Seabird Monitoring Volunteer Training

Instructor: Hollis Bewley (Seabird Monitoring Program Coordinator)

This is a three-part training:

Seabird Training Zoom Orientation: Monday March 4th, 2024 from 6:00pm to 7:30pm via Zoom

In-person Training Visits (2):

• March 28th, 2024 from 10:00am to Noon, Bodega Head East Parking Lot.
• April 13th, 2024 from 10:30 AM to Noon, at Gleason Beach Overlook.

Stewards’ Seabird Monitoring program began in 2013, thanks to funding from the Bureau of Land Management. Stewards is partnering with the California Coastal National Monument (CCNM) to monitor breeding seabirds off the Sonoma Coast and is a local Chapter of the Seabird Protection Network.

The Seabird Protection Network works to reduce human disturbance to seabirds and other wildlife along the California coast through an organized outreach and education program combined with law enforcement and seabird management actions. The first step is to monitor local breeding colonies to identify the sources and impact of disturbances. Monitoring the productivity of the species raising their families on these offshore rocks provides documentation of the impact of any disturbance as well as the establishment of new colonies. Seabirds can be flushed off nests by hikers, low-flying planes and helicopters, boats and paddlers, drones, hang gliders and fireworks.

Tasks: Seabird monitors collect monitoring equipment and drive to one of three observation sites and use the data sheets to record information such as weather, number of individuals observed, and species present. New volunteers are always paired with experienced mentors.