Seven Capes Bird Alliance welcomes volunteers to learn about becoming an Osprey nest monitor in Lincoln County! The Newport training is scheduled for Friday, March 7, from 2-3:30 p.m. at Oregon Coast Community College, Newport (400 SE College Way, Newport, OR 97366).

Osprey pair by Ruth Shelly

Every spring, Ospreys return to nest in Lincoln County, often meeting up with the same mate and using the same nesting site from previous years. Seven Cape’s Osprey Awareness Initiative pairs volunteers with nest sites to observe the birds’ return, nest building, incubation, and number of chicks. Volunteers enter their observations on a user-friendly phone application or record them on paper. This growing data set helps us understand the patterns of Osprey behavior and their reproductive success.

Volunteers will find it helpful to have some previous birding experience, personal transportation to the nest site, and availability to enter two to three, 15-minute observations each week. Schedules are flexible, and the nesting/observation season runs from mid-March to mid-September. Substitute observers can be scheduled for volunteers’ occasional travel plans.

Become a nest monitor and learn more about these fascinating raptors by “adopting” a nest and recording the Osprey family’s behavior throughout the nesting season. Enjoy the camaraderie of fellow Osprey enthusiasts and contribute to a growing data set compiled by fellow citizen scientists.

RSVP at heatherg@sevencapes.org to reserve your space at one of the trainings, or to arrange a private training if neither date fits your schedule. Seven Capes especially encourages volunteers from Newport, Waldport, and Yachats to help expand the project’s reach.