Spooky season special: Why yes, someone IS counting all the dead animals on the beach! Join BeachCOMBERS and you too can count dead things.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service is excited to invite you all to an upcoming in-person BeachCOMBERS volunteer training! The training will be held on November 2nd from 10am-4pm in the William Penn Mott Jr. Training Center located at the Asilomar Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove, CA.

BeachCOMBERS is a long-term community science program that monitors the health of coastal ecosystems in Central and Southern California. Founded in 1997, BeachCOMBERS is a collaborative program powered by volunteers and managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in partnership with California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). Through BeachCOMBERS, trained volunteers survey selected sections of coastline monthly from Santa Cruz to San Diego with the specific goal of monitoring deposition of beach cast carcasses and oil presence to use as a metric of coastal ecosystem conditions. BeachCOMBERS has provided data for a number of scientific papers, contributed to the conservation of marine resources, quantified oiled wildlife, and has informed resource managers about wildlife entanglement from fishing gear and other anthropogenic debris.

During the training they will cover the fundamentals of the BeachCOMBERS program, survey protocols, and marine mammal and seabird species ID both in the classroom and on the beach. Please bring water, sun protection, something to write with, and a bagged lunch. Please wear comfortable layered clothing and shoes appropriate for walking on the beach in. They will be providing light snacks and we encourage you to bring a reusable mug/cup.

Please share this post with anyone who may be interested in joining the BeachCOMBERS program 😊 RSVPs to the training are appreciated!

Volunteer requirements:

• Ability to walk on unstable ground (sand and cobble) for distances between 2 to 6 miles

• Completion of volunteer trainings

• One-year commitment to survey an assigned beach one day during a low tide within the first week of each month (2-6 hours)

Please reach out to Kirby Bartlett (BeachCOMBERS Program Coordinator, fws8venturaBeachCOMBERS@fws.gov) and Dr. Corinne Gibble (North Coast BeachCOMBERS Chapter Coordinator, beachcombersmb@gmail.com) with any questions!

We hope to meet you at the training!

MONTEREY AUDUBON SOCIETY HIRES FIRST EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Established in 1940 and Volunteer led Until 2021

Monterey Audubon Society, a nonprofit dedicated to the conservation and celebration of the birds and wildlife of the greater Monterey Bay region, is proud to announce the appointment of Shannon Conner as its first Executive Director. Founded in 1940, the organization has been volunteer-led until recently, marking this as a significant milestone in its evolution.

Shannon Conner, a passionate advocate for the environment and community-based conservation, moved to the Monterey Bay region in 2006 to study at California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB). It was here, through scuba diving, that she fell in love with the area's rich natural beauty and decided to make it her permanent home. While working at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in various roles, Shannon's commitment to ocean conservation deepened.

During her graduate studies with Miami University's Project Dragonfly, Shannon completed fieldwork in Belize, where her focus on community-based conservation grew stronger, and she developed a newfound appreciation for birds. This experience shaped her approach to helping people understand their potential to make a difference in the natural world.

In 2020, Shannon earned her MA in Biology, specializing in conservation education. She later worked at the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History, building community-based educational programs like Watershed Guardians. Earlier this year, Shannon also earned an MS in Nonprofit Administration from Louisiana State University, Shreveport with a focus on fundraising and organizational leadership.

Shannon shared her enthusiasm about stepping into this new role, stating, "I am excited to work with the Monterey Audubon Society to expand our capacity for conservation and to build meaningful, community-driven solutions. Together, we will ensure that future generations will continue to benefit from and appreciate the incredible biodiversity of the Monterey Bay region."

As the first Executive Director of the Monterey Audubon Society, Shannon will focus on strengthening the organization’s presence, implementing strategic fundraising initiatives, and working to strengthen collaborative relationships within the community. Her appointment marks a new era for the organization, as it seeks to further its mission of protecting the region's avian wildlife and natural habitats.

Please join us in welcoming Shannon! Shannon.Conner@MontereyAudubon.org

Summer PSA: Slow for Seagulls!

Image above: A Heermann's Gull pair watches over their downy chicks in Seaside, CA. Photo from Byron Chin.

I know there are technically no "seagulls", but you all know who I'm talking about. There are primarily three locally nesting gull species: the Western Gull is the main species that nests on rooftops around the Monterey Peninsula, Moss Landing, and nearly any bluff or building within a mile of the coast. If you're in Seaside, you'll have the opportunity to see the Heermann's Gull and California Gull colonies that nest on the buildings along Broadway Avenue and Del Monte Avenue. And while many gull species are a challenge to tell apart, these three species have a similar life history. And many of the chicks are at the stage where they are testing out their wings. Late summer means it's time to fly!

Image: Gull chick exercising its wings. They have to practice and build up their muscles. GIF from Permuted.

But sometimes there are misfires, and instead of soaring effortlessly like their parents, they plop down onto the ground with a thud. If that doesn't cause any damage (baby birds are pretty bouncy and resilient) they end up wandering in traffic, since many of the nest sites are on buildings surrounded by a sea of cars and pavement. A rooftop nest is nice and safe from terrestrial predators, but if the chicks end up in the road, they are at risk of being run over by cars. Please drive extra cautiously when you are in urban areas with tall buildings, and when gulls are flying low over the road or are in the road. Don't assume they will deftly fly out of your way - many of these young birds simply can't. I've seen quite a few flattened chicks on my walks in downtown Monterey, and it's a tragedy that can be prevented if we all drive cautiously, pay attention, and don't assume the bird will fly. Give these little guys a chance at being a gull! Gulls will be fledging from mid-July through mid-August. Drive safe.

If you see an injured gull, you can of course call the SPCA for Monterey County Wildlife Rehabilitation Center at (831) 264-5427.