On the Expedition
Monitor migratory and resident songbirds to discover the reasons for their declining numbers.
Many songbird populations in the Jackson Hole area are declining, and you can help researchers study these birds and their habitats in an effort to stop this decline. You’ll search for migratory birds’ nests and relocate color-banded birds, providing much-needed information on seasonal survivorship and productivity. Teams II-IV will spend one morning at the bird-banding station and will have the opportunity to observe birds up-close as project staff remove them from mist-nets and band them. Team VI will assist with vegetation measurements near bird nests. In the evenings you’ll enjoy dinner followed by a speaker or time to relax and socialize. During your recreational time you may choose to explore Jackson Hole, tour the National Parks, or visit the National Museum of Wildlife Art.
Meals and Accommodations
Depending on your team, you will stay at either the Jackson Campus or the Kelly Campus of the Teton Science Schools. Meals will be prepared for you and will include typical American fare, such as sandwiches, salads, and pasta. Located just two miles from town, the 880-acre Jackson Campus offers beautiful facilities nestled between two buttes frequently visited by deer, elk, and several different raptor species. In the residential lodges, you'll share rooms and standard bathrooms just a short walk from the dining lodge. Teams IV and V will stay at the Kelly Campus, 45 minutes outside Jackson. This campus has more rustic cabins but offers new meeting and remodeled dining facilities. Its prime location within Grand Teton National Park guarantees stunning views and the chance to live amongst wildlife. Each cabin will house 3-4 people and will also have at least one toilet and shower for cabin-mates to share.
About the Research Area
Jackson Hole, Wyoming is home to Grand Teton National Park, the Bridger-Teton National Forest, and the National Elk Refuge. It is surrounded by amazing views of the three mountain ranges serving as its borders, with the Teton Range to the west, the Snake River Range to the south, and the Gros Ventre Range to the east. The famous Yellowstone National Park makes up Jackson Hole’s northern border. The area serves as a beautiful and majestic research setting, with flowing rivers, mountain vistas, and abundant North American wildlife including bison, elk, and bears. The Snake River flows out of Yellowstone and Jackson Lakes to the north, through the valley and to the south into Idaho.