{"id":9202,"date":"2017-06-20T15:59:07","date_gmt":"2017-06-20T19:59:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=9202"},"modified":"2017-06-20T15:59:07","modified_gmt":"2017-06-20T19:59:07","slug":"in-your-words-vasha-brunelle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/in-your-words-vasha-brunelle\/","title":{"rendered":"In Your Words: Vasha Brunelle"},"content":{"rendered":"

In Your Words is a regular feature of Mass Audubon\u2019s\u00a0<\/em>Explore<\/a> member newsletter. Each issue, a Mass Audubon member, volunteer, staff member, or supporter sha<\/em>res his or her story\u2014why Mass Audubon and protecting the nature of Massachusetts matters to them.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n
\"Vasha

Vasha Brunelle \u00a9 Frank Brunelle<\/p><\/div>\n

Growing up in Connecticut, most of my free time was spent outdoors, usually in the woods or swamps. As an adult living on Martha\u2019s Vineyard, I returned to the woods for long walks and started painting local birds.<\/p>\n

About 12 years ago, a friend suggested I get involved at Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary<\/a>. Since then, I have monitored horseshoe crabs for their citizen science project, painted several signs and murals, and served as the secretary for the Felix Neck sanctuary committee. But, perhaps, the most exciting and challenging opportunity came when I began volunteering with the sanctuary\u2019s Coastal Waterbird Program<\/a> in the spring of 2013, monitoring a pair of American oystercatchers nesting in my neighborhood.<\/p>\n

Being new to nest monitoring, I needed help. The coastal waterbird coordinator at Felix Neck patiently showed me how and when to observe the birds, and what information to record. I was delighted the first time I saw a clutch of eggs in an oystercatcher scrape (a sandy, shallow nest dug by oystercatchers), horrified when a nest was lost to storm surge washover during a nor\u2019easter, and ecstatic to see for the first time a chick emerging from the grasses.<\/p>\n

\"American

American Oystercatcher \u00a9 Phil Sorrentino<\/p><\/div>\n

Since those first couple of years, I\u2019ve learned so much more about the threats to these birds, particularly predators, weather, and disturbances from beachgoers and dogs. But the birds\u2019 admirable resolve to breed and reproduce despite these challenges has inspired me. I\u2019ve become adept at speaking to people I meet while out observing\u2014answering questions or gently reminding them to be cautious in a restricted area.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s gratifying to observe and record data, knowing that all of this information serves an important purpose: to help us understand population trends and factors for reproductive success so we can adjust our strategies to provide the birds the best chance of survival. This summer, I will be monitoring a second oystercatcher nest, a tern colony, and a pair of osprey. If you see me out and about, stop and say hi!<\/p>\n

\n

Vasha Brunelle is a longtime volunteer with Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary’s Coastal Waterbird program<\/a>, which you can learn more about on their\u00a0webpage.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In Your Words is a regular feature of Mass Audubon\u2019s\u00a0Explore member newsletter. Each issue, a Mass Audubon member, volunteer, staff member, or supporter shares his or her story\u2014why Mass Audubon and protecting the nature of Massachusetts matters to them. Growing up in Connecticut, most of my free time was spent outdoors, usually in the woods […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":68,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[174],"tags":[121,182],"class_list":["post-9202","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-in-your-words","tag-citizen-science","tag-coastal-waterbird-program"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t87A-2oq","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":10655,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/in-your-words-eckerson-brothers\/","url_meta":{"origin":9202,"position":0},"title":"In Your Words: Eckerson Brothers","author":"Hillary T.","date":"March 21, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"In Your Words is a regular feature of Mass Audubon\u2019s\u00a0Explore\u00a0member newsletter. Each issue, a Mass Audubon member, volunteer, staff member, or supporter shares his or her story\u2014why Mass Audubon and protecting the nature of Massachusetts matters to them. If you have a story to share about your connection to Mass\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "In Your Words"","block_context":{"text":"In Your Words","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/in-your-words\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"In Your Words | Eckerson Brothers","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/03\/DSCF1015_fi.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/03\/DSCF1015_fi.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/03\/DSCF1015_fi.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15009,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/in-your-words-willow-age-8\/","url_meta":{"origin":9202,"position":1},"title":"In Your Words: Willow, Age 8","author":"Ryan D.","date":"December 15, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Willow is a young Mass Audubon member making a big impact. Check out our \"Nature in Your Neighborhood\" videos that highlight some of her adventures in nature, including a Fun Fungi Hunt and Exploring a Vernal Pool. Nature Hero Willow, Age 8 I\u2019ve been going to Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "In Your Words"","block_context":{"text":"In Your Words","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/in-your-words\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Willow writing in her nature journal beside a vernal pool at Arcadia","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/12\/20200516_150642.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/12\/20200516_150642.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/12\/20200516_150642.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/12\/20200516_150642.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8258,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/in-your-words-jenny-villone\/","url_meta":{"origin":9202,"position":2},"title":"In Your Words: Jenny Villone","author":"Ryan D.","date":"October 4, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"In Your Words is a regular feature of Mass Audubon's\u00a0Explore member newsletter. 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