CoastWatch is hosting a Coast Conference South in Coos Bay on Saturday, May 31.

This is a full-day opportunity for people to increase their knowledge of the coast in ways that will enhance work as CoastWatch mile adopters, and to acquire new skills for monitoring the shoreline. Beaches, tidepools, birds, invasive species and the effects of climate change will all be on the agenda.

The free public event will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Hales Center for the Performing Arts at Southwestern Oregon Community College, 1988 Newmark Ave., in Coos Bay, with field trips following.

Marine ecologist Cynthia Trowbridge will lead with a basic ecological tour of “The World of the Rocky Shores,” providing background information on a wide range of animals and seaweeds that occupy tidepools and other rocky intertidal areas.  

She will be followed by veteran Coos County natural history educator Marty Giles, speaking on “The World of the Beach.”  

Leading off the afternoon, geologist Jonathan Allan of Oregon’s Department of Geology and Mineral Industries will speak on the topic of “Extreme storms, El Niños and sea level rise due to Earth’s changing climate.”  

The afternoon will feature two special workshops.  One, led by Cynthia Trowbridge, will focus on invasive species of the shoreline.  

The other workshop, led by Dawn Grafe of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, will help participants learn to identify seabirds and shorebirds found on the Oregon coast.

The day will conclude with field trips to both sandy and rocky shorelines.

Registration will begin at 9 a.m., with the conference running from 9:30 a.m. to about 4 p.m., field trips following.  

No pre-registration is necessary.  

Attendees should be sure to bring a lunch, or plan to eat in the cafeteria located in the building.  

For more information, those interested can call Diane or Dave Bilderback at 347-1335 or e-mail dbilderback@mycomspan.com.