Volunteer training for SEANET program

Volunteer training: beached bird surveys for SEANET Program

The Seabird Ecological Assessment Network (SEANET) is a volunteer-based field survey project whose main objective is to gain information about beached bird deposition along coastal shorelines to help detect sources of harm to the marine environment, and assess the status of seabird populations.

This is a great project for birdwatchers, those passionate about our coastlines and wanting to learn about threats to marine ecosystems from a shoreline perspective, and those interested in citizen science, whereby volunteer efforts are directly used by organizations responsible for safeguarding our environment.

Volunteers conduct monthly surveys for both beached and live birds at their site of choice and collect basic environment conditions data during their walks. When volunteers find beached birds, they take measurements and photographs, mark the specimens, and document other findings from their walks.

Requirements are willingness to walk a beach once per month minimum, collect data according to the protocol that will be presented at the workshop, and commit to the project for at least one year.

We seek volunteers for the Buzzards Bay region (Westport to Wareham), living near or frequently visiting any walkable shoreline. Beach vacancies exist throughout the region.

The workshop will be led by Dr. Sarah Courchesne with assistance from Lloyd Center Research Associate Jamie Bogart, coordinator for the Buzzards Bay region. Volunteers will leave with necessary materials, a background necessary to start surveys, and a beach of their choice. Weather permitting, a walk on a nearby beach will follow the indoor session.

Date: Saturday, February 18, 2012
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Location: Lloyd Center for the Environment (lower building)
Leader: Dr. Sarah Courchesne of Tufts University and Jamie Bogart, Lloyd Center Research Associate
Cost: free of charge
Items to wear/bring: footwear for beach walk, layered clothing, binoculars, camera, notebook

Click here for further background about the program and links to a variety of SEANET related information.

Anyone interested in volunteering and attending the workshop should contact Jamie Bogart at 508-990-0505 (x23), or at jbogart@lloydcenter.org.