A tentative date has been set to put up string fencing and signage at Griswold Point on Friday, April 5. All volunteers are welcome including those who are not monitors. The plan is to meet with staff from The Nature Conservancy at 10:00AM as at that time we should have good walking access down the beach. TNC staff will verify this access is feasible later in the week to ensure there is a good window of opportunity on either side of low tide. If this date changes due to tides or a storm system we will post notice as soon as possible.
Volunteers should bring: work gloves, water, sunscreen,
sunglasses, hats and whatever else you may need avoid too much sun.
Depending on the weather, a wind breaker might be necessary – it can be
surprisingly cold and windy on the beach in April. A pocket knife or multi-tool can be
handy and if anyone has a sledge hammer they can bring those can
also be helpful. Plan for heavy lifting and toting, but be mindful of
your safety. We do not want any injuries.
AAfCW field staff is reduced in 2013 and will not be on until May, and your help for this and future fencing parties is absolutely needed and much appreciated! Email us at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com if are going to help out and we will let you know about site access and where the group will meet prior to the operation. Thank you!
UPDATE on April 1: We are all set for this fencing date and it is a go. We will meet at the park and ride commuter lot off exit 70 of Interstate 95 on Neck Rd. to carpool to Griswold Point.
Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, Audubon Connecticut and the
Connecticut Audubon Society partnering to improve conditions for coastal
waterbirds in Connecticut.
PIPL
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
USFWS volunteer patch and clothing
A number of volunteers have asked where they can get USFWS volunteer clothing or hats. These can be helpful for identification in the field, but please also always remember to have your USFWS volunteer identification card with you whenever you are monitoring. Shaun Roche asked that I pass along this link to buy a patch that you can affix to a hat or shirt: http://westernheritagestore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WHC&Product_Code=FWS204&Category_Code=FWS
In past years a volunteer hat and t-shirt have been provided to everyone by USFWS at no charge. However, this year things changed because of the sequestration and increased costs for the goods. In order to provide them for possibly over 100 monitors it would have cost at least $1,500 and it was not possible for them to be purchased at this time by USFWS. The very limited refuge budget could not be stretched that far. Please keep in mind that you are not required to purchase anything, and that this is only for people who are interested in doing so on their own.
Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, Audubon Connecticut and the Connecticut Audubon Society partnering to improve conditions for coastal waterbirds in Connecticut.
In past years a volunteer hat and t-shirt have been provided to everyone by USFWS at no charge. However, this year things changed because of the sequestration and increased costs for the goods. In order to provide them for possibly over 100 monitors it would have cost at least $1,500 and it was not possible for them to be purchased at this time by USFWS. The very limited refuge budget could not be stretched that far. Please keep in mind that you are not required to purchase anything, and that this is only for people who are interested in doing so on their own.
Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, Audubon Connecticut and the Connecticut Audubon Society partnering to improve conditions for coastal waterbirds in Connecticut.
Monday, March 25, 2013
Negative data
One important point that I wanted to mention that had not been brought up during the training sessions or as of yet in our blog this year was our need for negative data. What does that mean? When you go out and monitor on your beaches you may see a lot of our target species...or you may end up seeing none of them. It has been cold and snowy so far in March 2013 and it may continue some into April. Even some of the traditionally busiest beaches are still devoid of Piping Plovers.
If you visit a beach, monitor for your scheduled time, observe and speak to beachgoers, and see no birds, we still want to have your data! This negative data is important to us in a bunch of ways. It lets us know that you were there on the beach at your scheduled time and that birds were simply not there (instead of say that you had to miss monitoring that day). We can still learn about any disturbances and human activities on the beach even if there are no birds to report. We can record arrival dates more accurately and target our staff to sites more appropriately.
Later in the season when the birds have returned the negative reports are still important. Places like Silver Sands State Park had trouble holding any Piping Plovers last year and did not have any nesting pairs. A report of no Piping Plovers seen there in May is extremely important to us. While we would much rather read a wonderful account of so many of our species being recorded by all of you we still need to receive monitoring data even when no birds are found whatsoever. That negative data goes a long way in helping us understand Connecticut's coastal waterbirds.
Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, Audubon Connecticut and the Connecticut Audubon Society partnering to improve conditions for coastal waterbirds in Connecticut.
If you visit a beach, monitor for your scheduled time, observe and speak to beachgoers, and see no birds, we still want to have your data! This negative data is important to us in a bunch of ways. It lets us know that you were there on the beach at your scheduled time and that birds were simply not there (instead of say that you had to miss monitoring that day). We can still learn about any disturbances and human activities on the beach even if there are no birds to report. We can record arrival dates more accurately and target our staff to sites more appropriately.
Later in the season when the birds have returned the negative reports are still important. Places like Silver Sands State Park had trouble holding any Piping Plovers last year and did not have any nesting pairs. A report of no Piping Plovers seen there in May is extremely important to us. While we would much rather read a wonderful account of so many of our species being recorded by all of you we still need to receive monitoring data even when no birds are found whatsoever. That negative data goes a long way in helping us understand Connecticut's coastal waterbirds.
Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, Audubon Connecticut and the Connecticut Audubon Society partnering to improve conditions for coastal waterbirds in Connecticut.
Friday, March 22, 2013
International Shorebird Surveys
Threats to shorebirds have become more diverse and widespread in recent decades. There has been a collapse of the Red Knot population and a free-fall in numbers of Semipalmated Sandpipers in the last 20 years. Also as a result of Hurricane Sandy, forage habitat for shorebirds along the CT coastline has likely shifted and assessment of shorebird activity is needed. As part of a hemisphere-wide effort to understand the declining trends of migratory shorebirds, International Shorebird Surveys are planned to occur along the coastline of Connecticut.
International Shorebird Surveys take place from April 1st to the end of May, and from August 15th to October 15th. We are looking for volunteers to conduct ISS at specific sites a minimum of 3 times per season. We are in particular need of volunteers to conduct ISS at Compo Beach in Westport, Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford, and Bluff Point State Park in Groton. During a survey, participants record which shorebird species are present and the number of birds of each species. The data is entered into e-bird using the ISS portal. A training session will be held on Tuesday March 26th at 6:30pm at the CAS Coastal Center at Milford Point and will focus on ISS methods and shorebird identification. A webinar may be offered for those who cannot make the training.
To volunteer or for more information, please contact Important Bird Area Program Coordinator, Corrie Folsom-O’Keefe, at cfolsom-okeefe@audubon.org or 203-264-5098 ext. 310. Thank you!
Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, Audubon Connecticut and the Connecticut Audubon Society partnering to improve conditions for coastal waterbirds in Connecticut.
International Shorebird Surveys take place from April 1st to the end of May, and from August 15th to October 15th. We are looking for volunteers to conduct ISS at specific sites a minimum of 3 times per season. We are in particular need of volunteers to conduct ISS at Compo Beach in Westport, Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford, and Bluff Point State Park in Groton. During a survey, participants record which shorebird species are present and the number of birds of each species. The data is entered into e-bird using the ISS portal. A training session will be held on Tuesday March 26th at 6:30pm at the CAS Coastal Center at Milford Point and will focus on ISS methods and shorebird identification. A webinar may be offered for those who cannot make the training.
To volunteer or for more information, please contact Important Bird Area Program Coordinator, Corrie Folsom-O’Keefe, at cfolsom-okeefe@audubon.org or 203-264-5098 ext. 310. Thank you!
Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, Audubon Connecticut and the Connecticut Audubon Society partnering to improve conditions for coastal waterbirds in Connecticut.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Looking to schedule your monitoring?
For scheduling your monitoring sessions send an email to: ctwaterbirds@gmail.com
You can pick from the following locations:
Then tell us what specific days of the month or week (such as every Friday) you want to monitor along with AM or PM. All scheduling is conducted by emailing the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, ctwaterbirds@gmail.com. That is the only place to sign-up for the schedule.
Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, Audubon Connecticut and the Connecticut Audubon Society partnering to improve conditions for coastal waterbirds in Connecticut.
You can pick from the following locations:
- Sherwood Island State Park in Westport
- Pleasure Beach in Bridgeport
- Long Beach in Stratford
- Russian Beach in Stratford
- Milford Point in Milford
- Silver Sands State Park in Milford
- Sandy/Morse Points in West Haven
- Griswold Point in Old Lyme
- Bluff Point State Park in Groton
- Sandy Point in Stonington
Then tell us what specific days of the month or week (such as every Friday) you want to monitor along with AM or PM. All scheduling is conducted by emailing the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, ctwaterbirds@gmail.com. That is the only place to sign-up for the schedule.
Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, Audubon Connecticut and the Connecticut Audubon Society partnering to improve conditions for coastal waterbirds in Connecticut.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Scheduling continues
Last Saturday, March 16, the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection held three successful training sessions for many of our fantastic volunteer monitors at the CAS Coastal Center at Milford Point. If you could not be there we would of course still love to have you monitoring shorebirds and terns in the 2013 season, and you can sign-up throughout the season by emailing us at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com. We can offer you training online and in person when possible with master monitors or later in the spring with our seasonal field staff.
We are now working hard on scheduling everyone to their desired beaches and dates that we hope to complete by April 1. As mentioned we will also be working to find master monitors who can devote some of their time to taking new monitors out early in the season to assist in giving them a feel for what we do on the beach. If you would like to help please let us know. We will soon post both the USFWS and CT DEEP PowerPoint presentations for everyone to review. We also have these videos from last season which are still applicable to the current year. Remember to check out the right-hand column of this blog for field datasheets and other important state and federal forms. If you cannot download any of these forms or have problems attempting to please email us at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com and we can send them as email attachments.
Here is a list of available monitoring locations for the 2013 season:
Choosing a beach close to you is usually best, especially if you want to help out for special events such as fireworks displays and string fencing parties. Bear in mind that Long Beach, Milford Point, and Sandy/Morse Points typically have the most monitors. Remember that we would like to have all the data we can on Piping Plovers, American Oystercatchers, and beginning when they arrive in May, Least and Common Terns. This year we have extra time before the start of the season due to the cold temperatures and continuing snow that stands in stark contrast to the 70s and 80s that dominated stretches of March 2012. We still have only one report of a Piping Plover in the state from March 5 at Long Beach! When we begin walking our beaches we want to monitor only in "good" weather to protect both people and birds - heavy rain or thunderstorms in the area or temperatures below 50 or above 90 mean you should skip that day.
We knew this year would be extremely different after Hurricane Sandy but we are already off to an amazingly odd start. We will start our weekly email updates on bird data and general information next week.
Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, Audubon Connecticut and the Connecticut Audubon Society partnering to improve conditions for coastal waterbirds in Connecticut.
We are now working hard on scheduling everyone to their desired beaches and dates that we hope to complete by April 1. As mentioned we will also be working to find master monitors who can devote some of their time to taking new monitors out early in the season to assist in giving them a feel for what we do on the beach. If you would like to help please let us know. We will soon post both the USFWS and CT DEEP PowerPoint presentations for everyone to review. We also have these videos from last season which are still applicable to the current year. Remember to check out the right-hand column of this blog for field datasheets and other important state and federal forms. If you cannot download any of these forms or have problems attempting to please email us at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com and we can send them as email attachments.
Here is a list of available monitoring locations for the 2013 season:
- Sherwood Island State Park in Westport
- Pleasure Beach in Bridgeport
- Long Beach in Stratford
- Russian Beach in Stratford
- Milford Point in Milford
- Silver Sands State Park in Milford
- Sandy/Morse Points in West Haven
- Griswold Point in Old Lyme
- Bluff Point State Park in Groton
- Sandy Point in Stonington
Choosing a beach close to you is usually best, especially if you want to help out for special events such as fireworks displays and string fencing parties. Bear in mind that Long Beach, Milford Point, and Sandy/Morse Points typically have the most monitors. Remember that we would like to have all the data we can on Piping Plovers, American Oystercatchers, and beginning when they arrive in May, Least and Common Terns. This year we have extra time before the start of the season due to the cold temperatures and continuing snow that stands in stark contrast to the 70s and 80s that dominated stretches of March 2012. We still have only one report of a Piping Plover in the state from March 5 at Long Beach! When we begin walking our beaches we want to monitor only in "good" weather to protect both people and birds - heavy rain or thunderstorms in the area or temperatures below 50 or above 90 mean you should skip that day.
We knew this year would be extremely different after Hurricane Sandy but we are already off to an amazingly odd start. We will start our weekly email updates on bird data and general information next week.
Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, Audubon Connecticut and the Connecticut Audubon Society partnering to improve conditions for coastal waterbirds in Connecticut.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Banded Sanderling
Charlie Barnard has once again had a great sighting this March and supplied us with some fascinating information and wonderful photos. His story illustrates why we should all remember to examine each of the birds of even the expected species as you never know when you will find something out of the ordinary. While at Long Beach in Stratford on March 11 Charlie spotted a flagged Sanderling among 150 or so more of the species and 200 Dunlin also present. The light green flag was on its upper left leg and read J4N. The lower right leg had the typical silver metal federal band.
Somehow Charlie managed to snap off these excellent shots by digiscoping the bird as it ran around the bird, never an easy task.
After reporting the bird to the USGS Charlie received a prompt and faster than usual reply about its origins. This Sanderling was banded at Slaughter Beach in Delaware back on May 24, 2011. At the time the bird was already at least two years old. Slaughter Beach is close to the mouth of Delaware Bay and appears to be near the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge.
The most engrossing part to me is that the bird has altered its movements in the last two years. It is here in Connecticut now in March when during spring migration in 2011 it was only in Delaware in May. This individual either decided to spend the winter here with us and not travel as far south, saving some energy going both directions, or has moved up its schedule and arrived as a migrant. That would mean it started the journey north much earlier than before, perhaps trying to be one of the first to arrive back on the nesting grounds either way. Our thanks to Charlie as always for all of his efforts! Please let us know if you ever find any exciting birds like this one.
Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, Audubon Connecticut and the Connecticut Audubon Society partnering to improve conditions for coastal waterbirds in Connecticut.
Somehow Charlie managed to snap off these excellent shots by digiscoping the bird as it ran around the bird, never an easy task.
After reporting the bird to the USGS Charlie received a prompt and faster than usual reply about its origins. This Sanderling was banded at Slaughter Beach in Delaware back on May 24, 2011. At the time the bird was already at least two years old. Slaughter Beach is close to the mouth of Delaware Bay and appears to be near the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge.
The most engrossing part to me is that the bird has altered its movements in the last two years. It is here in Connecticut now in March when during spring migration in 2011 it was only in Delaware in May. This individual either decided to spend the winter here with us and not travel as far south, saving some energy going both directions, or has moved up its schedule and arrived as a migrant. That would mean it started the journey north much earlier than before, perhaps trying to be one of the first to arrive back on the nesting grounds either way. Our thanks to Charlie as always for all of his efforts! Please let us know if you ever find any exciting birds like this one.
Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, Audubon Connecticut and the Connecticut Audubon Society partnering to improve conditions for coastal waterbirds in Connecticut.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Feeling the flow
Last week we had another taste of winter as snowfall covered Connecticut to historic depths in some areas. Even coastal locations were not spared and while we did not receive any more reports of Piping Plovers since the first sighting of the year at Long Beach in Stratford on March 5, it is likely a few individuals were running over snow-covered beaches. Following that complex system we had a beautiful surge of spring-like warmth that put temperatures well into the 50s. Such weather comes from a strong southerly flow transporting this warmer air to New England.
What else comes with such a flow in place? Returning migrant birds! While it is early in the season that type of weather only helps the birds that want to come back to Connecticut. The sunshine and calm conditions otherwise are also very appealing to birds during what is the most perilous part of their adult life, and many likely decided to push north during the past few days. There have been a couple more reports of sightings of American Oystercatchers, still all in the western half of the state. We would expect them to be spotted in the east this week. Piping Plovers should be found in multiple areas by next weekend. If anyone is out on the coast on this lovely Monday they stand a good chance of seeing one.
Groups of other wintering shorebirds are growing as they begin to stage before a larger movement. Dunlin, Sanderling, and Black-bellied Plover may be found with greater frequency and at higher numbers throughout the month. Please let us know if you see any sightings of interest, whether it is one of our focal species or a cool group of shorebirds you would like to share before we enter the season for International Shorebird Surveys.
Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, Audubon Connecticut and the Connecticut Audubon Society partnering to improve conditions for coastal waterbirds in Connecticut.
What else comes with such a flow in place? Returning migrant birds! While it is early in the season that type of weather only helps the birds that want to come back to Connecticut. The sunshine and calm conditions otherwise are also very appealing to birds during what is the most perilous part of their adult life, and many likely decided to push north during the past few days. There have been a couple more reports of sightings of American Oystercatchers, still all in the western half of the state. We would expect them to be spotted in the east this week. Piping Plovers should be found in multiple areas by next weekend. If anyone is out on the coast on this lovely Monday they stand a good chance of seeing one.
Groups of other wintering shorebirds are growing as they begin to stage before a larger movement. Dunlin, Sanderling, and Black-bellied Plover may be found with greater frequency and at higher numbers throughout the month. Please let us know if you see any sightings of interest, whether it is one of our focal species or a cool group of shorebirds you would like to share before we enter the season for International Shorebird Surveys.
Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, Audubon Connecticut and the Connecticut Audubon Society partnering to improve conditions for coastal waterbirds in Connecticut.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
First Piping Plover of 2013!
In this blog post yesterday I speculated that the return of the Piping Plover to Connecticut would take place this week if enough observers were in the field as birds had already hit Long Island. Sure enough this morning master monitor and expert birder Charlie Barnard spotted the first bird of the season at Long Beach in Stratford! March 5 is a heck of an early date to see one in our state. Charlie said that the bird was feeding in the mudflats on the marsh side of Long Beach in section 2. It did not have any bands. Charlie went the extra mile for us and looked up Piping Plover dates in Connecticut Birds by Zeranski and Baptist. He found the earliest arrival date for the species that they listed was February 27, 1982. Given the book was published over 20 years ago there may be an earlier date, but none of us can recall one immediately. Thanks Charlie for the great find and reporting it back to us!
This week's weather is very much up in the air as there is disagreement among numerical computer models and meteorologists about an impending winter storm system. There stands a chance that this bird and others will be running around on a snowy beach. Piping Plovers as a species must be familiar enough with snow as returning in March leaves open the chance they will have to deal with it even into April. Tomorrow would be a great time to check out your own beaches to see if any birds are here before the coastal low comes by with at least a good deal of wave action and wind and potentially heavy precipitation.
Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, Audubon Connecticut and the Connecticut Audubon Society partnering to improve conditions for coastal waterbirds in Connecticut.
This week's weather is very much up in the air as there is disagreement among numerical computer models and meteorologists about an impending winter storm system. There stands a chance that this bird and others will be running around on a snowy beach. Piping Plovers as a species must be familiar enough with snow as returning in March leaves open the chance they will have to deal with it even into April. Tomorrow would be a great time to check out your own beaches to see if any birds are here before the coastal low comes by with at least a good deal of wave action and wind and potentially heavy precipitation.
Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, Audubon Connecticut and the Connecticut Audubon Society partnering to improve conditions for coastal waterbirds in Connecticut.
Monday, March 4, 2013
Piping Plovers on our doorstep
There have now been several reports of Piping Plovers seen in New Jersey in the last week. In the first few days of March they have made it as far as the south side of Long Island. We are looking at a relatively early date for returning individuals if there are enough eyes in the field to find one this week. Please let us know when you find your first of the year individual by sending us a quick email at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com. If you have the chance to take photos of any of our birds over the course of the season, with respect to the birds as the number one priority of course and always at a safe distance, we would love to see them as well and publish some here in our blog.
For those of you new to monitoring keep in mind that these are migrant individuals and that the official beginning of the season will not be until April. Until then we have some time to study the Piping Plovers and get to know them well by sight, sound, and behavior. Here is a photo of an adult bird on a Connecticut beach in June.
The sand and debris can help you see that this is a small shorebird. It's bright orange/yellow legs can move rapidly over the sand and it often takes short runs with quick stops to look for food and monitor its surroundings. It is the color of the sand above with bright white below. It has a small head and a short neck that features one ring around it with this band going across the chest, sometimes complete for males and sometimes broken on females. Adults also have an orange bill with a black tip plus a black patch on the head. You will often find them foraging along the tide and seeking shelter higher up the beach in a dune. They are probably best known by their very clear peeps which can be heard well in the field.
Take a trip to your beach soon and see what you can find! You never know, perhaps you will spot the first for the year, an unexpected number of birds, or perhaps even a banded individual.
Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, Audubon Connecticut and the Connecticut Audubon Society partnering to improve conditions for coastal waterbirds in Connecticut.
For those of you new to monitoring keep in mind that these are migrant individuals and that the official beginning of the season will not be until April. Until then we have some time to study the Piping Plovers and get to know them well by sight, sound, and behavior. Here is a photo of an adult bird on a Connecticut beach in June.
The sand and debris can help you see that this is a small shorebird. It's bright orange/yellow legs can move rapidly over the sand and it often takes short runs with quick stops to look for food and monitor its surroundings. It is the color of the sand above with bright white below. It has a small head and a short neck that features one ring around it with this band going across the chest, sometimes complete for males and sometimes broken on females. Adults also have an orange bill with a black tip plus a black patch on the head. You will often find them foraging along the tide and seeking shelter higher up the beach in a dune. They are probably best known by their very clear peeps which can be heard well in the field.
Take a trip to your beach soon and see what you can find! You never know, perhaps you will spot the first for the year, an unexpected number of birds, or perhaps even a banded individual.
Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, Audubon Connecticut and the Connecticut Audubon Society partnering to improve conditions for coastal waterbirds in Connecticut.
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Schedule of events
We have now entered March and are at the unofficial beginning of field season for coastal waterbirds. From this point out everything happens extremely quickly. Master monitors and birding veterans of Connecticut likely have a very good feel for what is about to happen, but those of who are new to volunteering or enjoying the birds of our beaches should not feel overwhelmed. Fortunately our fast-paced schedule can be set out and has been planned and maintained by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection for years. After we at the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds completed our inaugural season we are more than ready to hit the coast for 2013. Here is a rundown of what will be happening over the next six months.
March
The American Oystercatcher is the first of our four focal species (also Piping Plover, Least Tern, and Common Tern) to return to Connecticut. Typically we see birds in a few locations in the first week of the month. In 2013 Connecticut had an individual or two remaining here the entire winter! Migrants will be seen more frequently during the second week of the month and by the third week they should be relatively widespread in expected areas. Piping Plovers return shortly after with birds typically being found at some of the more significant stopover and breeding sites in the second week of the month. Perhaps this year we will see birds even a bit earlier as they had been spotted as far north as southern New Jersey on February 28! Remember to watch for any color banded Piping Plovers and please record and report as much information on them as you can.
Keep in mind that March 16 is the training session for new monitors and refresher for past monitors. Once that is completed you will have some time to get to know your monitoring location before full monitoring commences in April. We will begin sending out weekly updates with bird data and general information. We will also begin to see the return of some more long-legged waders with Great and Snowy Egrets becoming common as the month passes by and Yellow-crowned Night-Heron plus Black-crowned Night-Heron beginning to move in as well.
April
In April we begin monitoring beaches across the state. This is when we will hope to have all of our monitors scheduled and set at a location on regular days and times. We still certainly welcome anyone to sign up throughout the season or to change their schedule when needed by emailing us at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com. We will also be requesting all of the data and information that you collect during your monitoring which can be sent to that same email address. We need everything you can tell us as soon as it is possible to report back to us. We really value what our volunteers discover and observe while walking the beaches and islands in Connecticut and it means a great deal in protecting our endangered waterbirds and ensuring their breeding success. Nesting is going to begin for both the Piping Plover and American Oystercatcher this month. CT DEEP will also be putting up string fencing around these nesting grounds and they will need all the help they can get from all of us. We will post specific dates for these fencing parties and ask that anyone who can contribute please do so.
More long-legged waders will be entering the state with the previously mentioned species widespread and abundant plus new arrivals like Glossy Ibis and Little Blue Heron showing up. Green Heron should be seen near the end of the month. Shorebirds will be coming through rapidly now. Black-bellied Plovers, Dunlin, and Sanderling spend the winter in Connecticut but will be common now. Semipalmated Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, and Semipalmated Plover will become irregular sightings across the state. Birds like Short-billed Dowitcher, Spotted Sandpiper and Solitary Sandpiper may be seen uncommonly. Willets establish themselves quickly in April and the common Killdeers do as well.
May
As we enter May we quickly find that Common Terns and Least Terns arrive in Connecticut. They are usually seen right about the first of the month in a few locations and quickly pour through Long Island Sound. All of our shorebirds are possible in the state during the month. The same can be said for other tern species including the more rare Roseate and migrant Caspian. May is most notable as the month where we can expect to see the first hatchling Piping Plover and American Oystercatcher. The dates can be variable depending on many factors that influence the success of nesting from tidal departures to storm systems to beach traffic to predation and much more. Nevertheless, whether it is a handful or dozens, you can anticipate seeing the first young of the year now. This means we will have to be even more attentive in monitoring and stewardship efforts. The weather will also be warming, beach weekends will become much more attractive, and holidays like Memorial Day will mean an influx of visitors to the Connecticut shoreline.
June
As we hit the official start of summer we have a lot going on all at once. This month has the most intensive breeding efforts going on by the highest number of species. It also coincides with the time that children and adults will be getting out of school and finding themselves on the beach even more. Our birds will be at a variety of breeding stages - there will be some young nearing the time to fledge, others just hatching and sticking close to their parents, and nests with eggs. Both Least Terns and Common Terns will have commenced breeding in their colonies and be sitting on eggs as well. Migrant shorebirds will have mostly moved to the north for their brief nesting window. Long-legged waders will be busy with nesting activities on offshore islands and other coastal locations. It may seem quiet from a birding level but it is one of the most critical stretches we have.
July
The beginning of July is always known for the Fourth celebrations and in birding circles this is no different. We will be monitoring beaches on the night of fireworks displays across the state and we will need all the volunteers we can find to help us. Even if you know someone who is not an active monitor or has not volunteered previously for coastal waterbirds perhaps now would be a good time to bring them out to the beach on a beautiful afternoon and convince them to help us protect these amazing creatures. Fireworks can be stressful on birds, especially parents with the many young that will be present in July, and stewardship efforts are bolstered to compensate for this. Southbound shorebirds of all sorts hit Connecticut in substantial numbers beginning in the middle of July. These birds are already on their journey to wintering grounds to our south having completed their nesting season! It is also a time to be aware of the extreme heat that can pose a danger to both humans and birds - please remember safety first and to stay home and do not monitor when the temperature surpasses the upper 80s.
August
When we reach August it will be hard to believe how much has happened in the past several months. It will be time to begin taking down the string fencing on beaches throughout the month. Piping Plover adults will be making a rapid exit, though sometimes a few pairs still are nesting again after unsuccessful attempts. Small numbers of juveniles will likely be all that we see by the end of the month. American Oystercatchers will be making a similar but less significant drop. Shorebirds will be continuing to pour through the state in large numbers as they pass south with other members of locally breeding species included. Long-legged waders and their young will fan out and feed wherever they can.
Common Terns and Least Terns may have some nests and chicks but for the most part they will begin feeding together in large groups. Other more rare species should be watched for as well. At the beginning of the month you may see many juvenile terns being fed but by the end groups of birds over 1,000 individuals will be mostly caring for themselves and readying to move to the south. It is a rewarding experience to know that you have helped all of these birds bring the next generation into the world!
That is a very basic outline of what to expect in 2013 - we will see you in a couple of weeks and will update this blog regularly with information, photos, events, data, announcements, and more.
Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, Audubon Connecticut and the Connecticut Audubon Society partnering to improve conditions for coastal waterbirds in Connecticut.
March
The American Oystercatcher is the first of our four focal species (also Piping Plover, Least Tern, and Common Tern) to return to Connecticut. Typically we see birds in a few locations in the first week of the month. In 2013 Connecticut had an individual or two remaining here the entire winter! Migrants will be seen more frequently during the second week of the month and by the third week they should be relatively widespread in expected areas. Piping Plovers return shortly after with birds typically being found at some of the more significant stopover and breeding sites in the second week of the month. Perhaps this year we will see birds even a bit earlier as they had been spotted as far north as southern New Jersey on February 28! Remember to watch for any color banded Piping Plovers and please record and report as much information on them as you can.
Keep in mind that March 16 is the training session for new monitors and refresher for past monitors. Once that is completed you will have some time to get to know your monitoring location before full monitoring commences in April. We will begin sending out weekly updates with bird data and general information. We will also begin to see the return of some more long-legged waders with Great and Snowy Egrets becoming common as the month passes by and Yellow-crowned Night-Heron plus Black-crowned Night-Heron beginning to move in as well.
April
In April we begin monitoring beaches across the state. This is when we will hope to have all of our monitors scheduled and set at a location on regular days and times. We still certainly welcome anyone to sign up throughout the season or to change their schedule when needed by emailing us at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com. We will also be requesting all of the data and information that you collect during your monitoring which can be sent to that same email address. We need everything you can tell us as soon as it is possible to report back to us. We really value what our volunteers discover and observe while walking the beaches and islands in Connecticut and it means a great deal in protecting our endangered waterbirds and ensuring their breeding success. Nesting is going to begin for both the Piping Plover and American Oystercatcher this month. CT DEEP will also be putting up string fencing around these nesting grounds and they will need all the help they can get from all of us. We will post specific dates for these fencing parties and ask that anyone who can contribute please do so.
More long-legged waders will be entering the state with the previously mentioned species widespread and abundant plus new arrivals like Glossy Ibis and Little Blue Heron showing up. Green Heron should be seen near the end of the month. Shorebirds will be coming through rapidly now. Black-bellied Plovers, Dunlin, and Sanderling spend the winter in Connecticut but will be common now. Semipalmated Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, and Semipalmated Plover will become irregular sightings across the state. Birds like Short-billed Dowitcher, Spotted Sandpiper and Solitary Sandpiper may be seen uncommonly. Willets establish themselves quickly in April and the common Killdeers do as well.
May
As we enter May we quickly find that Common Terns and Least Terns arrive in Connecticut. They are usually seen right about the first of the month in a few locations and quickly pour through Long Island Sound. All of our shorebirds are possible in the state during the month. The same can be said for other tern species including the more rare Roseate and migrant Caspian. May is most notable as the month where we can expect to see the first hatchling Piping Plover and American Oystercatcher. The dates can be variable depending on many factors that influence the success of nesting from tidal departures to storm systems to beach traffic to predation and much more. Nevertheless, whether it is a handful or dozens, you can anticipate seeing the first young of the year now. This means we will have to be even more attentive in monitoring and stewardship efforts. The weather will also be warming, beach weekends will become much more attractive, and holidays like Memorial Day will mean an influx of visitors to the Connecticut shoreline.
June
As we hit the official start of summer we have a lot going on all at once. This month has the most intensive breeding efforts going on by the highest number of species. It also coincides with the time that children and adults will be getting out of school and finding themselves on the beach even more. Our birds will be at a variety of breeding stages - there will be some young nearing the time to fledge, others just hatching and sticking close to their parents, and nests with eggs. Both Least Terns and Common Terns will have commenced breeding in their colonies and be sitting on eggs as well. Migrant shorebirds will have mostly moved to the north for their brief nesting window. Long-legged waders will be busy with nesting activities on offshore islands and other coastal locations. It may seem quiet from a birding level but it is one of the most critical stretches we have.
July
The beginning of July is always known for the Fourth celebrations and in birding circles this is no different. We will be monitoring beaches on the night of fireworks displays across the state and we will need all the volunteers we can find to help us. Even if you know someone who is not an active monitor or has not volunteered previously for coastal waterbirds perhaps now would be a good time to bring them out to the beach on a beautiful afternoon and convince them to help us protect these amazing creatures. Fireworks can be stressful on birds, especially parents with the many young that will be present in July, and stewardship efforts are bolstered to compensate for this. Southbound shorebirds of all sorts hit Connecticut in substantial numbers beginning in the middle of July. These birds are already on their journey to wintering grounds to our south having completed their nesting season! It is also a time to be aware of the extreme heat that can pose a danger to both humans and birds - please remember safety first and to stay home and do not monitor when the temperature surpasses the upper 80s.
August
When we reach August it will be hard to believe how much has happened in the past several months. It will be time to begin taking down the string fencing on beaches throughout the month. Piping Plover adults will be making a rapid exit, though sometimes a few pairs still are nesting again after unsuccessful attempts. Small numbers of juveniles will likely be all that we see by the end of the month. American Oystercatchers will be making a similar but less significant drop. Shorebirds will be continuing to pour through the state in large numbers as they pass south with other members of locally breeding species included. Long-legged waders and their young will fan out and feed wherever they can.
Common Terns and Least Terns may have some nests and chicks but for the most part they will begin feeding together in large groups. Other more rare species should be watched for as well. At the beginning of the month you may see many juvenile terns being fed but by the end groups of birds over 1,000 individuals will be mostly caring for themselves and readying to move to the south. It is a rewarding experience to know that you have helped all of these birds bring the next generation into the world!
That is a very basic outline of what to expect in 2013 - we will see you in a couple of weeks and will update this blog regularly with information, photos, events, data, announcements, and more.
Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, Audubon Connecticut and the Connecticut Audubon Society partnering to improve conditions for coastal waterbirds in Connecticut.
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