Contribute Samples to the SaP Project!
The SaP project is just getting its wings and needs help from collaborators across Western North America in order to take flight! Pollen sampling is straightforward, takes between 5-15 seconds to perform, and provides invaluable information about the foraging habits of songbirds.
If you are interested in becoming a collaborator on this project, please contact Carolyn Coyle (sapprojectcsu@gmail.com). We will provide video training, all supplies (including shipping costs), and are happy to answer any and all questions. For more information about the sampling methods we ask collaborators to employ, click the link below to open the protocol.
What are we asking for?
Using a sterile swab, we ask that you swirl the swabhead along the bill and face of the bird. This swab, which has a break-point for easy snapping, is then broken into a pre-labeled tube. It is crucial that the area below the breakpoint (the swab head) is not touched, to reduce contamination. The tube can then be placed into a coin envelope, which has blanks provided to record metadata, such as band number and species, needed by our lab.
How to Pollen Sample: Video Protocol
Researchers in Europe have noted that some warblers (family Sylviidae) will not only forage in flowers, but in cases of high humidity or sticky nectar, may develop a protrusion of clumped feathers around the bill or up onto the forehead of the bird. If you notice this feather clumping, we ask that you use small scissors (provided) to clip the feathers into the same tube as the swab head. These clumps may act as a time capsule of sorts, with Da Silva et al. (2017) writing that “Pollen horns can persist on the birds for several weeks or even months, storing information on bird-flower visits until feathers get shed".
We are happy to assist with all permiting processes including for feather collection.
Dr. Matt Betts
Materials and supplies
What we send you:
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Pre-labeled tubes
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Coin envelopes with data labels
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Sterile swabs
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Small scissors
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Air sampling supplies
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While air sampling is not mandatory, air sampling can provide comparative data to establish that songbirds are not exclusively picking up pollen from the air column.
How to send us your samples
If you are ready to send us your pollen samples, please email Carolyn Coyle (sapprojectcsu@gmail.com) with the following details so we can begin the process of transferring samples to our lab:
Name:
Organization:
Location:
# of samples sending:
Permitting FAQs
Please read our FAQs below for more information pertaining to shipping of samples. However, in general, if you are contributing samples, here are items you’ll need to pay close attention to in order to make the process as smooth as possible and ensure all laws are met:
1.An electronic copy of your metadata is highly preferred and at a minimum contains the following information:
Species, band number, date of collection, tube number, feather (y/n), country, state, nearest town, latitude and longitude.
2. Hard copies of all applicable collecting permits are required if feathers are sampled! Electronic copies are preferred, but at a minimum, in addition to any electronic copies, hard copies of all applicable permits should be included with all shipped samples.
3. It is much easier for us to send you a prepaid shipping label than to generate reimbursements. If you’d like us to send you a prepaid shipping label, please email us with:
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Your return address
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Package dimensions and weight
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Preferred carrier (e.g. UPS, USPS, FedEx)