Dr. Gabe Vargo was a long-serving St. Petersburg Audubon board member who was a Professor of Biological Oceanography at the University of South Florida and who had a passion for seabirds and raptors.

 St. Petersburg Audubon Society can award up to 2 Research Grants to students interested in doing research with Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger). The expectation is the research would take at least 20 hours/week for 5 weeks (100 hours) during the summer breeding season. Grant winners will be awarded $1,500. Students will first learn how to study Black Skimmers by using wildlife camera-traps, in-person disturbance studies, and population monitoring (counting nests, adults, chicks). They will then develop their own research question and will answer the question using existing and new data to answer the question. At the end of the season they will write a report and give a brief presentation or present a poster at a St. Petersburg Audubon Society meeting. Examples of potential research questions:

-are skimmers more likely to be disturbed by professional or personal fireworks?

-do males or females skimmers spend more time incubating?

While doing their research at the colonies they will also educate the public while bird stewarding. Preference will be given to current undergraduates who attend a college in Pinellas County or who are Pinellas County residents.

Grant awardees will be selected based on interest and research potential. Current Eckerd College students will be eligible for free housing on campus.

Applications will reopen in Spring of 2026 .

To apply, please respond to the questions on this google form, insert a link with your resume, and list two people (ideally one faculty member) who can comment on your research potential and ability to work with others.

Applications are due by by the 2nd Friday in March. Winners will be announced by the first Friday in April.