Volunteer Opportunities
If you are interested in volunteering some time with the School of Natural Resources, please take a moment to review the below opportunities. Currently, SNR is looking for volunteers to help with the following programs:
- Tern and Plover Conservation Partnership
- University of Nebraska-Lake Water Quality Extension Program
We hope to hear from you!
The Tern and Plover Conservation Partnership
Volunteers are needed during the nesting season from mid May to mid August.
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Volunteers assist program staff with electric fence at least tern colony. |
Interior Least Terns and Piping Plovers historically nested on dry, barren mid-stream sandbars within major rivers throughout Nebraska. Presently, many of these rivers have been altered by levees, dams, channelization and changes in amounts and timing of river flows. The necessary habitat for successful nesting has been diminished, degraded, or, in some areas, completely eliminated.
Although these birds continue to nest in their natural habitat where it is still available, the birds will also attempt to nest at some sand and gravel mines adjacent to rivers. These mines can be dangerous to the birds and, depending on what area the birds colonize, may affect the daily operations of sand and gravel mines.
These mines produce large amounts of “waste” sand that is difficult for the companies to market. These vast areas of excess sand in close proximity to the river attract terns and plovers to nest.
As a result of terns and plovers using this alternative habitat, there has been concern by both conservation organizations and sand and gravel mining companies about how to protect these species and reduce the conflicts with mining operations. A partnership was formed to address the problems that have arisen from shrinking natural habitat.
The Tern and Plover Conservation Partnership was formed in 1999. Presently, it includes the sand and gravel industry companies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, state and federal wildlife agencies, and private organizations like the Girl Scouts. All these people work together to help conserve least terns and piping plovers. The Partnership also depends on volunteers!
These volunteers provide invaluable assistance by monitoring tern and plover colonies and gathering information, helping build protective fences around the colonies, monitoring predator activity, putting out mylar flagging to discourage nesting in certain areas or spreading gravel and driftwood to encourage nesting in others, and disassembling fences after the nesting season.
We need assistance at colonies that occur along the Platte River from Columbus to Plattsmouth. Sand and gravel mining companies work very hard within this partnership to head off any conflicts that may occur between nesting birds and day to day mining operations. They depend on us to provide accurate up-to-date information on the progress of the nesting terns and plovers. And the birds benefit from our protective fences that stop would-be nest predators. Join us and lend a hand!
Volunteer training sessions begin in May and continue through June, and include the following topics:
- Identification of adult and young least terns and piping plovers;
- Information outlining the sand and gravel mining industry;
- Safety at sandpits; and
- Basic first aid (not certification).
Contact:
Chris Thody, Volunteer Coordinator
Tern and Plover Conservation Partnership
3310 Holdrege
153D Hardin Hall
Lincoln, Nebraska 68583-0931
402-472-8741
University of Nebraska-Lake Water Quality Extension Program
The University of Nebraska-Lake Water Quality Extension Program is designed to help the lake owners, users, and managers of Nebraska properly address water quality issues and make the necessary improvements to maintain and/or improve water quality. In an effort to increase citizen awareness and provide a better understanding of complex water quality related issues such as algal control, algal toxin production, nutrient management, etc. a free of charge volunteer monitoring lake sample test kit is available.
Upon contacting UNL, volunteers will be sent a lake sample test kit complete with informational water quality materials, easy to follow water sampling instructions and two specially cleaned bottles. One bottle is used to collect an algae sample from the area of the lake in question, the other bottle is used to collect a whole water sample. The samples are then shipped to UNL for microscopic analysis, at which point the abundance and type of algae present in the sample are determined. Within a few days after samples arrive in the lab, UNL will notify the volunteer of the microscopic algae results which allows participants to make informed decisions on whether or not to conduct further laboratory analyses. If desired by the lake owner, the whole water sample can then be used for algal toxin or nutrient analysis.
Most volunteers use the test kit as a screening tool to test for toxic algae within their lake; others use it for establishing baseline or trend data associated with their lake. Most find participation in the program to be a very educational experience as it equips lake owners, users and managers with useable data and provides a point of contact for future lake water quality issues. If interested in enrolling in the volunteer monitoring program please contact:
Tadd Barrow
School of Natural Resources
516 Hardin Hall
3310 Holdrege Street
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Lincoln, Nebraska 68583-0995
Phone 402-472-7783
Fax 402-472-2946
