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PHOTO: CYNTHIA HARTLEY

SHOREBIRD RECOVERY PROGRAM- EDUCATION

BEACH NATURALIST 

Outreach is the heart of our Shorebird Recovery program. Both Ormond and Hollywood are public beaches and become very busy during the summertime, which corresponds to peak nesting time. A strong outreach program gives the community access to the special species that live on these beaches, while teaching them to cherish and respect these sensitive wildlife. It also give the community ownership in protecting the beach and a desire to teach others.​

REGISTER FOR THE NEXT BEACH NATURALIST WORKSHOP
*What is a beach naturalist?  See below!

Interested in protecting our beaches and wildlife? Join our team! Sign up for our upcoming training workshop  which will be in the City of Port Hueneme.  Register and we will send driving instructions.

  • Check-in begins at 8:30 AM. Coffee, a light breakfast, lunch, and refreshments will be provide

  • The morning includes classroom presentations on program basics, snowy plover and least tern conservation, and volunteer responsibilities.

  • After a short break, we will head to the beach for about an hour of hands-on field training, including a dune ecology lecture and a lesson in spotting snowy plovers with binoculars.

  • The day concludes around 1:30 PM.


We look forward to welcoming you!

SIgn up in advance - limit 25 volunteers per training class

Contact volunteer@venturaaudubon.org if you have any questions

WHAT IS A BEACH NATURALIST?

​As a beach naturalist, you will educate and inform visitors to area beaches as part of the Shorebird Recovery Program.  You will teach them about western snowy plovers and California least terns and how to help these birds.

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Become a trained volunteer by attending a free half day workshop, sign up bottom of page:

  • Morning session: in-person classroom learning

  • Late morning/early afternoon: Practice what you learn in classroom -  field training at either  Ormond, Hollywood and Hueneme Beaches

 

Volunteers learn about the following topics by a Ventura Audubon Biologist and Outreach Coordinator:

  • Beach/Dune Ecology: History and Processes of the Beach

  • Biology/Ecology of Western Snowy Plover and CA Least Terns

  • Rules and Regulations pertaining to locations we serve

  • Data collection to support population recovery and wrack abundance

  • ​Dog Ranger Program mission and outreach methods

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After volunteers have completed training, they sign up for two 2-hour beach shifts per month through September at either Ormond or Hollywood Beach and share their knowledge.  

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This work is supported by a Whale Tail grant
RESOURCES FOR BEACH NATURALISTS

VOLUNTEER WORK

  • Tideline Surveys - snowy plovers and shorebird migrants

    • Walk the tideline at Ormond Beach and help monitor snowy plovers and least terns. We're tracking how many adults and chicks you spot to support ongoing conservation efforts.

  • Wrack Abundance surveys

  • Fence maintenance and putting up fence signs

  • Recruiting dog rangers

    • Dogs can be a major disturbance to shorebirds, but they can also be protectors! Through our Dog Rangers program, we educate dog owners on how their pups can help rather than harm shorebirds. Outreach takes place at tabling events, where we engage with dogs and their owners. A Dog Ranger makes four promises to follow while at the beach. ​

  • Assist with nest surveys

  • Banded bird reports

  • Greeting beach-goers, conducting outreach, and education

After digging out resetting mesh higher.
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Fence and Sign Maintenance: Ormond and Hollywood Beaches fence the breeding / nesting habitat of both plovers and terns to prevent trespassing and destruction of the habitat. These fences need to be periodically installed, removed and maintained. Volunteers can be expected to assist with small repairs and projects aimed to improve and support these installations.

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Outreach and Education: Many visitors to our beaches come from out of town or are simply unaware of the designation of critical habitat and the role it plays in the continued recovery of more than 26 special status species. As a Volunteer for VAS it is important that you communicate with beach goers about the importance of following the rules and the critical nature of these locations. Birding pamphlets, crafts, dog information and educational handouts with more information are available to use and distribute. VAS from time to time will also participate in community events with our popular “Plover Pals” activity, a educational craft, that teaches young kids about the importance of plovers as they create their own plover chick.

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Nest Surveys (Assist): VAS Biologist perform weekly biological assessments and surveys at Ormond, occasionally Volunteers may be invited to assist or accompany a Biologist. Through this Volunteers can venture supervised by a Biologist into the habitat to help with predator exclosures, collect nesting data and habitat metrics. You may even get to see chicks!

Beach Naturais Registrain
What is a beach naturlist

VAS would like to thank all of the volunteers who attended our naturalist training this year as well as all of those who returned from previous years and spent time on the beaches helping to protect our nesting birds. Volunteers also assisted monitors with fence installation and repair, trash pickup, and sign installation throughout the season!

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