Dedication to Data

Fortunately, COASSTers do not have to identify patterns in
large flocks of live birds, like this mixed group of shorebirds
on John and Joyce's Ocean Park Beach. Patterns of beached
birds, however, are a bit more manageable

As I’ve chronicled here in this blog, one of the interesting aspects of the COASST program to me is the great diversity of reasons why program volunteers participate and are motivated to stick with the effort. In contrast to some other citizen science programs I’ve worked with, I’ve found that the range of reasons to commit to a monthly post-mortem bird survey are expansive, adding up to a truly remarkable collection of folks from all walks of life. My conversations today with California COASSTer Sharon (Samoa Bay Street S) and Washington COASSTers John and Joyce (Ocean Park N) impressed me in particular because of the real attention and respect these volunteers have for the data that is collected as a part of the COASST program. When asked what they value most about COASST participation, all three quickly noted how much they appreciate the rigorous, unique, and detailed information collected by participants. Of course they enjoy other aspects of their monthly surveys as well, but the biggest draw for these folks is a strong sense that the information they are helping to collect is both constructive and indispensable. In other words, they are quite confident that the statistics they amass add up to a worthwhile effort, making participation all the more valuable. As John shared, “you couldn’t come down here for a week and count birds along this whole twelve mile peninsula and come up with much, but if you have different people recording each section over a year or two or three years time, you start getting a pattern.” And he is exactly right.  The research completed by COASST has exposed a number of critical patterns when it comes to sea and shorebird distribution and mortality, patterns that not only can be used to protect and preserve birds and their habitats, but that would have very likely never been detected otherwise, at least not at such scope and scale. A sense that their contributions matter, that they are robust, and that they are effective - all reasons why Sharon, John, and Joyce keep coming back for more COASSTal fun!