Last year the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds helped to teach elementary school children about some of Connecticut’s most imperiled avian species, ensuring that they learn about why it is so important to share the shore with these conservation-priority waterbirds. Respecting wildlife is a fundamental aspect of our species stewardship of the Earth – at least if we want to survive on it! These students gave back to their world by creating wonderful, unique art to teach and inspire beachgoers as they flock to the shore for the summer. You can see some of these signs focused on the Piping Plover and the American Oystercatcher below.
During string fencing and signage erection we include some of these signs at some of our busier beaches as a more heartwarming and novel form of outreach. The art definitely stands out against the sand, water, and sometimes the cityscapes of our very developed shoreline.
They also make much more of an impact on the average beachgoer, and we find vandalism and damage to these signs is less than what occurs to standard “NO DOG” or “STAY AWAY” signage.
In short, our work is a win, win, win scenario for art, education and conservation, for children, adults, and anyone who can share the shore with our endangered bird neighbors. Please email us at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com if you have a large group of children who would like to complete a similar project, or if you want to contribute to the effort in some other way – as a monitor, a donor, or a helping hand.
Scott Kruitbosch
Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
