On Saturday, June 1, the Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST) will deliver a training session on Lopez Island, WA. COASST participants help make a difference for the environment by collecting data on beach-cast carcasses of marine birds on a monthly basis to establish the baseline pattern of beached bird mortality on North Pacific beaches.

Through an interactive, hands-on workshop, trainees will become acquainted with the custom COASST field guide, Beached Birds, and have a chance to try out their newly acquired identification skills on seabird species common to the North Pacific. The COASST training provides participants with the tools to monitor for potential changes in the marine environment and promote stewardship of local marine resources.

COASST is a citizen science project of the University of Washington in partnership with state, tribal, and federal agencies, environmental organizations, and community groups. COASST believes residents of coastal communities are essential scientific partners in monitoring marine ecosystem health. By collaborating with community members, natural resource management agencies and environmental organizations, COASST works to translate long-term monitoring into effective marine conservation solutions. Currently, nearly 800 participants survey beaches in Washington, Oregon, California, and Alaska.

The FREE training session will be held in the Lopez Island Library (2225 Fisherman Bay Rd, Lopez Island, WA 98261) from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Participants need no prior experience with scientific data collection, just a commitment to survey a specific beach at least once a month. There will be a short break in the middle of the session for lunch, so please bring your own sack lunch, or money to purchase food in the area. A refundable kit deposit is requested to take home survey materials, and deposit scholarships are available.

For more information and to reserve your training spot, call COASST at 206-221-6893 or email coasst@uw.edu. More information on COASST at coasst.org