Join This Season
SwiftWatch
May - September
A flexible solo or group activity that can take place any time from dawn till dusk. Counting Chimney Swifts is quick to learn and the birds are delightful to observe.
Marsh Monitoring Program
Volunteers apply their strong bird and frog identification skills during the most exciting time of the year – spring!
©Green HeronPhoto: Kevin Reynolds
©Green HeronPhoto: Kevin Reynolds
There’s nothing quite like the chorus of birds and frogs in a wetland at dusk or dawn– from the fast "witchity-witchity" of a Common Yellowthroat in the reeds, to the booming “pump-er-lunk" of the American Bittern.
Immerse yourself in one of North America’s most threatened ecosystems, and apply your strong identification skills to ensure these special places and the birds and frogs they support continue to thrive.
Regional Information & Sign-up
Opportunities vary by region, and signup and survey details may differ depending on where you live.
Help Conserve Birds and Frogs
By volunteering with the Marsh Monitoring Program, you help conserve birds, frogs, and their wetland habitats across southern Canada. The program relies on trained volunteers like you, with strong bird and frog identification skills, to make observations in local marshes during spring and early summer.
The data you collect supports long-term population trend monitoring and helps guide wetland conservation, restoration and management decisions.
Wetlands are among North America’s most threatened ecosystems, providing essential services like clean water, shoreline protection, erosion control, and carbon storage. Through your participation, you help protect both wetland wildlife and the vital functions these ecosystems provide.
©Liam Thorne, Great Lakes VolunteerPhoto: Kyle Cameron
Love marsh birds but unsure if the Marsh Monitoring Program is right for you?
Deepen your knowledge through our MarshWatch educational program, designed to prepare you for the Marsh Monitoring Program, and available in four editions – Maritimes, Prairie Canada, Great Lakes and Newfoundland and Labrador.
©Wilson's SnipesPhoto: Michael Poole
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