Want to See All Projects? Review the Volunteer Service Projects for more project details.
- This event has passed.
#TMN Tuesday – AT
March 5 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
This month’s #TMN Tuesday is a week early.
#TMN Tuesdays are usually the second Tuesday of each month at noon, the TMN State Office will offer an hour-long virtual advanced training event.
These will be recorded each month and shared to the TMNTuesday website.
TMN Tuesdays are open to the public – all are welcome to attend.
Dr. Ben Skipper will be presenting a webinar titled “Texas Raptor Monitoring Network: a participatory science program to monitor the reproductive biology of raptors across Texas.” Dr. Ben Skipper from Angelo State University and Dr. Clint Boal from Texas Tech University have authored this initiative together.
Description: Over the last two decades, citizen science has emerged as a powerful tool to gather data on biological phenomena over wide geographic areas. Through observation-based platforms like iNaturalist and eBird, citizen scientists have helped document shifts in geographic range of both native and invasive species and their work has proved invaluable to scientists and managers. Such platforms are, however, structured for single-observation events and there exists space for novel citizen science projects to use repeated observations of individuals. These repeated observations have the potential to shift observation-based citizen science to a more participatory science whereby individuals collect data additional to just occurrence and location. This workshop will use the monitoring of raptor nests as a model for engaging with the public through participatory science. Raptors are charismatic wildlife with wide public appeal. Since the 1960’s several species of raptor have adapted to urban and suburban environments, yet much remains to be learned about the reproductive ecology of many species in these areas. This participatory science program therefore would serve to fill this data gap and provide relevant information back to participants. Workshop participants will be provided instruction on identification of raptor species, the identification of different stages within the nesting cycle and their associated behaviors, and the balance between gathering data and disturbing nesting birds. Data collection will be made simple via an electronic form with pre-defined fields that can be accessed via any internet-connected device (e.g., smartphone, tablet, desktop computer).
About the Speakers: Dr. Ben Skipper is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at Angelo State University. At Angelo State, Dr. Skipper and his students pursue questions related to the population genetics of raptors and songbirds, trophic interactions among insectivorous birds and their prey, and the evolution and maintenance of song dialects. Prior to arriving at Angelo State, Dr. Skipper studied the urban ecology of Mississippi kites at Texas Tech University. Dr. Skipper has over 15 years working with and studying urban raptors and their habitats.
Dr. Clint Boal is the Assistant Unit Leader for the USGS Texas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at Texas Tech University. His research is directed at addressing contemporary research and information needs of wildlife management agencies. Although he studies a broad array of species and management issues, my primary research interests are the ecology and conservation of predatory birds and their roles in biotic communities.
Register for the March 5 webinar here.
As always, be sure to visit our website to view past recordings or register for future webinars! 2024 is in full swing and we’re excited to continue with our monthly #TMNTuesdays!
VMS Code: AT: TMN Tuesday:TMN AT Report Hours (live or watch a recorded session in the same year.)
