Shorebird Surveys at The Nature Conservancy Dangermond Preserve 2020-2024

Shorebird population surveys were conducted by Point Blue Conservation Science on beaches at Dangermond Preserve during winter and spring from 2020-2024. These surveys are species counts observed during a walking transect survey on the beach, and can be considered area counts for each beach segment. Beaches were divided into segments of approximately 250m length and the survey area covers the width of the beach. One observer would walk the stretch of beach recording shorebirds, seabirds, and raptors observed using binoculars. Other bird species of note were recorded when observed. The presence of coyote, pig, and racoon tracks was also recorded. Wrack deposition quantity was enumerated, using a density score (1-5), the percent of wrack that was seagrass, and the quantity of velella velella on the beach using a density score (1-5). Survey timing is not consistent due to weather related access issues, however surveys were conducted in October, November, December, January, February, and May when possible. Beaches surveyed include North Beach, Government Beach, Big Cojo Beach, Percos Beach, and Little Cojo Beach.