Want a closer and more personal view of California Least Terns than most people in the world will ever have? Want to help protect this at-risk species? Become a Tern Watch volunteer!

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is offering four trainings in May and early June for people who want to help monitor the 2013 Least Tern nesting season at the old Alameda naval base.

Trainings will take place on Wednesday evenings May 1 and 29, and on Saturday mornings May 4 and June 1. (You only have to attend one session.)

Volunteers are required to attend a training session and put in three Tern Watch shifts of three hours each. You’ll be close enough to see courtship, aerial displays, mating, nesting, raising chicks to fledglings, feeding chicks and mates, and so much more.  Each volunteer is asked to record predator and Least Tern activities on US FWS forms.  It’s fun, easy, and you’ll learn a great deal about the Least Terns and predator species.

For more information, see the Tern Watch volunteer poster.