Volunteering at Wing Island

Each spring the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History puts out a request for adult volunteers to help at the banding lab.

Learning how to take birds from nets.

Volunteers take part in the following areas:

Net lane maintenance- Approximately once every 1-2 weeks, depending on season, areas under and near the net lanes need to be kept free of plants and debris. Sometimes new net lanes may need to be made.

Net run assistants- Aid assistants who are extracting birds from the nets by carrying birds in bags and writing down pertinent information. Must be in good physical shape, be able to walk quickly and be able to walk approx 5-6 miles during the course of the day.

Scribes-Write the data into our notebook as banders/assistants are processing birds. Must have legible handwriting!
Net mending-Mist nets are fragile, EXPENSIVE, and often get torn during the banding season. Volunteers are needed to inspect the nets for holes and mend as needed. Mending nets is relatively easy and can be done during banding and nonbanding times.

Sew Bird Bags- Bird bags are cotton bags that the birds are placed in for transport back to the banding lab. Plans and materials are available if needed.

Bird Watchers-Knowledgable birders that can compile a list of birds seen or heard while banding. We would like to know the birds that are on Wing Island (including the shore) or in the Punkhorn (a 50 acre parcel) just on the particular days we are banding. Forms will be provided.

Computer Program-Input data into the BandManager computer program during banding sessions. Should have computer experience.

Website-Person who has experience working with a website.

Data collectors-This is for people who have spent time with us and show an aptitude for handling the birds and an interest in learning. Banding assistants take wing measurements, weight, evaluate fat content, ageing and sexing, and bird identification. There must be a bander in attendance.
Gretchen holding an Ovenbird.

Net Pickers-People who extract birds from mist nets. This is for volunteers who have spent a season with us. You need a great deal of patience, good eyesight (close up), and good fine motor dexterity.

If you think you would like to volunteer at Wing Island call the banding office at (508) 896-3867 Ext. 300 or send us an email - bander36@comcast.net. Most banding is done on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Our newest volunteer in 2003 is our 9 month old field springer puppy, Gracie. She has been trained to walk the net lanes with us but avoid the nets. 

Gracie.

Gracie also stays away from the birds, but has been known to point on a bird that may be hidden in the bottom tier of the net if the grass has grown too high. Her favorite bird is the CATBIRD! Her most important job is to carry our bird bags and paraphenalia while we make our net rounds. She has done a tremendous job in keeping the foxes away too!