Florida’s Rookery Bay Team OCEAN (Ocean Conservation Education Action Network) recently received Audubon’s Guy Bradley Award for work to protect and educate about the reserve’s natural resources and beach-nesting birds.

Team OCEAN volunteers post and maintain crossover trails and “Important Nesting Area” signs that alert visitors of the beach-nesting birds. They also help with shore bird and sea turtle monitoring, respond to reports of wildlife in distress, and provide outreach and education to boaters, residents, and visitors regarding the protection of natural resources within the reserve.

“Rookery Bay is honored to receive this recognition from Audubon,” said Keith Laakkonen, Rookery Bay Research Reserve director. “Team OCEAN works hard to get the word out about some of the reserve’s unique coastal habitats such as Second Chance CWA and Keewaydin Island, and we’ve made great strides in reaching tourists, residents and boaters about the importance of our natural resources and how to help protect our resident beach-nesting birds.”

During the first half of 2017, Team OCEAN’s 58 volunteers donated over 2,000 collective hours. Learn more about volunteer opportunities with Rookery Bay and Team OCEAN.