WildLife Guards

WildLife Guards are an invaluable team of paid high school students supporting shorebird and seabird conservation during the busy summer months. Our crews assist Audubon scientists and Connecticut state biologists in our shared efforts to protect state and federally-listed bird species such as the Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern, and Common Tern.

Students engage with beach visitors, monitor wildlife, and conduct site-specific land management all in their local communities while also learning about the many different aspects of avian conservation. 

The WildLife Guards program began in 2012 in Bridgeport, CT, as part of the re-opening of Pleasure Beach to the general public. To this day, local students employed through the WildLife Guards program serve as that park’s official beach-nesting bird monitors and also help other local environmental organizations with priority habitat stewardship throughout the City.

In 2017, the WildLife Guards program expanded to Sandy Point Beach and Bird Sanctuary through a new partnership with the City of West Haven.

Top tips from the WildLife Guards! Here is the advice they give beachgoers during migration and nesting seasons:

• Time your beach walks for low tide. During high tide, our birds have very few places to go and are easily disturbed by people’s presence.
• Avoid loud or flying things near nesting areas that shorebirds may perceive as predators, such as drones, fireworks, and kites.
• Check local beach rules. Most beaches are off-limits to dogs, vehicles, and other activities from around April to September. Our preference, in support of nesting shorebirds and their tiny chicks, is for pet owners to avoid beaches altogether. Even the smallest disturbance can frighten a parent away from a nest or chick, and this can seriously harm baby birds.

As an added bonus, you can sign the pledge to “Be a Good Egg” for shorebirds to show your support!