Field Research - Birds
Assist the CBP team with Resource Management or Field Research
Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program is seeking dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers to assist biologists with Habitat Management, Bird Surveys, or the Rookery Island cleanups. Please complete the CBP volunteer form.
Habitat Management (Sep–Mar)
Report as RM: Other Locations; include CBBEP as part of Service Performed
Planting native seedlings on islands
Installing/repairing nesting platforms
Applying herbicide to control invasive grasses
Breeding Bird Counts, Monitoring, Banding (Jan–Sep)
Report as FR: Bird Populations; include CBBEP as part of Service Performed
Suitable for experienced bird observers
Identifying bird species conducting counts and surveys
Assisting with bird banding efforts
Rookery Island Clean-Up (Oct)
Report as RM: Other Locations; include CBBEP as part of Service Performed
A collective effort to clean up trash on rookery islands
Involve your friends and family
Need more information? Contact: Volunteer Outreach Coordinator, Lauren Piorkowski.
Help collect field research data on birds—choose a CBC near you!
Volunteers are needed to perform “Christmas Bird Count” (CBC) surveys all over North and Central America. You can add to a century of community science by joining a count near you—Mid-Coast Master Naturalists usually volunteer in our Coastal Bend area. Click a link for more information and to contact the compiler for the CBC(s) you are interested in for details and to volunteer. Report as FR: Bird Populations and specify the CBC in the description.
Coastal Bend Counts December 14, 2025 – January 5, 2026
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​Whooping Crane Game-Camera Processing
Field research data collection for the International Crane Foundation
It’s that time of year again – the ICF Texas Program is seeking volunteers to help process game camera photos for our study of freshwater wetland use by Whooping Cranes. Volunteers will be marking the presence of Whooping Cranes and other animals within photos. Each volunteer will be responsible for processing 5,000-6,000 photos by August but can absolutely do more if they wish. We should be ready to send out photos in the next month following a quick virtual training!
This year we have about 150,000 photos (twice that of last year), which means we need all the help we can get from community scientists such as yourselves! We are going to keep it pretty simple this year and not send out flash drives, instead you will be given access to an online file. I’ve attached some game camera highlights to give you an idea of some fun species you might see.
If you’re interested in helping with this project, please fill out this quick form: Sign-up Sheet.
The virtual training day is TBD, but I will keep you posted after sign-ups start rolling in. The recording will be available for those that are unable to attend. Please let me know if you have any questions in the meantime! If you have questions, please contact: Paityn Bower, Outreach Biologist at ICF-Texas
Report training as AT: Specific Project
Report volunteer work as FR: Bird Populations with ICF in the description.
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Mid-Coast Birding Surveys other than ANWR, GCBO, ICF, or WWF
Because State TMN has instituted strict guidance for earning volunteer service hours entering data into eBird, Mid-Coast TMN has created a new project subcategory for the FR: Bird Populations service opportunity—Mid-Coast Birding Survey (MCBS)—to ensure our members’ eBird surveys in other locations than major partners are scientifically valuable and meet State criteria for birding and reporting.
Please report all birding surveys as FR: Bird Populations. If surveys were for ANWR, GCBO, ICF, or WWF, include those initials in the description field of your hours report. If you were surveying elsewhere and reporting data to eBird, please follow protocols and include “MCBS” and “eBird” in the description when you report your TMN hours.
MCBS Project Protocols
Also see State TMN Program Guidance for Citizen Science Volunteer Service Hours.
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GCBO sometimes needs assistance with avian research and monitoring in our area.
Gulf Coast Bird Observatory (GCBO) is located outside our 8-county area, but at various times of the year, GCBO needs assistance with Avian research and monitoring in our area. GCBO provides data sheets & training. Volunteers monitor nesting birds, fill out data sheets, and send in data. Avian monitoring information. Report as FR: Bird Populations and specify GCBO & location in the description.
GCBO also needs occasional help switching signs, repairing fencing, and installing more posts in our nesting and resting areas at Matagorda Beach to protect nesting birds. Nesting bird protection and public education information. Report as RM: Other Locations and specify GCBO & location in the description.
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Help perform monthly bird surveys at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
​Volunteers are needed to perform monthly bird surveys at the Refuge every month except Jun-Aug. We meet at 7:30 am in the Visitor Center parking lot. We walk the Rail Trail and Heron Flats Trail, check out the fishing pier, the tower, and the auto loop. We usually bird until 1 pm and are finished by 3 pm. To volunteer, please contact Janet Price. Beginning birders are welcome; it’s a great way to learn. Come for all or part of the day. Bring bug spray, plenty of water, and lunch/snacks. Report as FR: Bird Populations and specify ANWR in the description.​
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American Oystercatcher Monitoring
Monitor wherever there are nesting oystercatchers February–July. The Gulf Coast Bird Observatory (GCBO) will provide data sheets & training, data repository & analysis. Monitor nesting birds, fill out a form, send in data. More information. Report as FR: Bird Populations; specify location when reporting.