2024 Meeting of the American Oystercatcher Working Group
The 2024 American Oystercatcher Working Group Meeting will be held virtually and in Wachapreague, Virginia at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science Eastern Shore Lab’s Seaside Hall. The meeting will be two full days (December 3-4) and a half-day field trip on Thursday December 5th. The meeting will begin at 9:00 am on Tuesday and Wednesday, with virtual attendees able to log in at 8:30 am.
Ready to join us? Register here!
Meeting Documents
Cost
Virtual registration is $30/person and Zoom links will be sent out individually prior to the meeting. In-person registration is $135/person and includes breakfast (Tues/Wed), lunch (Tues/Wed), group dinner on Tuesday and meeting coffee/snack breaks. Lodging and add-on costs for field trip lunch are separate. All payments will be accepted through online registration. Registration deadline will be November 22nd for in-person and December 2nd for virtual.
Deadlines
In-person registration: If you will be attending in-person, the deadline to register is November 22nd.
Virtual registration: If you will be attending remotely, the deadline to register is December 2nd.
Field Trip
A half-day field trip, by boat, is scheduled on the morning of Thursday December 5th, 8:30-11:30am. We will leave from Wachapreague Harbor, within walking distance from Seaside Hall, to go see several high tide roosts of oystercatchers within the seaside barrier island/lagoon system. A box lunch option will be provided during registration.
Lodging
Dorm-style lodging will be available on-site at VIMS’s new Residence Hall, within walking distance to Seaside Hall, for $20/night/person with two bunk beds per room. Information on other local inn/hotel accommodations is provided for attendees who want to arrange their own lodging. Lodging will be opened at noon on Monday December 2nd and attendees will be able to check in on their own having been provided details of where they are staying. Note: there are a limited number of single occupancy rooms available at the same cost as the dorm rooms in a house separate from the dorm. These rooms will be on a first come, first served basis when indicated on registration.
A block of rooms has been reserved at the Wachapreague Inn which is also within walking distance to Seaside Hall. Please visit their website to see options and pricing and mention you are with the AMOY Working Group when making a reservation.
Meals
All meals that are provided during the meeting will include a variety of options, including vegetarian options. Please indicate specific dietary restrictions during registration. Dining options in Wachapreague are limited.
Breakfast (included in registration): A light breakfast (quiche/casseroles, bagels, fruit, granola bars, coffee) will be provided on Tuesday and Wednesday at Seaside Hall, 7:00 am-8:30 am.
Lunch (included in registration): We will order lunches from local restaurants to be delivered to Seaside Hall on Tuesday and Wednesday. Boxed lunches will be provided at $15/lunch for those that register for the field trip.
Snacks: Coffee, snacks and drinks will be provided during the meeting.
Dinner: Dinners on Monday night and Thursday night (if you are staying) are on your own. Local restaurant information will be provided. A buffet style dinner on Tuesday night (included in registration) will be at the Island House Restaurant in Wachapreague within walking distance from lodging and Seaside Hall. A local taco truck will be on-site on Wednesday evening for dinner at the VIMS dorm. The taco truck is pay on your own and CASH ONLY.
Travel Information
The VIMS Eastern Shore Lab is located at 40 Atlantic Avenue, Wachapreague, Virginia 23480.
The closest airport to Wachapreague is Norfolk International Airport, approximately a 1.25 hour drive. Travelers will be encouraged to carpool to and from the airport and the Local Organizing Committee will assist with making arrangements for shuttles if need be.
CHESAPEAKE BAY BRIDGE TUNNEL: If arriving from the south, remember the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel has a $16 one-way toll, cash, credit or EZPass.
Questions
Questions? Please contact anyone on the Steering Committee or Local Organizing Committee.
AMOY WG Steering Committee – Shiloh Schulte, Lindsay Addison, Raya Pruner, Tim Keyes, Sam Collins
VA Meeting Planning Committee – Mario Balitbit, Ruth Boettcher, Bridie Farmer, Ben Gluhosky, Kevin Holcomb, Zak Poulton, Alex Wilke
Quick Contacts:
Shiloh Schulte – sschulte@manomet.org
Alex Wilke – awilke@tnc.org; 757.635.3113
Ruth Boettcher – ruth.boettcher@dgif.virginia.gov; 757.706.0766