AAfCW 2013 Volunteer Update #1

This is the first update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2013 season. We will include weekly updates with data from our staff and volunteers on our four focal species - Piping Plover, Least Tern, American Oystercatcher, and Common Tern. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover and American Oystercatcher received from March 5 through 4:00 p.m. on April 1 with sightings of birds spanning that period. Least Tern and Common Tern are not expected to return to Connecticut until approximately May 1.

Informational updates:

We have our first fencing party date set for Griswold Point on Friday, April 5 at 10:00 a.m. All volunteers are welcome including those who are not monitors. The plan is to meet with staff from The Nature Conservancy at the Interstate 95 park and ride lot off exit 70 on Neck Rd. From there the crew will carpool to the site. Please meet there and see this blog entry for further details. Please email us at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com if you have any questions or to let us know you plan on going.

Harkness Memorial State Park has been removed from the monitoring rotation by CT DEEP for the 2013 season. While we have contacted everyone already scheduled to visit the site, if you planned on monitoring there please email us. Nearby Bluff Point State Park is a great alternative to visit.

Now that the field season has officially started if you have any questions about monitoring please contact us. If you have yet to schedule your visits please send us your preferred site, dates, and times when as soon as possible. Please remember to send us data and information as soon as you can when you return from monitoring regardless of whether or not you saw any of our target species. Thank you all and good luck!

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover
1 adult at Long Beach on 3/5
1 adult at Milford Point on 3/25
3 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 3/26
2 adults at Long Beach on 3/26
2 adults at Milford Point on 3/26
5 adults at Griswold Point on 3/26
2 adults at Milford Point on 3/28
1 pair at Milford Point on 3/29
8 adults at Griswold Point on 3/29
1 pair at Milford Point on 3/30
4 pairs at Milford Point on 3/31
3 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/1

Copulation has been observed at Milford Point.

American Oystercatcher
3 pairs at Milford Point on 3/25
1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 3/26
1 pair at Milford Point on 3/26
1 pair at Stratford Point on 3/28
2 pairs at Milford Point on 3/28
2 adults at Stratford Point on 3/29
2 pairs at Milford Point on 3/30
2 pairs at Milford Point on 3/31
2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/1

This concludes update #1 through 4/1/13 as of 5:00 p.m.


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