We ask all of our AAfCW volunteer monitors to submit data and information via our electronic form as soon as possible after all beach surveys. Even trips without seeing any Piping Plovers, American Oystercatchers, Least Terns or Common Terns mean we still need that “negative data”. Information about a lack of birds is just as important as an abundance of birds.
Negative data lets us know monitors were there on the beach at the scheduled time and that birds were simply not there, instead of us thinking they may have had to skip monitoring that day, leaving staff wondering what was or was not present. We can still learn about any disturbances, predators, and human activities on the beach even if there are no birds to report. We can then actively target our field staff to sites more appropriately with a more complete picture of what is or is not going on.
Please remember this throughout the season and send us a report each time after you monitor. While we would much rather read a wonderful account of so many of our species being recorded by all of you, we still need to receive monitoring data even when no birds are found whatsoever. That negative data goes a long way in helping us understand, protect and steward Connecticut's coastal waterbirds.
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