by Linda Winnie, Co-Chair, Owen Sowerwine Committee

2016 Owen Sowerwine Natural Area Volunteer Monitoring Season Starts this Month

Flathead Audubon’s OSNA Volunteer Monitoring Program begins its 10th year in March. This Program provides on-site information that is fundamental to our management of the Owen Sowerwine Natural Area (OSNA).

Reports from Volunteer Monitors keep our OSNA On-the-Ground Manager up to date on maintenance needs at OSNA, and contribute data for our record of bird, wildlife, and native vegetation species present at OSNA. In addition, Volunteer Monitors relay feedback from OSNA visitors and neighbors that may improve our management efforts.

Ricks pic visitor box edYOU CAN HELP by serving as an OSNA VOLUNTEER MONITOR. It is easy. Just take an OSNA Volunteer Monitoring Form with you when you visit OSNA, and use it to tell us what you observe. The fill-in-the-blank and check-list parts of the Form give guidance on what to look for, and there is also space for recording additional information and writing comments. Use the form to report sightings of new bird species; they will be used to up-date the OSNA Bird List. Send the filled-out form to Rick Mace (address on the form). We provide a trail map for your use.

We also need Volunteer Monitors to do scheduled monitoring visits. We try to schedule at least one monitoring visit each half month, March through November. Pick your half month period, and make one monitoring visit in that time.

To sign up for a scheduled monitoring visit, contact me, Linda Winnie, and tell me which month you want to sign up for, and whether you want the first or last half of that month. Print the Monitoring Form and Trail Map, or ask me to mail or copies to you. For more information on the OSNA Volunteer Monitoring Program, see the OSNA section of the website, or contact me at lindawin@centurytel.net or 755-1406.

THANK YOU to all who have served as Volunteer Monitors over the years. Your help has been invaluable! Please let me know if you are able to help again this year.