Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds update #10

This is the tenth update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2012 season. It includes reports of Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern, and Common Tern received from 12:00 p.m. on May 14 through 12:00 p.m. on May 21 with sightings of birds spanning May 14 through May 20 by our staff and volunteers.

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover

Volunteer and staff surveys:

1 pair, 1 adult, 2 nests at Harkness Memorial State Park on 5/14

8 adults, 5 nests at Milford Point on 5/14

1 pair, 1 nest at East Broadway Milford on 5/15

2 pairs, 2 adults, 4 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/15

1 pair at Silver Sands State Park on 5/15

1 pair, 1 nest at East Broadway Milford on 5/16

1 pair at Silver Sands State Park on 5/16

1 pair, 7 adults, 5 nests at Milford Point on 5/16

1 pair at Silver Sands State Park on 5/16

1 pair, 8 adults, 6 nests at Sandy/Morse Points 5/16

4 pairs, 1 adult, 5 nests at Sandy/Morse Points 5/17

1 pair, 6 adults, 5 nests at Milford Point on 5/17

1 pair at Silver Sands State Park on 5/17

1 pair, 4 adults, 6 nests at Sandy/Morse Points 5/17

6 pairs, 6 nests at Bluff Point on 5/18

1 pair, 1 adult, 2 nests at Harkness Memorial State Park on 5/18

7 adults, 2 nests at Long Beach on 5/19

2 pairs, 4 adults, 5 nests at Milford Point on 5/19

3 pairs, 2 adults, 3 nests at Long Beach on 5/19

6 pairs, 1 adult, 6 nests at Milford Point on 5/20

1 pair, 3 adults, 3 nests at Long Beach on 5/20

7 pairs, 1 adult, 5 nests, 4 hatchlings at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/20 – first hatchlings of 2012

American Oystercatcher

Volunteer and staff surveys:

2 pairs at Menunketesuck Island on 5/14

2 pairs, 1 nest at Milford Point on 5/14

3 pairs, 1 adult, 2 nests and 1 possible at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/15

1 pair, 1 nest at Milford Point on 5/16

1 adult at Fayerweather Island Bridgeport on 5/16

4 pairs, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/16

3 pairs, 1 adult, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points 5/17

1 pair at Milford Point on 5/17

1 pair at Vincent Island on 5/17

1 pair at Cockenoe Island on 5/17

2 pairs, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/17

1 pair at Penfield Reef on 5/17

2 pairs at Duck Island on 5/17

3 pairs at Menunketesuck Island on 5/17

1 adult at Outer Island (Thimble Isands) on 5/18

1 adult at Grass Island (Guilford) on 5/18

1 pair at Bluff Point on 5/18

1 pair, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/19

2 pairs at Milford Point on 5/19

4 adults, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/19

2 pairs at Milford Point on 5/19

1 pair, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/19

1 pair, 1 nest at Milford Point on 5/20

3 pairs, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/20

Least Tern 

Volunteer and staff surveys:

4 adults at Menunketesuck Island on 5/14

6 adults at Milford Point on 5/14

27 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/15

22 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/15

3 adults at Stratford Point on 5/16

2 pairs, 13 adults at Long Beach on 5/16

25 adults at Silver  Sands State Park on 5/16

28 adults at Milford Point on 5/16

7 adults at Sandy/Morse Points 5/17

2 adults at Cockenoe Island on 5/17

50 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/17

11 adults at Bluff Point on 5/18

66 adults at Long Beach on 5/19

36 adults at Long Beach on 5/19

50-75 adults at Milford Point on 5/20

70-80 adults at Long Beach on 5/20

Common Tern

Volunteer and staff surveys:

17 adults at Menunketesuck Island on 5/14

2 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/15

9 adults at Stratford Point on 5/16

3 adults at Long Beach on 5/16

5 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/16

4 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/16

65 adults at Fayerweather Island Bridgeport on 5/16

19 adults at Compo Beach Westport on 5/16

4 adults at Milford Point on 5/16

125 adults at Cockenoe Island on 5/17

2 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/17

2 adults at Bluff Point on 5/18

6 adults at Harkness Memorial State Park on 5/18

2 adults at Milford Point on 5/19

During a survey of Duck Island while USFWS and AAfCW staff set up signage and checked on conditions they were able to spot 7 Roseate Tern, the first of the season. 2 Black Skimmer were noted by volunteer Dave Zawisha on 5/17 at Penfield Reef in Fairfield. We would like information on both species whenever possible please.

We will soon be on the waters of Long Island Sound in greater frequency monitoring some of the offshore islands and other typically inaccessible areas for our four focal species, long-legged waders, other tern and shorebird species, and more. This passive monitoring will be by boat and not on any actual islands, ensuring the birds have sufficient space in order to continue their nesting unaffected. If you are interested in participating in some of these boat surveys please email us and we will be in contact with you.

This concludes update #10 through 5/21/12 as of 4:00 p.m.

Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, Audubon Connecticut and the Connecticut Audubon Society partnering to improve conditions for coastal waterbirds in Connecticut.