On July 4, 2026, volunteers from the AYLUS Roslyn Branch were invited to work at Jones Beach to monitor the piping plover nests and areas.
Volunteers arrived around 5:00 P:M at Field 1 at Jones Beach to register themselves as part of the volunteering program. We were given working vests, hats, sandwiches, and flashlights for when it got dark by the other staff and supervisors. Volunteers also had a choice to stay at Field 1, or go to Field 2, as the plover nests, which were an endangered species in the area, were spread throughout the beach. There was also an option given to stay in an area between the two, which is where the volunteers chose to go.
Once we arrived at our designated area, we were able to set up our equipment, such as towels and chairs to sit on, and umbrellas. This allowed us to monitor the nests for a prolonged period of time, as well as stay close to the area to prevent other passersby from entering the area.
One issue we ran into was that one of the plover nests was far from the usual site, more towards the shoreline. We ran into some incidents where beach-goers tried setting up tents on the vacant nest, as well as walking over it, so volunteers remained around the general site to ensure that it wasn’t disturbed, as well as notifying nearby staff and supervisors so that everything went smoothly.
While volunteering, we were also able to learn about the nearby wildlife and plovers, such as their sleeping schedules and habitats. We were also able to watch the firework show, making it a very fun and knowledgeable experience!
Reporter: Miles Hu
Participants: Jasmine Lin (5 hours), Kayden Cheng (5 hours), Miles Hu (5 hours)
