The spatial distribution and abundance of migratory waterbirds in New England fluctuates seasonally, with peaks observed at floating shellfish aquaculture farms in late summer and early fall when human oyster consumption is typically highest. During this period in 2021, elevated bird numbers at one aquaculture farm in Rhode Island, USA coincided with a Campylobacter outbreak that caused illness in a few people, raising concerns that bird fecal matter may have contributed to the outbreak. In response to this concern, our research aimed to assess the relationship between bird abundance and the presence of fecal coliforms and Campylobacter at floating aquaculture farms in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. We conducted weekly land-based waterbird surveys from July to October each year from 2020 through 2024 to determine the migration phenology for all bird species using floating shellfish gear. In 2023 and 2024, we also collected weekly samples of water and oyster meat from a subset of aquaculture farms where the land-based surveys were conducted concurrently. Water and oyster meat samples were processed to quantify fecal coliform levels and to determine the presence or absence of Campylobacter. In 2023, bird abundance for species that roost on floating shellfish gear (i.e., terns, gulls, and cormorants) was relatively low compared to previous years, limiting our ability to assess the correlation between bird abundance, fecal coliform levels, and the presence of Campylobacter. Fecal coliform levels were below the action level for water samples (geometric mean < 14 MPN/100ml), and Campylobacter was not detected in oyster meats or water. In 2024, bird abundance on floating shellfish gear increased across study sites, providing a promising opportunity to further investigate the relationship between bird abundance and the presence of fecal coliforms and Campylobacter on aquaculture farms. We will present results from the 2024 field season as part of this presentation.