Beached Bird Survey Training--CANCELLED
The Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST) organizes a beached bird survey throughout the West Coast. CoastWatch is COASST’s Oregon partner. Participants in the survey (many of them also CoastWatchers) help make a difference for the environment by collecting data on beach-cast carcasses of marine birds on a monthly basis to establish the baseline pattern of beached bird mortality on North Pacific beaches.
On Saturday, July 16, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., COASST will deliver an in-person training session for interested parties and prospective volunteers at the Chetco Public Library (405 Alder St.) in Brookings. The event is free, although for those who choose to volunteer there is a deposit for the excellent manual and other materials. There will be a short break in the middle of the session for lunch, so bring your own sack lunch, or money to purchase food in the area.
Leading the training will be COASST's executive director Julia Parrish, who founded the program in 1999. An internationally known expert on both seabirds and citizen science, Dr. Parrish is also Associate Dean of Academic Affairs in the College of the Environment at the University of Washington.
Prospective volunteers will become acquainted with COASST survey protocols through hands-on training, and have a chance to learn more about the seabirds that live in their area. The COASST training provides participants with the tools to monitor for potential changes in the marine environment and promote stewardship of local marine resources.
COASST is a citizen science project of the University of Washington in partnership with state, tribal, and federal agencies, environmental organizations like Oregon Shores/CoastWatch, and community groups. COASST believes citizens of coastal communities are essential scientific partners in monitoring marine ecosystem health. By collaborating with citizens, natural resource management agencies and environmental organizations, COASST works to translate long-term monitoring into effective marine conservation solutions. Currently, nearly 1000 participants survey beaches in Washington, Oregon, California, and Alaska.
Participants need no prior experience with scientific data collection, just a commitment to survey a specific beach at least once a month.
To register, or for more information, contact COASST at (206) 221-6893 or coasst@uw.edu.