The Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds and the CT Department of Environmental Protection, Wildlife Division invite you to make a difference for threatened bird species as an official summer volunteer. Volunteers will help monitor Piping Plovers, American Oystercatchers and Least Terns at beaches statewide from early April through August.
With the help of volunteers, 2024 was a record-breaking year with 105 Piping Plover chicks and 70 American Oystercatchers chicks fledged!
For 2025, we are especially in need of additional volunteers at the following beaches:
Griswold Point, Old Lyme
Waterford Town Beach, Waterford
Bluff Point State Park – Bushy Beach, Groton
Bluff Point State Park – Natural Area Preserve, Groton
Hammonasset Beach State Park – West Beach, Madison
Waterford Town Beach, Waterford
Bluff Point State Park – Bushy Beach, Groton
Bluff Point State Park – Natural Area Preserve, Groton
Hammonasset Beach State Park – West Beach, Madison
Training and orientation sessions for new and returning volunteers will review the following: biology of the Piping Plover, Least Tern, and American Oystercatcher, how to monitor breeding pairs and chicks, volunteer organization and logistics, and law enforcement information. While there are only a few changes to the process this year, attendance by everyone planning to join us for the 2025 season is important.
For more information on the training sessions and to RSVP, please email the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com.
New Volunteer Monitor Training Session
Tuesday, March 25 2025, 6:30–8:00 pm
Zoom sessions will be recorded and uploaded to our YouTube channel.
If your computer does not have audio capabilities, you can call in. Dial: 1-646-876-9923, then enter the meeting ID (971 2989 9748) and passcode (091299).
Returning Volunteer Monitor Training Session
Thursday, March 27 2025, 7:00–8:00pm
Zoom sessions will be recorded and uploaded to our YouTube channel.
If your computer does not have audio capabilities, you can call in. Dial: 1-646-876-9923, then enter the meeting ID (962 7261 2954) and passcode (775219).
Atlantic Coast populations of beach-nesting birds return to the Connecticut coast in March from their wintering grounds, as far as the Caribbean. The cryptic nests of these birds are extremely susceptible to human disturbance, predation, and tidal wash outs. To enhance the survival and productivity of Connecticut’s beach-nesting birds, volunteers monitor at locations across the state to observe shorebirds, record and report nesting data, and spread a “share the shore” philosophy encouraging positive actions everyone can take to help these birds successfully raise their young.
Volunteers work from April until the end of the breeding season (usually in August) and must donate a minimum of 4 hours per month. The work can be very rewarding, as volunteers will have the opportunity to positively affect the nesting success of threatened shorebirds across the state.
"I have been volunteering as a bird monitor at Bluff Point since 2022 and was so excited the first time I spotted American Oystercatcher chicks. We've got a great team of employees and volunteers working together to protect threatened birds. It isn't always easy. One of the toughest parts of volunteering is talking to beachgoers who don't seem concerned about having their dogs or bikes on the beach, which can harm the chicks in particular. Overall, it's been a pleasure and a unique opportunity!" - Tammi Eller, Bluff Point volunteer
These training sessions are co-sponsored by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (Audubon Connecticut, the Connecticut Audubon Society and The Nature Conservancy) and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Wildlife Division.
