chinned Hummingbird: Brooke Miller
Environmental Advocacy: Get involved in your community
Public Speaking: Interested in getting more involved in your local government and promoting environmental protections? Provide public comments at city councils and other public meetings! If interested in attending public meetings and providing comments on artificial light at night, bird safe design, wildlife connectivity, biodiversity, and more, please contact advocate@scvas.org.
To find an example of SCVAS volunteers in city council meetings, check out Rashi Sharma’s take on light pollution at the Palo Alto city council meeting.
Cupertino Survey: Cupertino has a new park and you can help design it! Please complete this survey by May 23rd to provide design input for the City’s new park, Lawrence-Mitty! Please include the following recommendations:
Responsible outdoor lighting
Native habitat restoration and enhancement
Trails that are unlit, slow, winding, narrow trails that have minimal impact on surrounding habitat
No shade sails or other artificial shade mechanisms that would retain heat. Instead, provide more trees for shade
Egret Office Hours: Getting back to Audubon's roots
SCVAS is pleased to announce that office hours are open again! Join us at the Shorebird Egret Rookery May 11 & 25, 11AM-1PM for this unique outreach opportunity in the middle of Mountain View. Watch the chicks and their parents squabble for food, vie for the best stick, and generally ruin your impression of egrets and herons being graceful predators, all while helping us introduce the public to these amazing animals.
Contact Carolyn Knight at programs@scvas.org for information on tabling and walks. To learn more about the rookery visit our webpage.
Nature Shop: Helping feed the birds
SCVAS is looking for reliable volunteers to help run the nature shop on an as-needed basis. Volunteers are responsible for answering basic birding and wildlife related questions for the public over the phone and in person, entering sales in the Nature Shop, filling and cleaning the feeders and bird baths, and helping with the occasional mailing.
Contact April Austin at scvas@scvas.org for further information.