Neighbors, we need your help. We need at least 8 volunteers to help manage the goose population on our lakes this Spring. Training for volunteers will take place on Friday, February 24th from 6:00 – 8:00 pm in Urbana.
You may have noticed that the number of baby geese on our lakes during the past 2 Springs has been fewer than in the past. This was the result of a partnership between Robeson Meadows HOA and the Friends of Geese (FOG). FOG volunteers came to our lakes with our permission to identify nests and oil non-viable eggs so they would not hatch.
FOG’s volunteers successfully prevented the hatching of 100 goslings from 21 nesting pairs on our lakes during the past 2 years.
This year FOG will transition their services. They will continue to provide training but will depend on subdivisions to recruit and provide the volunteers to do the field work. If we want to continue this successful program we will need to take on the volunteer work ourselves with training and support from FOG. Preventing some eggs from hatching is one of the best long-term strategies for managing the number of geese on our lakes in a safe, humane way that does not harm mature geese and is approved by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
To volunteer please email Estela at estelacanga10@gmail.com. Thank you for your help.
Questions?
When is the training?
Volunteers will be trained and all materials will be provided. Volunteers will receive training from Friends of Geese (FOG). Training will take place on Friday, February 24th from 6:00 until 8:00 pm at the Independent Media Center, 202 South Broadway, Urbana, in the old post office building adjacent to Lincoln Square.
What will I do as a volunteer?
Once a nest is identified, volunteers will monitor nesting pairs on the lakes during nesting season and note the location of nests with eggs. Generally, the nesting season begins the last weekend of March and finishes the first week of May. Usually volunteer teams go out weekly during those six weeks. Volunteer teams of 3-4 people will visit the nests, test the eggs for viability, and will oil non-viable eggs, which prevents them from hatching. Friends of Geese will also provide a volunteer to accompany the field team during their first egg oiling excursion and will also be available for support by phone or email.
I’m interested. How do I volunteer?
Please contact Estela Canga by Monday, February 20th by email (estelacanga10@gmail.com) or phone 217-356-9483.
0 Comments