Naturalists with an interest in birds, amphibians or both are being asked to help conserve marshes and their inhabitants by volunteering for the Marsh Monitoring Program (MMP). All volunteers receive a Training Kit containing: written instructions for surveying marsh birds, amphibians and their habitats; data forms; and an instructional CD with examples of the songs and calls of the birds and amphibians most likely to be encountered in the Great Lakes basin. MMP participants also receive an annual newsletter that summarizes survey results and includes interesting articles on marsh ecology, amphibians and marsh birds.

Surveys are conducted in the spring and early summer, and participants may choose to survey amphibians, marsh birds, or both. Because only 13 species of frogs and toads occur in the Great Lakes basin and their calls are well described in the Training Kit materials, the amphibian survey is most suitable for novice naturalists. Although volunteers do not need to be ace-birders to conduct the marsh bird survey, the bird survey is not suited to beginning birders. The program and the surveys are an enjoyable and interesting experience but there is a time commitment involved. On average, the total time required to set up the stations, do the surveys, and tally the results will be about 9 hours per year. Many surveyors take a personal interest in their marshes and, although a long term commitment is not required for participation, the information provided by consistently done surveys over several years is extremely valuable in measuring trends in amphibian and bird populations and marsh habitats. Through the efforts of hundreds of volunteers throughout the Great Lakes region, the MMP provides information on the population trends and habitat requirements of wetland dependent amphibians and birds in the region. This information makes an important contribution to the conservation and management of Great Lakes basin wetlands and their wildlife.