Let the 2025 Shorebird Monitoring Season begin!

Hello 2025 shorebird monitor volunteers!

Thank you to those who attended our new volunteer field training this past weekend! For our new volunteers who were unable to attend the field training and for returning volunteers, please read the entirety of this post as it contains important information about receiving your volunteer materials and beginning the 2025 monitoring season.

Volunteer badges, lanyards, and brochures are ready for pickup at Milford Point and RTPEC! (See below for addresses and pickup times)

In order to receive these materials, you must hand in a signed CT DEEP waiver. Blank waivers will be available at both locations, or you can print and sign one from the first page of our 2025 AAfCW Volunteer Monitor Packet found here. When you hand in a signed waiver, you will receive a 2025 monitoring badge, a lanyard, and brochures to distribute to beachgoers. If you are a new volunteer, you will also receive a free t-shirt! 

Addresses and pickup dates/times:

Connecticut Audubon Society Coastal Center at Milford Point
1 Milford Point Rd, Milford, CT 06460
Hours: Tues-Fri, 10am-4pm; Sat 10am-1pm; Sun 12pm-4pm

Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center (RTPEC)
100 Lyme St, Old Lyme, CT 06371
Hours: Tues-Fri, 9am-4pm

*If you are unable to pick up your materials during any of these times, please email ctwaterbirds@gmail.com so we can assist.*

Important reminders:

1) Please review all of the information in the 2025 AAfCW Volunteer Monitor Packet before monitoring. Save the CT DEEP Environmental Conservation (EnCon) Police number to your cell phone: (860) 424-3333. While monitoring, consider your safety at all times and call 911 if you feel you are in danger. If an incident does occur, please email ctwaterbirds@gmail.com to let us know what occurred once it is safe to do so.

2) Please do not monitor if it is precipitating, if temperatures are below 50 degrees, or if temperatures are above 90 degrees. These conditions are stressful for the birds, and the added stress of human disturbance during these conditions can be fatal. If you are scheduled to monitor during any of these weather conditions, simply send an email to ctwaterbirds@gmail.com to let us know that you will not be monitoring at your designated date/time. 

3) Please remember to submit "negative" data. If you visit your site and do not observe any birds, we still want to know! "Negative" observations can provide important information about disturbances and human activity on the beaches, even if there are no birds to report. All monitoring data (including site visits where you do not see birds) should be submitted through our 2025 Online Data Submission Form found here.

Let the 2025 shorebird monitoring season begin!

Once you have signed a CT DEEP waiver, received your monitoring materials, and confirmed that the weather is acceptable, you may begin monitoring!

Thank you again for volunteering your time and energy to this project. We are looking forward to a great season! If you have any questions, or if you need assistance getting started with monitoring, feel free to reach out.

Marissa
Audubon CT Volunteer Coordinator