Through this systematic approach, fluctuations in populations of birds, marine mammals, and other marine organisms may become apparent. This information is being archived in a long-term computerized data set. Photographs of stranded animals and beach profiles are also archived. This will provide a wealth of information not only to the Sanctuary staff, but to other agencies and researchers as well. Beach Watch volunteers provide additional eyes and ears for the Sanctuary.
Volunteers are often the first on the scene of a boat grounding.
They find and report oil or tar balls on a beach, and learn to collect and preserve oil samples as evidence. Volunteers have discovered rare stranded marine mammals and seabirds. They record the return of the first shorebirds and note when gull numbers and diversity change from season to season. They monitor endangered species and help count the gray whales migrating off our coast. The Volunteer Network Surveying a beach on a regular basis allows volunteers to discover, record, and learn about subtle changes in their particular area both seasonally and annually.