Beachcombers and Birders Wanted for Beached Bird Surveys

Training sessions next weekend on Lopez, San Juan and Orcas Islands

The Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST) will be holding
training sessions for new volunteers in the San Juan Islands on the weekend of February 11-12.

COASST is a citizen science project based out of the University of
Washington. It is dedicated to involving volunteers in the collection of
high quality data on the status and trends of coastal resources (mainly
seabirds) for the purposes of science, informed resource management, and
conservation. COASST volunteers systematically count and identify the birds that wash ashore along the beaches in Washington, Oregon, California and Alaska. Volunteers need NO experience with birds, just a commitment to survey a specific beach (1 km) each month.

Barb Jensen of the San Juan Audubon Society says, “The biggest deposition spot in the county is on Neck Point on Shaw and it would be great to get coverage there. We don’t get lots of birds washing up on our beaches but this could be really interesting in the next year with debris coming from Japan.”

Those interested are referred to www.coasst.org and attend an upcoming
volunteer training session:

SAN JUAN ISLAND TRAINING
Friday Harbor Labs, Commons Building
620 University Rd, Friday Harbor
Saturday, February 11, 2012, 10am-4pm

LOPEZ ISLAND TRAINING
Lopez Island Library
2225 Fisherman Bay Rd, Lopez Island
Sunday, February 12, 2012, 10am-4pm

ORCAS ISLAND TRAINING
Orcas Island Public Library
500 Rose St, Eastsound
Sunday, February 12, 2012, 12:30-6pm

Coffee, tea, and snacks will be provided for all events, but volunteers are asked to bring a lunch. COASST volunteers and the general public are welcome to attend any of these events. All are free; participants that choose to become a new COASST volunteer and adopt a survey beach pay a $20 deposit on supplies and materials.

Please RSVP to coasst@uw.edu or (206) 221-6893 if you plant to attend.