AAfCW 2013 Volunteer Update #8

This is the eighth weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2013 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern and Common Tern from May 13 through 4:00 p.m. on May 20 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff spanning that period.

Informational updates:

When you are monitoring please bear in mind we do not want to add stress to the birds and get close enough to flush them off their nest to count eggs. The string fencing is minimal so that it does not cause too much of a disruption on a given beach. It is not a barrier that we want to approach and monitoring should be conducted while walking close to the waterline and far removed from the fencing and any exclosures. The protection of the birds takes priority over data and egg counts are not necessary or desired.

This should be a difficult week with many birds on nests and showers and thunderstorms possible every day through the weekend. Please check the weather and local radar immediately before you go out even if it is not raining and play it safe for both yourself and the birds. Remember, if you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning and should exit the beach immediately. Please do not monitor during any rain whatsoever.

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover
4 pairs, 1 adult, 6 nests at Milford Point on 5/13
3 pairs, 3 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/14
2 pairs, 2 adults at Long Beach on 5/15
9 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/15
2 pairs, 1 adult, 2 nests at Bluff Point on 5/15
7 pairs, 6 nests at Milford Point on 5/15
6 adults, 3 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/15
2 pairs, 1 nest at Shell Avenue Milford on 5/16
5 adults, 5 nests at Griswold Point on 5/16
7 pairs, 6 nests at Milford Point on 5/16
1 pair, 3 adults at Sandy Point Stonington on 5/17
4 adults, 3 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/17
3 pairs, 4 adults, 3 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/17
2 pairs, 2 adults at Long Beach on 5/18
3 pairs, 1 adult, 3 nests at Bluff Point on 5/18
3 adults at Long Beach on 5/18
4 pairs, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/18
5 adults, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/20

American Oystercatcher
2 pairs, 4 adults, 1 nest at Milford Point on 5/13
1 pair at Great Captain's Island on 5/13
1 pair at Grass Island Guilford on 5/13
2 pairs, 1 adult, 1 hatchling, 2 nests at Milford Point on 5/13
1 pair at Fish Island on 5/14
3 adults at Thimble Island 18 on 5/14
2 pairs, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/14
2 adults at Long Beach on 5/14
1 pair at Stratford Point on 5/14
1 adult at Long Beach on 5/15
4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/15
2 pairs, 1 nest at Fish Island on 5/15
1 pair at Silver Sands State Park on 5/15
1 pair, 1 adult at Thimble Islands, Governor Island on 5/15
1 pair at Thimble Islands, Red Point Rocks on 5/15
1 pair at Thimble Islands, Money Island on 5/15
1 pair at Thimble Islands, Wayland Island on 5/15
1 pair at Bluff Point on 5/15
3 pairs, 1 hatchling, 1 nest at Milford Point on 5/15
2 pairs, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/15
2 pairs, 1 adult at Branford Harbor on 5/16
1 pair at Great Captain's Island on 5/16
2 pairs, 1 nest at Milford Point on 5/16
2 pairs, 1 nest at Menunketesuck Island on 5/17
1 adult at Duck Island on 5/17
4 pairs, 3 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/17
4 pairs, 4 adults at Sandy Point Stonington on 5/17
1 pair, 3 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/17
3 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/17
1 adult at Long Beach on 5/18
1 pair at Bluff Point on 5/18
3 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/18
2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/20

Least Tern
1 adult at Milford Point on 5/13
40 adults at Trumbull Beach Milford on 5/13
12 adults at Long Beach on 5/14
12 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/14
10 adults at Long Beach on 5/15
6 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/15
6 pairs at Bluff Point on 5/15
10 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/15
6 adults at Branford Harbor on 5/16
3 adults at Stratford Great Meadows on 5/16
12 adults at Milford Point on 5/16
8 adults at Menunketesuck Island on 5/17
17 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/17
12 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/17
25 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/17
3 adults at Russian Beach on 5/18
18 adults at Long Beach on 5/18
2 pairs at Bluff Point on 5/18
15 adult at Long Beach on 5/18
8 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/18
54 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/18
3 adults at Stratford Point on 5/19
1 adult at Sasco Hill Beach on 5/19
7 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/19
4 adults at Stratford Point on 5/20
12 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/20

Common Tern
3 adults at Great Captain's Island on 5/13
8 adults at Grass Island Guilford on 5/13
3 adults at Kelsey Island Branford on 5/13
2 adults at Long Beach on 5/14
17 adults at Stratford Point on 5/14
75 adults at Russian Beach on 5/15
2 adults at Long Beach on 5/15
2 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/15
4 adults at Thimble Islands, Wheeler Island on 5/15
4 pairs at Branford Harbor on 5/16
4 adults at Branford Harbor, Jeffrey Rock on 5/16
3 adults at Milford Point on 5/16
16 adults at Menunketesuck Island on 5/17
8 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/17
5 pairs at Sandy Point Stonington on 5/17
6 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/17
2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/17
2 adults at Russian Beach on 5/18
16 adults at Stratford Point on 5/18
2 adults at Long Beach on 5/18
2 adults at Long Beach on 5/18
2 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/18
7 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/18
31 adults Stratford Point on 5/19
4 adults at Sasco Hill Beach on 5/19
38 adults at Stratford Point on 5/20

This concludes update #8 through 5/20/13 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.