Please Submit Negative Data

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 on 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.

Scott Kruitbosch
AAfCW Volunteer Coordinator

Ready to Monitor!

Thank you to all who attended new monitor field training yesterday! We should all be finishing up our preparation and visiting the beaches now or soon (with the appropriate weather conditions) having acquired a 2024 CT DEEP badge, submitted our schedule to this email address, and handed in a CT DEEP waiver form. Good luck, and enjoy our Piping Plovers and American Oystercatchers. The Least Terns and Common Terns will be back to Connecticut in a few weeks. Remember, our data submission form is here. Review the fields before you head to the beach so you will be certain to collect all the necessary information.

You'll soon receive the first of our 2024 data and informational updates with observations made by all of you at our beaches. We will keep you updated with other news and events throughout the season, plus any applicable reminders. 

Don't forget to refer to our training sessions when needed!

AAfCW 2024 new monitor training: https://youtu.be/Aa4YY_rbmEk
AAfCW 2024 returning monitor training: https://youtu.be/aAJDBvxY00Y

Best,
Scott Kruitbosch
AAfCW Volunteer Coordinator

New Monitor Training 2024

Thanks to all who attended the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds new monitor training today. I was happy to join Laura Saucier and Rebecca Foster of the CT DEEP Wildlife Division in meeting with some of our new volunteers as we distributed badges, lanyards, brochures, and t-shirts, and collected waiver forms. We talked about monitoring, data and information, and avian biology, among other topics, and walked the beach in West Haven to find some Piping Plovers. 

Most volunteers are now set to hit the beach now through August, and we hope everyone enjoys their time helping to share the shore with our endangered species. We look forward to your reports!

Scott Kruitbosch
AAfCW Volunteer Coordinator

New Monitor Field Training Reminder

We hope to see new monitors at new volunteer field training on Saturday, April 13th at Sandy/Morse Points in West Haven. The rain date is Sunday, April 14th. The field training will be from 10:00am to 12:00pm. Please RSVP if you will be attending. 

You can join us if you're a returning monitor, too. You can also stop by just to pick up a badge/lanyard or drop off your waiver, keeping in mind to visit at 10:00am OR 12:00pm because the group will be on the beach between those times.

For anyone visiting West Haven, the road work has not yet been completed. Following the guidance of the City of West Haven, we will do the following for parking for now:

Access Third Ave Ext. from Blohm St, and park at the barricades by Beach St. The contractor is no longer accessing the work area from this location, and it would allow us to park right across the street from the parking area and access point to the beach. West Haven Police have been notified. 

You do not need to submit vehicle information for Saturday as we will not yet be in the main parking lot. If you plan on monitoring in West Haven in 2024, you will need to submit your license plate and vehicle information unless you are a resident so that it can be passed on to the City of West Haven for their electronic system.

As of now it looks like Saturday will be chilly and breezy following the rain on Friday. We will hopefully see Piping Plovers and American Oystercatchers. Remember that it is often 10-15 degrees colder at the shore than inland in the spring, and warm clothes will be needed along with the usual field gear.

In the meantime, please finalize submitting desired monitoring schedules at your chosen beach to us, picking up your badge and (if necessary) lanyard in Milford or Old Lyme, and submitting your waiver form. If you've done this, enjoy your monitoring and our beach birds! We look forward to your data and observations.

Best,
Scott Kruitbosch
AAfCW Volunteer Coordinator

Logistical Updates

Here are some logistical updates for our 2024 AAfCW season as we prepare to hit the beaches soon. While our field season has officially started, and you should have scheduled your monitoring already, we are waiting to get outside until...

1) We have our 2024 CT DEEP monitoring badges which have now been distributed to the Coastal Center at Milford Point and the Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center. You can visit either location to pick them up. If you do not need a lanyard, please do not take one - just the badge. If you need both, no problem, take both! 

The badge will grant you free entry for the purpose of monitoring at locations that include fees for out of town visitors, including Westport, Stratford, and more. Please present the badge and explain your purpose to the attendant. Let us know if you have any issues with this, but please bear in mind it is to be used for monitoring only.

2) We have filled out, signed, and submitted the waiver form to CT DEEP. You can drop these off when you pick up your badge!

The above can also be completed at new monitor field training on April 13th at Sandy/Morse Points in West Haven. The rain date is Sunday, April 14th. The field training will be from 10:00am to 12:00pm. Please RSVP if you will be attending. You can join us if you're a returning monitor, too. You can also stop by just to pick up a badge/lanyard or drop off your waiver, keeping in mind to visit at 10:00am OR 12:00pm because the group will be on the beach between those times.

For anyone visiting West Haven, the road work has not yet been completed. Following the guidance of the City of West Haven, we will do the following for parking for now:

Access Third Ave Ext. from Blohm St, and park at the barricades by Beach St. The contractor is no longer accessing the work area from this location, and it would allow us to park right across the street from the parking area and access point to the beach. West Haven Police have been notified. 

Please do not forget to submit your license plate and vehicle information to us if you plan to monitor in West Haven and are not a resident or else you will be ticketed when the parking lot does open. This information will be submitted to the City for your vehicle to be electronically whitelisted.

3) We have acceptable weather! Remember, we do not want to visit the beach when it's precipitating, cooler than 50 degrees, or hotter than 90 degrees. Next week should start off great for monitoring before more April showers. It is a good time to start once you have submitted your waiver form, picked up your badge, scheduled your monitoring, and prepared for the beach.

Once the season gets rolling we will regularly update you all with your data from the field. Thanks so much, all!

Best,
Scott Kruitbosch
AAfCW Volunteer Coordinator