There is only one week left until meteorological summer begins and the cold, wet spring will soon be replaced with heat and sunshine.
With the heat, come beach crowds and higher stress for our beach-nesting birds. Now that there are chicks running around on several beaches across the shoreline, we want to remind all volunteers to cancel their monitoring if temperatures are above 90°F. This is not only for the birds, but for your safety as well! Remember to wear sunscreen and bring plenty of water when you go out to monitor.
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Volunteer Spotlight!
The Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds has been in existence for over a decade. That's longer than the average lifespan of a piping plover! Over the years, we have accumulated an incredible group of volunteers who deserve to be recognized for their dedication to this project. Starting this week, we will be highlighting the contributions of numerous volunteers across the state. Today, I would like to introduce you all to Nicole Crane!
I had the pleasure of meeting Nicole earlier this spring during a visit to Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison. What immediately stood out to me about Nicole was her enthusiasm and kindness when educating other beachgoers about the importance of sharing the shore with beach-nesting birds. Additionally, Nicole is a very talented artist who enjoys nature journalling while she monitors at Hammonasset! Get to know more about Nicole and her artwork below as she answers questions about her experience volunteering with AAfCW.
When did you begin volunteering with the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds?
2022. I moved to southern Connecticut toward the end of 2021 and shorebird monitoring is one initiative I undertook to learn about and become a part of my new community.
What is your favorite part of volunteering as a shorebird monitor?
I’m very thankful to be able to volunteer with the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds. Monitoring is a great opportunity to learn about our coastal community. We have an astounding diversity of wildlife and habitat here in Southern Connecticut. We are also at a critical moment in the balance between community and wild spaces. Monitoring, I’m able to witness that relationship from a thousand different perspectives. When we spend a lot of time watching quietly in a place, things come to life that we hadn’t imagined. Hammonasset’s West Beach draws crowds of people who may not even realize that what attracts them to the water and the park is endangered by their behavior. As monitors, we have the opportunity to learn about what is often overlooked. It is extremely rewarding to draw casual visitors into my excitement about what I observe as a monitor. When I approach people I assume that when they learn about what we are doing, they will want to help. Usually they do! My favorite part of this work is when I see the light in someone’s eyes change when they suddenly realize where they are.
What do you do outside of your volunteer work?
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| Nicole Crane (2022) |
Monitoring also happens to fit in with all of my work! I am a communication strategist. I am active mainly in academia. I specialize in science, visual, and cultural studies. I especially like to support policy makers, scientists and creatives such as authors, visual artists and architects. Lateral thinking practice is one of my greatest strengths.
I had a career of leadership roles in international arts and cultural institutions. I love learning languages and working in a multi-lingual environment. I’m also a total science nerd. When my son was young I decided to reincorporate art practice and science in the form of scientific illustration. I knew that if I leaned in to all of my passions something amazing would emerge!
When I’m monitoring, I like to explore my environment visually. I don’t focus on making virtuosic illustrations. Illustrating is a way of challenging and solidifying the information we take in. How is this connected to that? What IS that? Why does this look that way? What am I missing? Similar to scientific enquiry, when we try to represent what we perceive on paper, we find many assumptions that we have made and we are able to ask better questions. Anyone can do this!
I also like to volunteer with my local land trust. I lead hikes and I’m currently helping them with the newest edition of a trail guide. The Christmas Bird Count is another of my favorite opportunities to learn from experts in an amazing community.
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| Nicole Crane (2025) |
If you would like to nominate a fellow volunteer for an upcoming volunteer spotlight, email us at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com!
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Latest Monitoring Data
Here is a summary of all volunteer-collected data submitted between May 30th and June 12th, 2025.
- Number of volunteer reports submitted: 93
- Total volunteer monitoring hours: 148
- Number of beachgoers engaged in conversations about birds/conservation: 162
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| Piping Plover. Photo: Merri-Lee Metzger/Audubon Photography Awards |
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| American Oystercatcher. Photo: Walker Golder |
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| Common Tern. Photo: Luke Franke/Audubon |
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| Least Tern. Photo: Charlie Trapani/Audubon Photography Awards |
