Date Approved

9-23-2003

Embargo Period

5-11-2016

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.A. in Environmental Education and Conservation

Department

Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math Education

College

College of Education

Advisor

Winther, Austin A.

Subject(s)

Bird surveys--New Jersey

Disciplines

Science and Mathematics Education

Abstract

This study examined attitudes of volunteers in the Urban/Suburban Volunteer Project. Volunteers for this project surveyed for bird species for the New Jersey Endangered and Nongame Species Program in Urban New Jersey areas. This project was considered unsuccessful by the Endangered and Nongame Species staff. By analyzing a volunteer project that was not as successful as hoped, volunteer managers can learn from this and apply the findings to their own projects. The purpose of this study was to find out what volunteers thought of the Urban/Suburban Volunteer Project.

Questionnaires were sent to the known population, a total of 25 questionnaires were returned for a return rate of 60 percent. Questionnaires contained both closed-ended and open-ended questions and these were analyzed.

It was found that most volunteers found the surveys to be a rewarding experience and would participate in the project again. Some volunteers found the surveys time consuming and overwhelming. Most volunteers were highly skilled birders, those with less skills would have found the surveys difficult. The problem is that there were not enough volunteers participating in the Urban/Suburban Project to achieve the data needs of the ENSP program.

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