Seabird Monitoring Program Seeks Volunteers in Rhode Island

NORTH GRAFTON, MA – 10/23/06 - Audubon Society of Rhode Island, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, and Wildlife Rehabilitators of Rhode Island are teaming up with the Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine's Seabird Ecological Assessment Network (SEANET) to study the health of seabirds in Rhode Island through beached bird surveys conducted by volunteers.

The surveys will provide baseline information about bird health in this region and help identify and monitor mass mortality events caused by environmental contamination. Survey volunteers will walk designated stretches of beach once or twice per month in search of dead birds and record their findings. Tufts faculty will offer training to volunteers from 6:30-9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 25, at the Audubon Society of Rhode Island Environmental Education Center in Bristol, RI.

“Because seabirds are so sensitive to petroleum and other pollution, they are excellent indicators of environmental health,” said Julie Ellis, Ph.D., Tufts Department of Environmental and Population Health. “The surveys our volunteers conduct are important because they will help us assess disease and contaminants that threaten both animal and human health.”

Noting that regular monitoring of beached bird mortality is just starting in Rhode Island, Ellis added, “Our first training session held in August attracted 25 volunteers. We are hopeful that more people will join our team to protect public health by attending our Oct., 25 training session.”

SEANET will host the October 25 training session and teach volunteers how to identify and measure any specimens they find, as well as provide tips on general survey protocols. In some areas this project has been integrated into school science classes, and is a good way to get students of many ages involved in field research. To register and for specific information about the training schedule, contact Dr. Julie Ellis at 508-887-4933 or at: julie.ellis@tufts.edu.