For the Birds: AMBLE Along Lake Michigan

Door County volunteers are needed to walk parts of the Lake Michigan and Green Bay shoreline to monitor bird health and beach conditions as part of a citizen science program. The U.S. Geological Survey AMBLE (Avian Monitoring for Botulism Lakeshore Events) program is an opportunity to sharpen birding skills, gain a deeper understanding of the avian botulism disease, Lake Michigan ecology, and develop a connection with a wild place.

Participants can choose quarter-mile or longer sections of the nearly 300-mile Door County shoreline to monitor every 7 to 10 days, June through November. Expertise in bird identification is not required to be an AMBLE volunteer and free training will be offered in May. Information covered during training includes disease ecology of avian botulism, monitoring protocols, bird identification, and GPS use.

To participate in AMBLE, volunteers are asked to attend one of the two May training sessions (more sessions will be offered as needed): Friday, May 20, 1 – 4 pm at Newport State Park Visitor Center, Hotz Wilderness Room, 475 County Highway NP, Ellison Bay; Saturday, May 21, 1 – 4 pm at Crossroads at Big Creek, Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay.

The training sessions are free. Those who complete training will receive an AMBLE hat or t-shirt and updates throughout the monitoring season via the AMBLE Ramble newsletter.

For more information or to sign up for a training session, contact Jenny Chipault at 608.270.2473 or via email at [email protected]. To learn more visit nwhc.usgs.gov/mortality_events/amble/.