A Good Tern

 Volunteers needed to protect Hancock County's first Least Tern colony:  it's easy, family-friendly and fun!

More Shoofly Stories!

Least Tern chicks are extremely vulnerable. Photo by John Wilkerson

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Volunteers Brook and Roseanna de Buys, 2015

Hang out on the beach over the Fourth of July while helping protect an endangered species?  Absolutely.  Become a Volunteer Beach Steward with Audubon's Mississippi Coastal Bird Stewardship Program! 

It's easy to get involved.  Start by attending a one-hour workshop at the Pass Christian Library 5:30pm - 6:30pm on Monday, June 27th. ​

Hancock County's first Least Tern colony on the beach in Waveland (near the BSL town line) is especially at risk and in need of stewards.  Markers and signs posted by volunteers have been disappearing and the colony seems to have shrunken significantly since Memorial Day.

Volunteer Bird Stewards are needed 4th of July weekend-August 2016. As a bird steward you will:

1) Protect Least Terns and Black Skimmers by ensuring beach-goers do not enter vulnerable beach-nesting bird sites. Volunteers are needed the most during the 4th of July weekend (July 1-5, 2016) due to heavy beach use!

2) Help educate beach-goers about beach-nesting birds that rely on Mississippi coastal beaches to raise their young.

3) Participate in Volunteer training and orientation. Select from the list of dates.

4) Select a beach-nesting bird site in Biloxi, Gulfport, Long Beach, Pass Christian, or Waveland. (complete list available at training)

No experience is necessary. Training will be provided. Families are encouraged to participate! To register online, go to:   https://goo.gl/rEHaKo. Questions? Contact Amanda, Audubon Volunteer Manager, at (228) 285-0449 or [email protected].

Click here to read the Shoofly's 2015 article about the program! 

One of the new Waveland colony Least Terns, photo by John WIlkerson

The terns lay their eggs directly on the sand, making them extremely vulnerable to destruction by unknowing beach-goers. Photo of eggs and tern on nest by John WIlkerson