Data Entry Volunteer for CBS & I-WeBS

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About this role

Deadline: Volunteer applications are accepted throughout the year until the maximum capacity is reached. Currently, we have filled all volunteer positions for this role. Please check back again soon.

No. of volunteers needed: 1-3

Assist the project by entering data from hand-written sheets into an online data entry portal or into standardised Excel sheets.

Tasks:

  • Entering data from paper forms (pdf or images) into standardised excel sheets or an online data entry portal. Data comprises survey visit details, bird codes/names and count numbers.
Impact

BirdWatch Ireland oversees two of Ireland’s longest-standing wildlife monitoring initiatives: the Irish Wetland Bird Survey (I-WeBS) and the Countryside Bird Survey (CBS). These flagship programs, funded by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, track migratory waterbirds and countryside breeding birds, respectively. Recently marking their 30th and 25th anniversaries, they owe their success to the massive survey effort by volunteers and staff of the NPWS and BirdWatch Ireland over the decades. Together, they’ve provided vital data on over 50% of Ireland’s regularly occurring bird species, aiding in the designation of Special Protection Areas (SPAs) under the EU Birds directive. Moreover, they contribute internationally by informing bird status reports and providing data to global initiatives like Wetlands International and the Pan-European Common Bird Monitoring Scheme.

Benefits of taking part
  • You’ll be contributing to two important long-running bird monitoring programmes that inform on the status of Ireland’s birds.
  • You will gain experience in standardised data collection and data entry.
  • Indirectly, you will gain knowledge of the bird species and their numbers that occur at different sites around Ireland, a knowledge of the survey methodology, and bird species standard two-letter codes.
  • Overall, you will gain a good understanding of monitoring protocols and get an insight into the data collected during these two important projects.
What’s required?
  • Familiarity with MS Excel is crucial.
  • Own laptop/computer or use of a computer essential.
  • A basic understanding of the birds found in Ireland is beneficial but not necessary.

BirdWatch Ireland strives to be as inclusive as possible. If you have any additional needs and are unsure whether this role would be suitable for you, please do get in touch with the role coordinator (see ‘How to get involved’).

Time and commitment

Minimum time commitment: At least one week.

Hours required: A few hours per week, or more depending on availability.

Language skills

Intermediate English or above.

Age restrictions

Over 18’s.

Selection details for this role

Screening of suitable application forms.

Volunteers will be provided with the following supports
  • An introduction to the work, and demonstration will be provided.
  • Support from the project manager, national coordinators or other project team members.
  • Volunteers are acknowledged in project reporting. Volunteers will receive a free copy of the next status report published as an Irish Wildlife Manual (due 2025).
Getting there

Can be done from home. The option to carry out the role from our headquarters in Kilcoole (Co. Wicklow) can also be discussed.

How to get involved

Dublin City River Bird Survey – Volunteer Surveyor

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About this role

Deadline: Ongoing (the survey period ends September 30th).

We are seeking records of river birds (Grey Wagtail, Kingfisher, Sand Martin, and Dipper) from waterways around Dublin City. Waterways may include rivers, streams or canals, etc.

Tasks:

  • Record river bird species observed in Dublin City.
  • Record the date and location of the sighting.

Record the number and location of any nest sites found. Note of caution, it is prohibited to photograph or interfere with a nest in any way without a National Parks and Wildlife Licence. So, please keep a respectful distance from any nests seen.

Impact

River bird populations are often under-recorded in Ireland due to their ecology. Several of these species are of significant conservation concern including the Grey Wagtail which declined by 67% between 1998 and 2016. Many of these species occur in urban environments. As urbanisation is increasing rapidly in Ireland, we need to better understand (a) our baseline population of river birds, and (b) how are they faring in an increasingly urbanised environment. This information will inform conservation measures for these species. Citizen scientists are key to this project, and your knowledge and sightings will make a significant contribution to our understanding of river bird populations and distribution in Dublin City.

The Dublin City River Bird Survey is coordinated by BirdWatch Ireland and part of a broader framework for improving biodiversity in Dublin City as part of the Dublin City Biodiversity Action Plan. It is supported by the National Biodiversity Data Centre.

Benefits of taking part
  • Develop or improve your river bird ID skills
  • Help make a difference in your local community or wider area
  • Improve your health and wellbeing.
  • Spend more time outdoors
What’s required?
  • Ability to ID river birds by sight
  • Ability to ID river birds by calls is of benefit for this survey
  • Binoculars would be beneficial

BirdWatch Ireland strives to be as inclusive as possible. If you have any additional needs and are unsure whether this role would be suitable for you, please do get in touch with the role coordinator.

Time and commitment

Minimum time commitment: No minimum. Observations should be made between April and September.

Hours required: Volunteer can decide how many hours to contribute.

Language skills

Suitable for those with basic English.

Age restrictions

All ages welcome.

Selection details for this role

There are no selection criteria for this role, simply log your sightings below. See ‘How to get involved’.

Volunteers will be provided with the following supports

 

Getting there

The survey takes place in Dublin City at any location of your choice. Hence, sites can be accessed by foot, bike, public transport, or car depending on how close the site is to you.

Log your waterway bird sightings here: https://records.biodiversityireland.ie/record/river-birds#7/53.455/-8.016

Dublin City Raptor Survey – Volunteer Surveyor

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About this role

Deadline: Ongoing (the survey period ends September 30th).

We are seeking records of Peregrine Falcon, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Buzzard, Long-eared Owl and Barn Owl seen in Dublin City and what they were doing at the time of observation.

Tasks:

  • Record raptor species (also known as birds of prey) observed in Dublin City
  • Record the date and location of the sighting
  • Record what activity the bird was undertaking at the time, e.g., perched, in flight, carrying prey

See the ‘Guide to Identifying Raptors’ here: https://birdwatchireland.ie/a-guide-to-identifying-raptors-dublin-city-raptor-survey/

Impact

Raptor populations are often under-recorded in Ireland due to their ecology. Several of these species, such as the Kestrel and Barn Owl, are red listed on the Birds of Conservation Concern in Ireland, meaning they are at risk of extinction in Ireland. Many of these species also depend on urban environments for feeding, nesting, and over-wintering. As urbanisation is increasing rapidly in Ireland, we need to better understand (a) our baseline population of raptors, and (b) how are they faring in an increasingly urbanised environment. This information will inform conservation measures for these species. Citizen scientists are key to this project, and your knowledge and sightings will make a significant contribution to our understanding of raptor populations and distribution in Dublin City.

The Dublin City Raptor Survey is coordinated by BirdWatch Ireland and part of a broader framework for improving biodiversity in Dublin City as part of the Dublin City Biodiversity Action Plan. It is supported by the National Biodiversity Data Centre.

Benefits of taking part
  • Develop or improve your raptor ID skills
  • Help make a difference in your local community or wider area
  • Improve your health and wellbeing
  • Spend more time outdoors
What’s required?
  • Ability to ID raptors by sight
  • Ability to ID raptors by calls would be of benefit for this survey
  • Binoculars (not strictly necessary but would be useful)

BirdWatch Ireland strives to be as inclusive as possible. If you have any additional needs and are unsure whether this role would be suitable for you, please do get in touch with the role coordinator.

Time and commitment

Minimum time commitment: No minimum. Observations should be made between April and September.

Hours required: Volunteer can decide how many hours to contribute.

Language skills

Suitable for those with basic English.

Age restrictions

All ages welcome.

Selection details for this role

There are no selection criteria for this role, simply log your sightings. See ‘How to get involved’ below.

Volunteers will be provided with the following supports
Getting there

The survey takes place in Dublin City at any location of your choice. Hence, sites can be accessed by foot, bike, public transport, or car depending on how close the site is to you.

How to get involved

Log your raptor sightings here: Dublin City Raptor Survey

Countryside Bird Survey – Volunteer Surveyor

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About this role

Deadline: Ongoing (the survey period is 1st April to the 30th of June)

Each summer over 200 skilled volunteers, NPWS Rangers and BirdWatch Ireland staff survey breeding birds across the Irish countryside. The Countryside Bird Survey (CBS) is coordinated by BirdWatch Ireland and funded by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Tasks:

  • Survey your selected square twice between April and June
  • Complete survey within 3 hours for each site
  • Identify birds by sight and sound (using the Look-see methodology)
  • Submit your results by the 1st September
Impact

The Countryside Bird Survey (CBS) has shown that populations of our common and widespread birds are continually changing. While most species are quite stable, some such as Goldfinch and Blackcap have increased substantially over the last 20 years. Some species such as Stonechat and Grey Wagtail have been shown to be prone to big fluctuations, especially after severe winters, while others including Kestrel, Skylark and Stock Dove are showing worrying declines. Such declines can be noted anecdotally, however this survey aims to detect and quantify such changes using robust, scientific but user-friendly methods. Over time, reasons for decline may be identified and there will be opportunities to provide advice to help reverse such trends.

Benefits of taking part
  • Develop your bird ID skills
  • Learn how to count birds
  • Contribute to one of the longest-running monitoring schemes in Ireland
  • Help conservation
  • Improve your health and wellbeing
  • Spend more time outdoors
What’s required?
  • Ability to identify common countryside birds by sight and sound (songs and calls)
  • Binoculars
  • Some map-reading skills
  • Willingness/ability to carry out surveys on potentially challenging terrain (survey squares occur in a broad range of habitats across every county, from upland blanket bog to lowland farmland and woodland).

BirdWatch Ireland strives to be as inclusive as possible. If you have any additional needs and are unsure whether this role would be suitable for you, please do get in touch with the role coordinator (see ‘How to get involved’).

Time and commitment

Minimum time commitment: At least one field season (April – June).

Hours required: Two early morning visits over the three months (c. 3 hours).

Language skills

Suitable for those with basic – intermediate English.

Age restrictions

Over 18s.

Selection details for this role

Screening of interest forms for suitable candidates. No references or vetting required for this role.

Volunteers will be provided with the following supports
  • Support and advice from the CBS coordinator and CBS team
  • Counter Manual
  • Training resources
  • Workshops held once a year
  • Annual newsletter
  • Long-term Service Awards
Getting there

Sites are located around the country so access requirements will vary from site to site. View map of sites here: https://bwi.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Minimalist/index.html?appid=bc4a917b08774f179612942da7661571

How to get involved