**Still Accepting Requests for Volunteers!** Daily Road Patrol Volunteers for Citizen Science Program
We are looking for reliable, dedicated and passionate volunteers for our Citizen Science Program! As citizen scientists, you are a vital part to continuing the success and furthering the research of not only the Margate Terrapin Rescue Project but other organizations that have been following our work and using our research in their own areas. Citizen scientists are those in the community who volunteer and contribute their time/resources towards scientific research in conjunction with scientists and researchers. Since we are a small group, we cannot perform all the research ourselves. You may be asking, but what exactly does the Citizen Science Program entail? Well...
Perform daily road patrols (walking or driving or combination) looking for any crossing terrapins, injured terrapins and unfortunately deceased terrapins as well.
Collecting data on any sightings (alive, deceased, injured and nesting)
Marking and protecting terrapin nests with predator exclusion cages (after they have laid their eggs)
Taking injured terrapins or their eggs to permitted wildlife rehabilitators (Stockton University or Wetlands Institute)
Patrols can be either morning or afternoon/evening but we do encourage our volunteers to try to go at high tide on your assigned day/timeframe when the most terrapin activity occurs. Expect the patrols to take anywhere from 30 minutes to upwards of 2-3 hours.
In order to collect all of our group's data, we use an app called iNaturalist. It is free to download and easy to use! You will need to have the app downloaded AND provide us with your username prior to meeting for orientation.
If you are interested in our program and helping patrol the causeway:
Review the summary of the program and what it entails to see if you're a good match below.
Set up a day/time to meet (for new volunteers) to go over the iNaturalist app and what to do on patrol. Look for an email after you submit your Google Form to set up a day/time that works best to meet.
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COMPLETED THANK YOU!
10th Annual Barrier Installation/Repair Day
Join us for our 10th Annual Roadside Barrier Installation Day on Saturday, May 4th at 8 a.m. on the Margate Causeway!
Every year in order to ensure that we best protect the terrapins from vehicles, we perform barrier maintenance on existing barriers, install any remaining purchased barriers as well as perform a roadside and marsh cleanup to ensure our terrapins have a clean, trash-free habitat!
We need lots of volunteers to help us dig trenches, move the barriers, fasten them together, install fencing along the guardrails and get the nearly 2 miles of vulnerable terrapin crossing areas protected. In the past, we have had upwards of around 50 volunteers and we are hoping to get even more!
Kids are welcome (recommend 8 years and older) to help clean-up the roadside and marshes and even help dig the trenches or move the barriers around. We have a task for everyone! We will have groups assigned to the different sections of the causeway with a section leader to help assist everyone with the tasks at hand.
You will be required to sign an electronic waiver for every person in your group (including kids) prior to volunteering. Here is a link to the electronic consent waivers: *Liability Waiver* waiver.smartwaiver.com/w/qdtm5wb9qaayebshroynd1/web/
Additional Information: -Wear bright clothing, long sleeves, long pants, old shoes and gloves. -Bring bug spray! -We need tools such as: shovels, trench shovels, wire cutters, rakes, cordless drills with Philips drill bit, mallet/hammer. Make sure you put your name and phone number on all tools you bring! -We meet at the maintenance yard right before the toll bridge on the Margate Causeway. -We usually wrap up in 4-5 hours. -We will have drinks and light snacks to help fuel your work!