written in 2017...
This is a coordinated set of brief synchronized "seawatches" at two-dozen [this number increased to 70!] coastal locations along the 100-mile Connecticut shore (AND now being extended to the New York shore) of LIS Long Island Sound. It will happen on two dates in 2017: March 25 and April 9.
We need volunteer bird watchers to count (estimate the numbers of) gulls and other "water birds" in and around LIS waters offshore (from the beach out as far as the eye can see). And then to report those numbers back to us by email or eBird (to the dedicated "LIS seawatch" account). That's all. If you are interested please contact any one of the Admin Team, or email to robben99@gmail.com
The main goal is to learn more about the changing bird numbers & distributions, and the changing marine ecosystem. The results of these counts will be a baseline which can be used for comparison in future years, in future decades. This project will also hopefully get more people thinking more about the LIS as one integrated ecosystem, with lots of connections and interdependencies, including those between its human and natural aspects.
A byproduct of this exercise is a demonstration that our community of bird watchers and other naturalists can quickly mobilize to express our interests, to contribute to science, to show that we care about the whole ecosystem (both human and nature, both short-term and longer-term), and more generally to take real and constructive action when needed.
This project is being created by many CT & NY birders taking a "snapshot" count at a point in time, of "all" gulls and other birds in Long Island Sound (in CT and NY coastal LIS waters) on 2017 March 25 and April 9, and 2018 March 25. A dozen more blue count icons need to be added to map above to show our full coverage, including a few more points on NY side.
