Virtual Black Oystercatcher Survey Training

Black Oystercatcher.\Photo by Linda Fink.

This year’s annual survey for Black Oystercatchers will focus just on identifying and monitoring nest sites—the abundance survey will not be done this year. 

Due to coronavirus measures, the volunteer training sessions that had been planned have been moved online.  The first of these takes place on Saturday, May 9, at 10 a.m. to noon.

The session, organized by Portland Audubon together with the Forest Service and other agencies and conservation groups, is free and open to all, both those who have volunteered in past years and those who want to learn about this fascinating bird of the rocky shoreline and consider volunteering in the future. Due to the coronavirus precautions and access restrictions, the survey this year will primarily rely on experienced volunteers and those who live near the nesting sites.

To learn more about the survey, see our article. 

To RSVP for the training session, contact Frances Buchanan at asopcoastalbirds@gmail.com.  (Note that there is a second virtual training session on May 20, 6 p.m.)  You will need to register in order to be sent instructions for connecting to the virtual session.

More information can be found on the Audubon website, https://audubonportland.org/get-involved/community-science/black-oystercatcher/, or contact Joe Liebezeit of Portland Audubon, (503) 329-6026, jliebezeit@audubonportland.org.