‘My University of New Haven Education Has Prepared Me Well for this Internship’

As a coastal waterbird field intern with the Massachusetts Audubon Society, I have gained experience studying piping plovers and assisting with the organization’s conservation efforts while applying what I have learned in the classroom as a biology major.

August 28, 2020

Callum Clapp ’21

Mass Audubon’s Coastal Waterbird Program is one of the most impressive conservation programs in North America. Growing up in Massachusetts, I learned about and experienced the conservation efforts of Mass Audubon during my frequent beach visits.

My internship this summer with Mass Audubon allowed me to utilize skills I have gained through my coursework in the marine biology program at the University of New Haven. Every day in the field I use GIS mapping techniques, study coastal bird behavior, and monitor habitat health at beaches across Massachusetts. I have a strong interest in conservation and management, and this internship allows me to gain experience in this field and explore career options.

I have had the chance to learn a great deal about the piping plover, which is threatened on both a state and federal level, but due to Mass Audubon's conservation efforts, this bird has been increasing in number. By protecting the nesting and foraging areas in beaches across Massachusetts, the piping plover and several tern species have been able to make a comeback.

Communication is vital in my internship. As we physically distance, groups that go out into the field of each region are kept to a minimum with no more than four people on a trip. Any assistance that is needed is typically done over group text. With everyone scattered at beaches all throughout Massachusetts, a mass text makes it more likely that someone will receive and answer your message.

A large aspect of this internship is communicating to the public why what we are doing is so important and how each individual can make a difference. Mass Audubon requires that we wear masks at each beach during this pandemic, and while I completely agree with this decision, it makes approaching people on the beach slightly more challenging.

We typically approach those who are not following the rules of the beach, and when we are wearing masks, they cannot see our facial expressions and we can come across as aggressive. To avoid this, we have tried keeping a positive tone to our voice and using positive hand movements such as a wave. Mask wearing and keeping at least six feet away from people at the beach have made public educational opportunities slightly difficult, but we have been trying our best to push through these barriers in order to stay safe and raise awareness for the shorebirds that we are protecting.

My University of New Haven education has prepared me well for this internship. Since my first year, the marine biology program has given me experience with field data collection. Every day during this internship, I was able to go into the field and collect behavior data as well as accurate locations of field subjects. Then, I enter these data into our system where we needed to synthesize what this means for each field site. The data go directly to the State of Massachusetts.

My internship enabled me to apply what I have learned in several courses taken throughout my time at the University of New Haven. With this background, I am able to excel and learn at an extremely fast pace to make a difference in my community.

The Bergami Summer Internship Program is funded through the generosity of Board of Governors member – and former Board Chair – Sam Bergami ’85 EMBA, ’02 Hon. and his wife, Lois, and the Division of Student Affairs.