Community Science

Marine Debris Monitoring

*ACTIVELY SEEKING VOLUNTEERS*

Walk the beach to help WEBS monitor our local, adopted survey sites!

Contact our Stewardship Coordinator to learn more and get involved.

Project Goals:  Survey the beach for marine debris using NOAA's scientifically sound method, and collecting the debris as you go, to help document the amount and type of marine debris washing up. Use this information to observe how marine debris changes over time, raise awareness in their communities, and inform local management actions.

Time Commitment:  Conduct regular surveys year-round at your leisure. Each survey takes 30 minutes to 2 hours to complete. 

Required Training/Experience: Watch training videos on NOAA’s MDMAP website (available in English and Spanish), and/or join an experienced volunteer for your first survey(s).

Black Oystercatcher Monitoring

Project Goals: Monitor the nesting success of Black Oystercatchers to help the Bird Alliance learn how to best protect this charismatic species and their rocky intertidal habitat.

Time Commitment: Visit known nest sites every week through the breeding season (May to August). Observe each nest for up to 30 minutes. 

Required Training/Experience: No birding experience required! Training is offered but not required.

Snowy Plover Patrol

Project Goals: Monitor snowy plover presence and breeding productivity on Oregon’s north coast to help assess the health of this adorable and vulnerable species, collect data to inform management decisions, and provide education and outreach to the public.

Time Commitment: Ideally, volunteers conduct at least one survey per month and/or weekly nest monitoring (if nests are found). Surveys typically take 2-5 hours. 

Required Training/Experience: All volunteers must attend a 4-hour virtual or in-person classroom training, plus varying levels of field training depending on survey type (ranging from 2-20 survey hours), and feel confident identifying snowy plovers (which will be covered during training).

Photo by Michael Krall, WEBS Board President

Beached Bird Survey

Project Goals: Survey for beached birds to help assess the health of seabird populations and identify patterns in seabird mortality along the West Coast. 

When: Conduct monthly surveys on an un-surveyed beach of your choosing. Surveys typically take 2-5 hours to complete.

Required Training/Experience: Virtual and/or in-person training is required. Volunteers must be comfortable handling dead birds. 

Seabird Productivity Monitoring

Project Goals: Monitor the nesting success of cormorants to assess population health. 

When: Visit known nest sites every week through the breeding season (June to September). Observe each nest for 15 to 60 minutes. 

Required Training/Experience: No training or experience is required, staff or experienced volunteers will join you for your first survey(s). 

Sea Star Wasting Syndrome Monitoring

Project Goals: Document the prevalence of sea star wasting syndrome by documenting observations of both diseased and healthy sea stars.

When: Whenever you want!

Required Training/Experience: No training or experience is required. Familiarity with sea star identification and disease symptoms is helpful, but identification resources are provided and photos can be sent to staff for help with species and disease identification.