Volunteers needed for World Shorebird Day count
For the sixth year, the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation will participate in global shorebird counts as part of World Shorebirds Day, with the 2021 count window to be held from Sept. 1-7.
The counts have been conducted during the first week of September since 2014 to spread awareness about shorebird conservation and gather longitudinal data. The SCCF is seeking volunteers to help.
The surveys are typically conducted by SCCF staff, but this year it is hoping to engage volunteers who are interested in learning more about shorebirds. Staff will cover the west end of Sanibel and Captiva.
Volunteers are being enlisted for Sept. 7 at 7:30 a.m. to cover the east end of Sanibel from the Sanibel Lighthouse to Tarpon Bay Road. The survey routes range from one-half to 1.25 mile and are divided up by available parking. Volunteers will need transportation, binoculars and an A, B, or C Sanibel parking pass. No experience is necessary.
The SCCF reported that worldwide shorebird populations are declining at alarming rates, and the need for research and monitoring to aid in their conservation is greater than ever. The World Shorebirds Day project is relatively new compared to other long-running survey efforts, such as the Audubon Christmas Bird Count; however, over time, the data will help researchers identify trends in global populations.
Those interested in volunteering can email SCCF Shorebird Biologist Audrey Albrecht at shorebirds@SCCF.org.