Seminar on Monitoring Birds

Snowy plovers at South Beach.\Photo by Molly Sultany.

The Hatfield Marine Science Center’s Research Seminar Series now operates on the hybrid model.  The next talk, on monitoring migratory birds, takes place in person at the Gladys Valley Marine Studies Building auditorium on the HMSC campus (2030 S.E. Marine Science Dr. in the South Beach area of Newport), and also online.  The event, free and open to all, is at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 2.

The speaker is Roy Lowe, former manager of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge Complex for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  Now retired, Roy continues to work on environmental stewardship.  His topic is “Monitoring Migratory Birds in Lincoln County Through Citizen Science.”

Roy Lowe and other local volunteers have been documenting the return of the threatened Western Snowy Plover as a breeding species to Lincoln County beaches.  Absent as a breeding species in the county for nearly four decades, successful recovery efforts have greatly increased the Oregon coast population of this unique shorebird species. In addition, several volunteers have been monitoring the wintering population of Pacific Black Brant at Yaquina Bay which has been in decline since the 1980s.  Black Brant are dependent on eelgrass as their primary forage for wintering and staging areas. 

Food or drink is not allowed in the auditorium, but there will be a cookie and coffee social in the Gladys Valley MSB atrium from 3 to 3:30 p.m. before the talk. Bring your own mug (no paper cups will be provided).

To skip the coffee and cookies and attend online, go here.

Password: 972587 or call +1-971-247-1195 US Meeting ID: 945 5573 1151