Maritime Aquarium Seeking Volunteers To Join Regional Seal Count

SOUTH NORWALK — Most of the half million people who come to The Maritime Aquarium every year take in a harbor seal feeding during their visit. Far fewer people have the amazing opportunity of observing the wild seals that winter in Long Island Sound. Many aren’t even aware that several species of seals make the Sound their home between November and April, despite the fact that the seasonal population of seals in Long Island Sound seems to be growing.

As part of its efforts to determine a more accurate seal population number and coordinate the development of a regional seal research and management plan, The Maritime Aquarium is seeking volunteers, “citizen scientists,” to join the Norwalk component a regional seal count being held in March.

Information sessions for the March 2006 seal count will be held at The Maritime Aquarium on Thursday, January 19, and Monday, January 23. Each session will run from 7 to 8 pm; potential volunteers need attend only one of the sessions.

Training in seal identification and data collection procedures will then take place at SoundWaters in Stamford on Saturday, January 28, from noon to 4 pm, and Saturday, February 4. Each of these sessions will run from 9 am to 1 pm and again, potential volunteers need attend only one of these sessions.

The Maritime Aquarium’s Seal Census Researcher, Amy Ferland, has a leading role not only in this regional seal count but also in the Aquarium’s own Harbor Seal Census.

Visit www.SealCensus.org to learn more.

Space at the seal count information and training sessions is limited; reservations are suggested. For more information contact Ms Ferland at The Maritime Aquarium, 203-852-0700, extension 2270 or AFerland@MaritimeAquarium.org.