Fall International Shorebird Surveys

It is nearly time to begin the “fall” season of International Shorebird Surveys (ISS),initiated by the Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences in 1974, as they kick off on Sunday, July 15, running through the end of October. All of the information on ISS is right here in our blog in the right-hand column under the Important Documents heading.

We realize the directions and information may look a little intimidating, but apart from filling out a form about your chosen site, all these surveys amount to is regularly visiting a shorebird hotspot approximately three times per month and tallying all of the birds you see. There are even different scheduling options in the documents if you cannot make it out to survey at that regularity. You will then enter your data in the ISS eBird portal, share the checklist with us at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com, and you are set. Please read the information and consider contributing some of your time for these valuable surveys. At the very least it will compel you to get out and enjoy shorebirding even more in the next few months. Our staff will be conducting them as well, so please email us if you are interested and so we can set aside your chosen location.

These surveys are one of the most significant sources of monitoring information for shorebirds in North America. The data collected is used to document major shorebird migration staging areas, monitor shorebird population changes, and evaluate the effects of catastrophic events, such as storms and oil spills, on shorebirds.

Thank you for the consideration! Feel free to shoot us an email at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com with any other questions or comments you may have as well.


Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, Audubon Connecticut and the Connecticut Audubon Society partnering to improve conditions for coastal waterbirds in Connecticut.