[TN-Bird] Great Smoky Mtn NP announces grants

Hi folks,

I've been asked to send this to folks who may be interested in
helping the park.

Please note, if you are a Tennessee birder, that the names on both
grants are rather dear to TOS memories...

Background:  Cades Cove is the largest grassland habitat within Great

Smoky Mountains National Park.  It supports nesting populations of
many grassland bird species, including Eastern Meadowlark, Song
Sparrow, Field Sparrow, and at least on occasion, Bobolink and
Northern Bobwhite.  Cades Cove is also visited by millions of
visitors each year, many of whom desire views of deer, bear and other
wildlife.  To maintain the existing fields in their open condition,
the National Park Service has employed prescribed burning,
mowing by staff, and hay leases.  Hay leases are by far the most
cost-effective way for the park to maintain the fields, but this
method comes with requirements as to when the hay needs to be mowed
so that the lessee has usable and marketable hay.  Park managers do
not have good data on the nesting chronology of grassland birds in
the Cove, nor on how this chronology might respond to mowing for hay
or burning.

This is an informal request for assistance from research institutions
in our area to help us get a better understanding of the dynamics of
our grassland birds.  Such a project could be anything from a senior
project for a motivated and talented student with a birding
background to a PhD project or your own research, depending on the
level of complexity of the questions addressed.  Perhaps one of you
has such a student in need of a project and might have them consider
working with grassland birds in Cades Cove.  Simple survey work that
provides helps us to understand which part of the fields each species
is using and the rough breeding chronology would help us greatly with
managing this popular and unique part of the Smokies.

The park does not have any funds it can put towards this project at
this time.  I do include information about two small fellowships that
are currently open for application through December 10th.  The
competition for these fellowships is likely to be considerable, but
the study of grassland birds in Cades Cove would certainly be an
appropriate project for either.

If you have questions or know of someone who might be interested in
taking on this research, please contact me.  I will be out of the
office most of the week of the 22nd, though hope to check my e-mail
both the 22nd and 23rd.  I should be reachable by phone or e-mail the
week of November 29th.

Thank you for considering this need.

Paul E. Super
Science Coordinator
Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center at Purchase Knob
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
P.O. Box 357
Lake Junaluska, NC   28745-0357
(828) 926-6251
www.nps.gov/grsm/pksite/index.htm
paul_super@xxxxxxx


CARLOS C. CAMPBELL 2005 MEMORIAL FELLOWSHIPS ANNOUNCED:  The Great
Smoky Mountains Conservation Association announces the availability
of the Carlos C. Campbell Memorial Fellowships to support research in
Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  Other than the requirement
that the studies be directly related to Great Smoky Mountains
National Park, there is no limitation to the subject matter.  Results
of any proposed research are intended to help the natural and human
history of the Park or to improve the management of the Park's
natural and cultural resources.  A special emphasis is placed on
projects that demonstrate an applied research
approach and produce lasting results for conservation of the Park's
resources.


An award consists of a maximum amount of $3,600 per year.  Awards may
be extended for a longer period if justifiable.  Special grants also
may be made for unusual needs.  Recipients of the awards are selected
by the Executive Committee of the Association.  Awards are granted in
January of each year.


Proposal guidelines:  maximum of 3 pages (single space), including
the
names and affiliations of the investigator(s), a statement of
research
needs, proposed methodology, expected outcomes, and an itemized
budget, including other sources of support for the project. 
Proposals that do not adhere to these criteria may not be considered.
 Each applicant should name one person who is familiar with the
applicant and the proposed research and who can help evaluate the
proposed project.


Proposals should be received at the following address by 10 December
2004: Frank T. van Manen, Chairman, Fellowship Committee, GSMCA, U.S.
Geological Survey, Southern Appalachian Field Branch, 274 Ellington
Plant Sciences Building, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TNÂ 
37996


JAMES T. TANNER MEMORIAL FELLOWSHIP ANNOUNCED:  The Great Smoky
Mountains Conservation Association announces the availability of the
James T. Tanner Memorial Fellowship to support research in Great
Smoky Mountains National Park.  Other than the requirement that the
studies be directly related to Great Smoky Mountains National Park,
there is no limitation to the subject matter.  Results of any
proposed research are intended to help the natural and human history
of the Park or to improve the management of the Park's natural and
cultural resources.  A special emphasis is placed on projects
that demonstrate an applied research approach and produce lasting
results for conservation of the Park's resources.


The award consists of a $10,000 stipend and is intended to support a
full-time professional for 3 months or a graduate student for one
year.  The recipient of the award is selected by the Executive
Committee of the Association.  The award is granted in January of
each year.


Applicants should submit a detailed proposal and vita.  Proposal
guidelines:  maximum of 5 pages (single space), including the names
and affiliations of the investigator(s), a statement of research
needs, proposed methodology, expected outcomes, and an itemized
budget, including other sources of support for the project. 
Proposals that do not adhere to these criteria may not be considered.
 Each applicant should name two people who are familiar with the
applicant and the proposed research and who can help evaluate the
proposed project.


Proposals should be received at the following address by 10 December
2004: Frank T. van Manen, Chairman, Fellowship Committee, GSMCA, U.S.
Geological Survey, Southern Appalachian Field Branch, 274 Ellington
Plant Sciences Building, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996


=====
**************************************************
Charlie Muise, Naturalist near
Great Smoky Mountains National Park

"Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of cancer."  -Edward Abbey
**************************************************

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