Bridgeport WildLife Guards

The Bridgeport WildLife Guards have a new website! Please check it out at: http://www.bridgeportwildlifeguards.org/

The WildLife Guards did a tremendous job in 2014 at the newly re-opened Pleasure Beach. They were able to help ensure a family of Piping Plovers fledged from a nest at the site for the first time in several years! Learn more about the program and see how you can get your child or student involved on the website. Look for them in Bridgeport and at Pleasure Beach once again for the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds in 2015.

Sandy Point IBA volunteers needed

We apologize for the short notice but volunteers are needed at an invasive plant removal at Sandy Point Important Bird Area (Sandy/Morse Points) in West Haven on Sunday, September 28 from 10AM-12PM. The West Haven Watershed Restoration Committee will be removing invasive plants as part of an IBA small matching grant. All help is appreciated. Bring work gloves, shovels, and water. Thank you so much!

Preliminary AAfCW 2014 stats

We wanted to provide you with some preliminary statistics from the 2014 Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds monitoring season from Audubon Connecticut and the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History. These numbers are not from CT DEEP or USFWS and not official in that they reflect only AAfCW's data and information. The data is still changing as well - hours are still being accumulated, volunteers recruited, birds being recorded and so forth. There are some great success stories coming out of the 2014 nesting season and without your help none of this would have been possible!

• Piping Plovers pairs successfully fledged 97 young across Connecticut beaches in 2014, a sum that would be the second highest total ever for a year in the state! This very strong number included fledged birds from sites such as Short Beach in Stratford and Pleasure Beach in Bridgeport that had Piping Plovers as historic breeders but none in recent years.
• Over AAfCW 387 volunteers combined their efforts to put in 2,200+ hours of stewardship and monitoring, conservation surveys, education and outreach in Connecticut. Both of these totals will be increasing through the remainder of the year and are a testament to your devotion to the program!
• We surveyed and recorded 51 species of shorebirds, terns and long-legged waders at over 183 important sites in Connecticut including barrier beaches, offshore islands, tidal marshes, inland waterways, wet meadows, grasslands, and other critically important or endangered habitats.
• American Oystercatchers were discovered on 33 sites in Connecticut in 2014 with 124 individuals (42 breeding pairs, 40 non-breeding individuals) recorded. Those pairs successfully fledged 26 chicks. Nest failures took place at 20 of 42 nests, all believed to be due to predation, an issue we will continue to work on in future seasons. The good news is that there were no failures due to humans thanks to our collectively vigilant stewardship efforts.
• Least and Common Tern numbers are still being calculated after a difficult year for terns in general throughout all of the Northeast and much of the Atlantic. In our case we had low numbers attempting to nest - something beyond our control - and did have some decent productivity and a couple of success stories from specific sites thanks to the hard work of volunteers, staff, state officials and partners.

Thank you all so very much for your tireless work throughout the spring and summer and, for some of you, year-round! We at AAfCW will stay engaged throughout the year and are already preparing for the 2015 nesting season as well. As always please email us at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com if you have any questions, want to sign up to assist in other ways or are looking to join our efforts for the first time.

Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds thanks volunteers

On Monday evening, September 15, the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds held a thank you party for all of the tremendous volunteers who helped us conduct surveys, monitoring, stewardship, education and outreach across Connecticut in 2014. We thank the Town of Stratford and the Stratford Conservation Commission for allowing us to use the pavilion at Short Beach Park in Stratford.

There have been at least 2,200 hours logged by over 379 volunteers in the AAfCW program this year. We have seen 51 species of shorebirds, terns and long-legged waders at nearly 200 important sites in the state. Most importantly our headline species, the federally "threatened" Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus), is confirmed to have fledged 97 young in Connecticut in 2014 according to our counts. This is the second highest total ever recorded in the state for a season.

Below is Audubon Connecticut's Director of Bird Conservation Patrick Comins discussing some of these very numbers with party attendees.

 

Laura Saucier from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection also addressed the crowd and thanked them for all of their help in this very successful year.

Here's Audubon Connecticut Important Bird Area Coordinator Corrie Folsom-O'Keefe talking about some of this year's special programs including the Bridgeport WildLife Guards and Manomet's International Shorebird Surveys.

The sun set quickly and the temperature dropped rapidly on this gorgeous September evening as we already eagerly spoke of next season and then said our goodbyes for the night.

While the 2014 nesting season has ended our efforts continue throughout the year - conducting additional surveys, working to protect important habitat and improve critical sites for waterbirds. We will also be working tirelessly to continue to educate the public about why these birds matter and the significant role they play in our coastal ecosystems. Thank you once again to all of our amazing volunteers! If you want to join up as a citizen scientist in Connecticut please email ctwaterbirds@gmail.com and we will find the right spot for you.

Sandy/Morse Points beach clean-up 9/20

Volunteers are needed for a beach clean-up at the Sandy Point Important Bird Area on September 20 from 9AM to 12PM. Please see the flyer below for details. Help for any or all of the time would be greatly appreciated, thank you!

AAfCW 2014 Volunteer Update #22

This is the twenty-second and final weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2014 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern and Common Tern from August 25 through 4:00 p.m. on September 2 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff spanning that period.

Informational updates:

Thank you to all volunteers who assisted us with fencing removal last week! This is the last regular weekly update for the AAfCW 2014 season. Please send in any data or information if you have not yet submitted it this year.

We had a tremendous year in 2014 with very strong numbers of juvenile Piping Plovers as the main highlight. We will be in contact with all of you with updates of seasonal data and information later this season. Please keep an eye out for an email with another announcement soon.

Our sincerest and deepest thanks to all of our monitors and volunteers who worked so tirelessly all year - we could not accomplish any of this without you! If you would like to continue to help in surveying for other waterbirds throughout the fall or until spring 2015 please email us at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com. We hope all of you return for 2015 to continue our terrific work and we will see you at the shore.

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover

1 juvenile at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/26

1 juvenile at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/30
1 juvenile at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/31

American Oystercatcher

1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/26

1 pair, 1 juvenile at Harkness Memorial State Park on 8/26

1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/27

21 adults, 2 juveniles at Short Beach on 8/27

3 adults at Milford Point on 8/28

15 adults at Short Beach on 8/31
1 pair, 1 juvenile at Tuxis Island on 9/2

Least Tern

7 adults, 3 juveniles at Griswold Point on 8/26

2 adults, 2 juveniles at Griswold Point on 8/29

Common Tern

1 adult at Griswold Point on 8/24
100 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/25
130 adults, 70 juveniles at Bradley Point at Savin Rock on 8/25
8 adults at Harkness Memorial State Park on 8/26
10 adults at Griswold Point on 8/26
2 adults at Sherwood Island State Park on 8/27
12 adults at Russian Beach on 8/27
200 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/27
50 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 8/28
200 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/29
100 adults at Bradley Point at Savin Rock on 8/29
15 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/31

This concludes update #22 through 9/2/14 as of 5:00 p.m.

AAfCW 2014 Volunteer Update #21

This is the twenty-first weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2014 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern and Common Tern from August 18 through 3:00 p.m. on August 25 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff spanning that period.

Informational updates:

Thank you to all who joined us for fencing and signage removal last week. We have one more removal date tomorrow:

Tuesday, August 26th at 10:00AM - Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford

We will meet in the main parking area. Please email ctwaterbirds@gmail.com to join. Remember that taking down fencing in August can be physically demanding because of the potential heat/humidity and to:

-wear sunscreen
-drink plenty of water or sports drink
-do not attempt to carry too many stakes, there are enough volunteers and staff members so that no one should overexert themselves
-anyone who needs to limit physical exertion should stick to winding up string rolls
-take as many breaks as needed

We are now in the last week of monitoring for 2014! Thank you to everyone for their contributions throughout the season and please send in any data or information if you have not yet submitted it this year.

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover

1 adult, 2 juveniles Long Beach on 8/18
1 juvenile at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/20
1 juvenile at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/20

1 fledgling at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/20

1 fledgling at Harkness Memorial State Park on 8/24

American Oystercatcher

4 adults at Milford Point on 8/20

1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/20

4 pairs, 1 adult, 1 juvenile at Menunketesuck Island on 8/22
4 pairs at Duck Island on 8/22
2 pairs, 1 adult, 1 fledgling at Tuxis Island on 8/22
13 adults at Short Beach on 8/23
1 adult at Long Beach on 8/23

24 adults at Short Beach on 8/24

Least Tern

3 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/20

6 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/20

6 adults, 9 juveniles at Griswold Point on 8/24

Common Tern

60 adults at Short Beach on 8/18
50 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/20
10 adults at Milford Point on 8/20
65 adults, 1 juvenile at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/20
14 adults, 9 juveniles at Sandy Point Stonington on 8/20

100 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/20

350 adults at Menunketesuck Island on 8/22
170 adults at Short Beach on 8/23

This concludes update #21 through 8/25/14 as of 4:00 p.m.

Pleasure Beach Piping Plovers

Here are some recent photos of the proud father of two successfully fledged Piping Plovers now at the juvenile stage from Audubon Connecticut's Director of Bird Conservation, Patrick Comins. These birds are from the nest on Pleasure Beach!

Juvenile

Juvenile

Adult male

Juvenile and adult male

Our thanks to all of our terrific monitors for helping these birds make it through a busy beach season and avoid predation. The Bridgeport WildLife Guards and the City of Bridgeport also played a big part in assisting the family throughout the past few months, educating beachgoers and letting everyone share the beach successfully with the birds. We look forward to expanding on this success in 2015!

AAfCW 2014 Volunteer Update #20

This is the twentieth weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2014 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern and Common Tern from August 11 through 4:00 p.m. on August 18 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff spanning that period.

Informational updates:

With around two more weeks left in the monitoring season we have some important things happening! Thank you to all who joined us today for fencing and signage removal at Long Beach. There are two more removal dates coming:

Wednesday, August 20th at 10:00AM - Sandy/Morse Points in West Haven
Tuesday, August 26th at 10:00AM - Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford

Please email ctwaterbirds@gmail.com to join. Remember that taking down fencing in August can be physically demanding because of the potential heat/humidity and to:

-wear sunscreen
-drink plenty of water or sports drink
-do not attempt to carry too many stakes, there are enough volunteers and staff members so that no one should overexert themselves
-anyone who needs to limit physical exertion should stick to winding up string rolls
-take as many breaks as needed

Lastly, please send us any observations of Red Knots, Diamondback Terrapins and disturbances involving kite-boarding and kite-surfing if you have not already. CT DEEP has requested this information and we will pass it on to them. Thank you all - on all counts!

Survey and monitoring updates: 

Piping Plover

1 pair at Long Beach on 8/12
1 adult, 1 juvenile at Griswold Point on 8/12
1 adult, 1 fledgling at Harkness Memorial State Park on 8/12
1 adult, 1 hatchling, 2 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/12

1 juvenile at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/12

1 juvenile at Long Beach on 8/12

1 adult, 2 fledglings at Long Beach on 8/14

1 adult, 1 hatchling at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/14

3 fledglings at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/14

2 juveniles at Sandy Point Stonington on 8/15
1 adult, 3 fledglings at Griswold Point on 8/15
1 adult, 1 fledgling, 1 juvenile at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/16
4 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/17
1 pair, 3 fledglings, 1 juvenile at Griswold Point on 8/17
1 adult, 2 fledglings at Harkness Memorial State Park on 8/17

1 adult, 2 juveniles at Long Beach on 8/17

2 fledglings at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/18

American Oystercatcher

1 pair, 4 adults, 1 juvenile at Griswold Point on 8/12
1 adult at Harkness Memorial State Park on 8/12
1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/12

1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/12

6 adults, 1 juvenile at Milford Point on 8/14

1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/14

2 juveniles at Umbrella Rocks on 8/15
1 adult, 2 juveniles at Branford Harbor Channel Marker on 8/15
2 pairs, 4 adults, 2 juveniles at Sandy Point Stonington on 8/15

4 adults, 1 juvenile at Griswold Point on 8/15

1 pair, 2 adults, 1 juvenile at Griswold Point on 8/17

20 adults at Short Beach on 8/17
1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/18

Least Tern
22 adults at Long Beach on 8/12
50 adults at Griswold Point on 8/12
34 adults, 2 hatchlings, 12 juveniles at Harkness Memorial State Park on 8/12
1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/12

2 adults at Long Beach on 8/12

4 adults at Milford Point on 8/14

1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/14
6 adults at Long Beach on 8/14

11 adults, 17 fledglings at Griswold Point on 8/15

10 adults, 1 fledgling, 7 juveniles at Griswold Point on 8/17
1 pair, 1 fledgling at Hatchetts Point on 8/17
9 adults, 18 juveniles at Harkness Memorial State Park on 8/17

Common Tern

1 adult at Long Beach on 8/12
85 adults at Griswold Point on 8/12
300 adults at Griswold Point on 8/12
116 adults at Harkness Memorial State Park on 8/12
110 adults, 66 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/12

30 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/12

2 adults at Long Beach on 8/14

250 adults at Milford Point on 8/14

100 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/14

39 adults, 16 juveniles at Sandy Point Stonington on 8/15
110 adults, 54 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/16
3 adults at Griswold Point on 8/17
80 adults, 40 juveniles at Hatchetts Point on 8/17
33 adults at Bluff Point on 8/17
12 adults at Short Beach on 8/17

30 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/18
52 adults, 3 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/18

This concludes update #20 through 8/18/14 as of 4:00 p.m.

Disturbances, Red Knots and Diamondback Terrapins

We have a few requests for information from CT DEEP as they would like the following from seasonal monitoring observations and data:

1) DEEP is attempting to determine the 2014 kite-boarding activity and disturbances across the state. Did you observe any kite boarder activity? We are looking for the beach name, date of occurrence, how many boarders were present and any other details you may have - specific location of kite boarding in water, location of equipment on beach, any board/kite encounter with birds, and so on.

2) Please let us know if you saw any Red Knots during the season with what date, beach, number of individuals and their activity (resting, feeding, etc.) if possible.

3) Please let us know if you saw any Diamondback Terrapin turtles during the season with what date, beach, number of individuals and their activity (basking, nesting, etc.) if possible.

If you have already emailed any or all of this information with your regular reports there is no need to again and we have it. Otherwise please send it to ctwaterbirds@gmail.com and we will compile it then pass it on. Thank you all so much for any help!

Upcoming fencing removal dates

We now have three string fencing removal dates set by CT DEEP. The Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds would appreciate any volunteers who could help us out at these locations and times:

Monday, August 18th at 10:30AM - Long Beach in Stratford
Wednesday, August 20th at 10:00AM - Sandy/Morse Points in West Haven
Tuesday, August 26th at 10:00AM - Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford

Assisting not only helps AAfCW but it also greatly aids those at CT DEEP who have extremely limited time. It also limits the stress on young, feeding and migrant birds. Please remember that taking down fencing in August can be physically demanding because of the potential heat and humidity, and those who join us should remember a few things:
-wear sunscreen
-drink plenty of water or sports drink
-do not attempt to carry too many stakes, there are enough volunteers and staff members so that no one should overexert themselves
-anyone who needs to limit physical exertion should stick to winding up string rolls
-take as many breaks as needed

In general we look for everyone we can to help out even if you are not a past monitor or volunteer - the more the merrier. It also makes for a more pleasant morning of bird watching and discussions on the beach. Please email us at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com if you can join us on any or all days, and thank you!

AAfCW 2014 Volunteer Update #19

This is the nineteenth weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2014 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern and Common Tern from August 4 through 4:00 p.m. on August 11 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff spanning that period.

Informational updates:

Piping Plovers are really on the move out of the state but we still do have some young present that require our continued attention and stewardship. The same can definitely be said for American Oystercatchers, Least Terns and Common Terns and counting adults of all these species is important as well so that we can get good data on their staging sites. Any details on how many juveniles are seen in these groups is very helpful. We will soon have dates from DEEP looking for assistance in removing fencing and signage at Long Beach, Sandy/Morse Points and Harkness Memorial State Park. We would have them set now but the timing depends on the birds and we will let you know as soon as possible.

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover

1 juvenile at Milford Point on 8/4
3 juveniles at Milford Point on 8/4
1 pair, 1 adult, 2 hatchlings at Long Beach on 8/4

1 adult, 1 hatchling at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/4

1 adult, 3 fledglings, 1 juvenile at Griswold Point on 8/5
2 adults, 1 hatchling, 1 fledgling, 1 juvenile at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/5
1 adult, 2 juveniles at Sandy Point Stonington on 8/5

1 fledgling, 1 juvenile at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/5

1 adult, 1 hatchling at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/5

5 adults, 2 fledglings at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/6
2 adults, 4 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/6

1 adult, 1 hatchling, 6 fledglings at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/6

1 hatchling at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/7

1 adult, 2 fledglings at Long Beach on 8/8
5 juveniles at Short Beach on 8/8
3 juveniles at Milford Point on 8/9
3 fledglings at Harkness Memorial State Park on 8/10
2 fledglings, 3 juveniles at Griswold Point on 8/10

American Oystercatcher

3 pairs, 1 juvenile at Milford Point on 8/4
1 adult, 1 juvenile at Greenway Island on 8/4

4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/4

1 adult, 2 juveniles at Branford Harbor Channel Marker on 8/5
1 pair, 1 juvenile at Umbrella Rocks on 8/5
1 pair at Kelsey Island on 8/5
6 pairs, 1 adult, 5 juveniles at Sandy Point Stonington on 8/5

1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/5

1 pair, 1 fledgling at Lewis Island, Thimble Islands on 8/6
5 pairs, 3 juveniles at Cockenoe Island on 8/6

1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/6

3 pairs at Milford Point on 8/7

1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/7

1 adult at Great Captain's Island on 8/8
1 pair at Short Beach on 8/8
1 pair at Menunketesuck Island on 8/9
4 pairs, 3 juveniles at Duck Island on 8/9
1 pair, 1 juvenile at Salt Island on 8/9
1 pair, 1 adult, 1 hatchling at Tuxis Island on 8/9
2 adults at Milford Point on 8/10

21 adults at Cockenoe Island on 8/10

5 adults at Norwalk Islands on 8/10

Least Tern

5 adults at Short Beach on 8/4
1 adult, 1 juvenile at Russian Beach on 8/4
12 adults, 2 juveniles at Long Beach on 8/4
27 adults, 2 hatchlings, 1 juvenile at Milford Point on 8/4
19 adults at Long Beach on 8/4

4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/4

60 adults, 5 juveniles at Griswold Point on 8/5
5 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/5

10 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/5

100 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/6

20 adults, 2 hatchlings at Milford Point on 8/7

25 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/7

4 adults at Short Beach on 8/8
15 adults, 2 hatchlings, 1 juvenile at Milford Point on 8/9

30 adults, 4 juveniles at Menunketesuck Island on 8/9

28 adults, 2 fledglings, 21 juveniles at Harkness Memorial State Park on 8/10
20 adults, 2 fledglings at Griswold Point on 8/10
20 adults at Milford Point on 8/10

Common Tern

170 adults at Short Beach on 8/4
98 adults, 15 juveniles at Long Beach on 8/4
40 adults at Milford Point on 8/4

100 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/4

5 adults, 1 hatchling at Great Captain's Island on 8/4

110 adults, 8 juveniles at Griswold Point on 8/5
9 adults at Barn Island on 8/5
37 adults, 12 juveniles at Sandy Point Stonington on 8/5
200 adults, 70 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Point on 8/5

50 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/5

200 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/5

7 adults at Griswold Island on 8/6
50 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/6
20 pairs, 10 juveniles at Cockenoe Island on 8/6
140 adults at Milford Point on 8/7
100 adults at Short Beach on 8/8
150 adults at Milford Point on 8/9
21 adults, 12 juveniles at Harkness Memorial State Park on 8/10
14 adults at Griswold Point on 8/10
20 adults at Milford Point on 8/10

This concludes update #19 through 8/11/14 as of 4:00 p.m.

AAfCW 2014 Volunteer Update #18

This is the eighteenth weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2014 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern and Common Tern from July 27 through 4:00 p.m. on August 4 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff spanning that period.

Informational updates:

Please keep monitoring as scheduled throughout August as we still have hatchlings on our beaches along with fledglings, juveniles and adults, all of which we want to keep recording and working to protect via our stewardship efforts. Even if you see fencing and signage removed this only means actual nesting has ended - we still need your help as monitors! We have done incredibly well with fledging Piping Plover chicks and let's ensure the later individuals all make it to the juvenile stage.

Have you been out birding or surveying apart from your monitoring time or earlier in the year? Do you have eBird checklists that include ANY species of terns, shorebirds or long-legged waders? If you could please share these with us at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com via the eBird share function we would greatly appreciate all the data and visits you have made to see any species of those families of birds at any time in 2014. It helps our year-round effort to conserve and protect Connecticut's waterbirds. Thank you!

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover

1 adult, 3 hatchlings, 4 juveniles at Griswold Point on 7/28
10 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/28
1 juvenile at Shell Avenue Milford on 7/28
1 adult, 3 juveniles at Griswold Point on 7/29
1 adult, 2 hatchlings, 4 fledglings at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/29
2 adults, 2 hatchlings, 2 fledglings at Long Beach on 7/29
1 juvenile at East Broadway Milford on 7/30
1 adult, 1 juvenile Sandy/Morse Points on 7/30
1 adult, 1 hatchling at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/30

3 adults, 2 hatchlings at Long Beach on 7/30

3 adults, 1 hatchling, 1 fledgling at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/30

3 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/31
1 pair, 1 adult, 2 hatchlings, 1 juvenile at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/31
2 pairs, 2 hatchlings, 4 fledglings at Hatchetts Point on 7/31
1 adult, 2 hatchlings, 1 juvenile at Griswold Point on 7/31

5 adults, 1 hatchling, 1 juvenile at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/31

3 fledglings at Griswold Point on 8/1

1 adult, 4 juveniles at Harkness Memorial State Park on 8/1

1 juvenile at East Broadway Milford on 8/1

2 adults at Long Beach on 8/2

2 adults, 2 hatchlings at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/3

5 adults, 1 fledgling at Griswold Point on 8/3

1 adult, 2 fledglings at Griswold Point on 8/4

2 adults, 1 fledgling at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/4

American Oystercatcher

1 pair, 2 hatchlings at Tuxis Island on 7/28
2 adults at Bluff Point on 7/28
1 pair, 5 adults, 1 juvenile at Milford Point on 7/28
5 pairs, 4 juveniles at Cockenoe Island on 7/29
1 pair at Griswold Point on 7/29
2 pairs, 2 juveniles at Harkness Memorial State Park on 7/29
1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/30
2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/30
1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/30
1 pair at Silver Sands State Park on 7/31
4 pairs, 1 hatchling, 3 juveniles at Menunketesuck Island on 7/31

1 pair, 1 juvenile at Salt Island on 7/31
1 pair, 3 adults, 1 juvenile at Milford Point on 7/31
2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/31
3 pairs, 1 juvenile at Menunketesuck Island on 7/31

1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/31
2 adults at Long Beach on 8/2

2 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 8/3

2 adults at Griswold Point on 8/3

1 pair at Griswold Point on 8/4

1 pair, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/4

Least Tern

6 adults, 1 fledgling at Short Beach on 7/27
12 adults, 2 fledglings at Hammonasset State Park on 7/28
2 adults, 1 juvenile at Bluff Point on 7/28
20 pairs, 20 adults, 7 hatchlings, 18 juveniles, 2 nests at Griswold Point on 7/28
37 adults, 3 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/28
60 adults, 4 juveniles at Griswold Point on 7/29
4 adults at Long Beach on 7/29

12 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/29

7 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/30

4 adults at Long Beach on 7/30

13 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/30

50 adults, 2 hatchlings, 1 fledgling, 3 juveniles at Menunketesuck Island on 7/31
42 adults, 5 hatchlings, 3 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/31
9 adults, 1 juvenile at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/31
1 pair, 2 hatchlings at Hatchetts Point on 7/31
5 pairs, 35 adults, 4 hatchlings, 10 juveniles, 2 nests at Griswold Point on 7/31
63 adults at Menunketesuck Island on 7/31

6 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/31

45 adults, 10 juveniles at Griswold Point on 8/1

58 adults, 2 hatchlings, 12 juveniles at Harkness Memorial State Park on 8/1

8 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/3

22 adults, 3 fledglings at Griswold Point on 8/3

75 adults, 2 fledglings, 8 juveniles at Griswold Point on 8/4

4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/4

Common Tern

5 adults at Short Beach on 7/27
15 adults at Hammonasset State Park on 7/28
14 adults at Bluff Point on 7/28
17 adults, 2 juveniles at Griswold Point on 7/28
20 adults at Milford Point on 7/28
12 adults, 2 juveniles at Griswold Point on 7/29

4 adults at Long Beach on 7/29

13 adults at Pleasure Beach on 7/30

2 adults at Long Beach on 7/30

121 adults at Menunketesuck Island on 7/31
15 adults at Milford Point on 7/31
139 adults, 12 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/31
3 adults, 1 juvenile at Hatchetts Point on 7/31
16 adults, 4 juveniles at Griswold Point on 7/31
70 adults at Menunketesuck Island on 7/31

5 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/31

36 adults, 4 juveniles at Griswold Point on 8/1

6 adults at Harkness Memorial State Park on 8/1

5 adults at Long Beach on 8/2

219 adults, 31 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/3

60 adults at Griswold Point on 8/4

100 adults, 1 juvenile at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/4

This concludes update #18 through 8/4/14 as of 5:00 p.m.

Birds still hatching and growing

Even though we are now in the midpoint of the summer and the days are slowly getting shorter we are still having birds hatching all across our beaches. American Oystercatchers are about done with breeding for the season but the Piping Plovers are not as even in the last couple of weeks we have had more young hatch on multiple beaches. Common and Least Terns are at various stages of development with adults and juveniles leaving breeding areas and dispersing while others are just seeing their young hatch now.

Here are a couple photos from Ewa Holland of hatchling Least Terns from this weekend.

This is a Least Tern juvenile that Ewa photographed as well.

 

Let's stay vigilant and persistent with monitoring and keep on helping all of these "late" birds grow up and leave the nest as we head into August!

AAfCW 2014 Volunteer Update #17

This is the seventeenth weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2014 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern and Common Tern from July 19 through 4:00 p.m. on July 28 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff spanning that period.

Informational updates:

Tern numbers are increasing in many of our observations as they begin to disperse with adults leaving nesting grounds and juvenile birds finding their way around Long Island Sound. Please keep an eye out for them at all sites as they should be found nearly anywhere. Piping Plovers continue to disperse and migrate as well and please watch for any flagged or banded individuals, taking photos and all the information you can on the bird if you are able to spot one. We will soon be announcing dates for signage and fencing removal and would greatly appreciate all the help we can get - thank you!

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover

3 pairs, 1 adult, 3 hatchlings, 1 fledgling at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/19
1 pair, 3 adults, 4 hatchlings, 5 juveniles, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/21
4 adults, 14 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/21
1 juvenile at Shell Avenue Milford on 7/22
2 pairs, 2 adults, 1 hatchling, 3 juveniles at Harkness Memorial State Park on 7/22
1 pair, 2 adults, 4 hatchlings, 6 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/22
3 adults, 14 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/22
4 adults, 3 juveniles at Bluff Point on 7/22
2 pairs, 2 fledglings, 2 juveniles at Mumford Cove on 7/22

10 adults, 4 hatchlings at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/22

1 adult at Long Beach on 7/22

1 pair, 7 adults, 4 hatchlings, 1 fledgling at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/22

1 juvenile at Shell Avenue Milford on 7/23
1 juvenile at Shell Avenue Milford on 7/23
1 adult, 2 hatchlings at Long Beach on 7/23
2 pairs, 3 adults, 2 juveniles at Sandy Point Stonington on 7/23

1 pair, 1 adult, 1 hatchling at Long Beach on 7/23

1 pair, 10 adults, 2 hatchlings, 7 fledglings at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/23

1 juvenile at Silver Sands State Park on 7/24
1 adult, 5 fledglings at Short Beach on 7/24
1 adult, 2 hatchlings at Long Beach on 7/24
2 pairs, 1 adult, 2 hatchlings, 4 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/24
2 adults, 7 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/24

5 adults, 1 hatchling, 1 juvenile at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/24

1 pair, 2 adults, 3 hatchlings, 2 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/25

1 pair, 2 adults, 3 hatchlings, 2 fledglings at Griswold Point on 7/25

1 juvenile at East Broadway Milford on 7/26

3 pairs, 2 hatchling, 3 fledgling at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/26

1 pair, 2 adults, 3 hatchlings, 2 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/27
2 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/27
1 adult, 2 hatchlings at Long/Pleasure Beach on 7/27
1 juvenile at Milford Point on 7/27

1 adult, 2 hatchlings at Long Beach on 7/27

American Oystercatcher
1 pair, 1 juvenile at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/19
1 pair, 1 juvenile at Milford Point on 7/21
2 pairs, 1 juvenile at Milford Point on 7/22
1 pair, 1 juvenile at Harkness Memorial State Park on 7/22
1 pair at Mumford Cove on 7/22

1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/22

2 pairs, 2 hatchlings at Tuxis Island on 7/23
7 pairs, 1 adult, 7 juveniles at Sandy Point Stonington on 7/23

1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/23

4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/24
1 pair, 5 adults, 1 juvenile at Milford Point on 7/24

1 pair, 1 fledgling at Vincent Island on 7/24

1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/24

5 pairs, 1 adult, 2 fledglings, 1 juvenile at Menunketesuck Island on 7/25
1 pair, 1 juvenile at Salt Island on 7/25
1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/25
6 pairs, 5 fledglings at Cockenoe Island on 7/25

1 pair, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/26

1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/27
3 pairs, 1 juvenile at Milford Point on 7/27
2 adults at Short Beach on 7/27
3 pairs, 2 adults, 1 juvenile at Milford Point on 7/27

Least Tern

15 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/19
14 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/21
9 pairs, 32 adults, 1 hatchling, 2 fledglings, 2 juveniles, 4 nests at Milford Point on 7/21
70 adults at Griswold Point on 7/22
4 pairs, 32 adults, 2 hatchlings, 4 fledglings at Harkness Memorial State Park on 7/22
11 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/22
8 pairs, 29 adults, 2 fledglings, 2 juveniles, 4 nests at Milford Point on 7/22
1 pair, 2 adults at Bluff Point on 7/22

10 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/22

14 adults at Long Beach on 7/22

17 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/22

3 adults at Shell Avenue Milford on 7/23
2 adults at Long Beach on 7/23

10 adults at Long Beach on 7/23

4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/23

3 adults Silver Sands State Park on 7/24
1 adult at Short Beach on 7/24
8 adults at Long Beach on 7/24
53 adults, 2 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/24

14 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/24

40 adults, 1 hatchling, 2 fledglings at Menunketesuck Island on 7/25
1 pair, 12 adults, 1 juvenile at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/25

40 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/26

15 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/27
2 pairs, 46 adults, 2 hatchlings, 2 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/27
9 adults at Short Beach on 7/27
3 adults at Long Beach on 7/27
5 pairs, 40 adults, 6 hatchlings, 1 fledgling, 2 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/27
5 adults at Long Beach on 7/27

Common Tern

6 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/19
12 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/21
5 adults at Milford Point on 7/21
11 adults at Griswold Point on 7/22
9 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/22
3 adults at Milford Point on 7/22
1 adults at Bluff Point on 7/22

15 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/22

4 adults at Long Beach on 7/22
46 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/22

1 adults at Shell Avenue Milford on 7/23
1 adults at Long Beach on 7/23

1 pair, 12 adults, 1 juvenile at Long Beach on 7/23

2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/23

2 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 7/24
4 adults at Short Beach on 7/24
7 adults at Long Beach on 7/24
28 adults, 2 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/24

1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/24

36 adults at Menunketesuck Island on 7/25
59 adults, 5 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/25

20 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/26

47 adults, 1 juvenile at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/27
27 adults at Milford Point on 7/27
38 adults at Short Beach on 7/27
2 adults at Stratford Point on 7/27
5 adults at Point-No-Point (The Seawall) on 7/27
3 adults at Long/Pleasure Beach on 7/27
10 adults at Milford Point on 7/27

3 adults at Long Beach on 7/27

This concludes update #17 through 7/28/14 as of 5:00 p.m.

AAfCW 2014 Volunteer Update #16

This is the sixteenth weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2014 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern and Common Tern from July 12 through 3:00 p.m. on July 21 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff spanning that period.

Informational updates:

Juvenile Piping Plovers are now being found on more of our beaches and numbers are fluctuating at various locations with birds dispersing and some migrating. With that said there are still hatchlings at locations like Long Beach, as a family has moved down from Pleasure Beach, and Sandy/Morse Points. Thanks to your help we have done a tremendous job of aiding most hatchlings in reaching juvenile stage this year so let's keep it going! The first terns have started to fledge and those young can be expected to be seen nearly anywhere as well.

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover

2 pairs, 3 hatchlings at Long Beach on 7/12
3 pairs, 12 adults, 4 hatchlings, 12 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/14

7 adults, 7 fledglings, 1 hatchling at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/14

10 adults, 4 juveniles at Griswold Point on 7/15

9 adults, 2 hatchlings, 4 juveniles, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/15

1 adult, 4 fledglings at Shell Avenue Milford on 7/16
1 adult, 4 juveniles at Shell Avenue Milford on 7/16
1 adult, 2 hatchlings, 2 fledglings at Long Beach on 7/16
1 adult, 2 hatchlings at Short Beach on 7/16
2 pairs, 9 adults, 2 hatchlings, 3 fledglings, 4 juveniles at Griswold Point on 7/16

3 pairs, 2 adults, 3 hatchlings, 6 fledglings at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/16

1 pair, 4 adults, 2 hatchlings at Long Beach on 7/16

1 adult at Long Beach on 7/17
6 adults, 14 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/17
2 adults, 5 juveniles at Bluff Point on 7/18
2 adults, 2 hatchlings, 2 fledglings at Long Beach on 7/18

4 pairs, 3 hatchlings, 10 fledglings, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/19

1 adult, 5 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/20
10 adults, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/20

3 adults, 4 hatchlings, 1 fledgling at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/20

1 pair at Long Beach on 7/20

1 adult, 4 hatchlings at Short Beach on 7/20

4 adults, 1 hatchling, 7 fledglings at Griswold Point on 7/20
2 pairs, 3 adults, 1 hatchling, 5 fledglings, 2 juveniles, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/21

American Oystercatcher
3 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/14
4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/14
6 pairs, 3 fledglings at Menunketesuck Island on 7/14
1 pair at Duck Island on 7/14
1 adult at Tuxis Island on 7/14
4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/15
10 adults, 1 juvenile at Milford Point on 7/17
1 pair, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/19
4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/20
3 pairs at Milford Point on 7/20
3 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/21

Least Tern

1 pair, 16 adults at Long Beach on 7/12
7 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/14
2 pairs, 34 adults, 3 hatchlings at Menunketesuck Island on 7/14

15 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/14

40 adults, 4 fledglings, 1 juvenile at Griswold Point on 7/15
15 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/15
6 adults at Shell Avenue Milford on 7/16
7 adults at Pleasure Beach on 7/16
23 adults at Long Beach on 7/16
5 adults at Short Beach on 7/16
5 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/16
2 adults at Long Beach on 7/16
2 adults at Shell Avenue Milford on 7/17
23 adults at Long Beach on 7/17
44 adults, 4 hatchlings, 2 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/17
65 adults, 6 hatchlings, 13 fledglings at Griswold Point on 7/17
2 pairs, 4 adults, 2 hatchlings, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 7/17
28 adults at Long Beach on 7/18
2 adults at Sasco Hill Beach on 7/19

16 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/19

2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/20
10 pairs, 20 adults, 2 hatchlings, 2 juveniles, 4 nests at Milford Point on 7/20
8 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 7/20
2 pairs, 3 adults, 2 fledglings at Bluff Point on 7/20
4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/20

10 adults at Long Beach on 7/20

36 adults, 1 hatchling, 3 fledglings at Griswold Point on 7/20
1 adult, 1 fledgling at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/21

Common Tern

5 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/14
2 pairs, 20 adults at Menunketesuck Island on 7/14
16 adults at Griswold Point on 7/15

1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/15

2 adults at Pleasure Beach on 7/16
6 adults at Long Beach on 7/16
1 adult at Shell Avenue Milford on 7/17
8 adults at Pleasure Beach on 7/17
15 adults at Milford Point on 7/17
14 adults at Griswold Point on 7/17
2 adults at Pleasure Beach on 7/18
2 adults at Sasco Hill Beach on 7/19
12 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/19
25 adults at Milford Point on 7/20
6 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 7/20
2 adults at Bluff Point on 7/20

1 adult at Long Beach on 7/20
16 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/21

This concludes update #16 through 7/21/14 as of 4:00 p.m.

AAfCW 2014 Volunteer Update #15

This is the fifteenth weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2014 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern and Common Tern from July 7 through 4:00 p.m. on July 14 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff spanning that period.

Informational updates:
 

Thank you to those who assisted us with the fireworks displays once again in the last week. After some early week chances for wet weather we should have pleasant and cooperative weather for monitoring and outreach and great conditions for our young birds. We are now to the point where young Piping Plovers have reached the juvenile stage and are moving around a bit. You can expect to find these birds dispersing to all of our beaches, even those that did not have breeding individuals this season. With that said very young hatchlings and even eggs are still present as well!

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover 

3 pairs, 5 fledglings, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/5

1 pair, 4 hatchlings at Short Beach on 7/5

7 pairs, 5 hatchlings, 12 fledglings, 7 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/6
1 pair, 4 hatchlings at Short Beach on 7/6
1 pair, 2 hatchlings at Long Beach on 7/6
7 pairs, 10 fledglings, 3 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/7
3 pairs, 4 adults, 3 hatchlings, 7 juveniles at Griswold Point on 7/7
2 pairs, 1 adult, 4 fledglings at Harkness Memorial State Park on 7/7
13 adults, 3 hatchlings, 12 juveniles at Griswold Point on 7/7

4 adults, 4 hatchlings, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/7

1 pair, 4 hatchlings, 1 juvenile at Shell Avenue Milford on 7/8
1 adult, 4 hatchlings, 1 juvenile at Shell Avenue Milford on 7/8
3 pairs, 1 adult, 3 hatchlings, 5 juveniles, 1 nest at Griswold Point on 7/8
2 adults, 2 fledglings, 1 juvenile, 1 nest at Harkness Memorial State Park on 7/8
3 pairs, 1 adult, 3 juveniles at Bluff Point on 7/8

1 pair, 17 adults, 10 juveniles, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/8

6 adults, 7 fledglings, 9 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/9
1 pair, 4 hatchlings at Short Beach on 7/9
1 adult, 2 hatchlings at Long Beach on 7/9
1 pair, 2 hatchlings at Long Beach on 7/9

1 pair, 4 adults, 2 hatchlings, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/9

2 pairs, 2 hatchlings, 2 juveniles at Mumford Cove on 7/10
3 pairs, 2 juveniles at Bluff Point on 7/10
1 adult, 4 hatchlings at Shell Avenue Milford on 7/10
1 adult, 4 hatchlings at Shell Avenue Milford on 7/10
15 adults, 1 hatchling, 14 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/10

3 pairs, 10 hatchlings, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/10

1 adult, 4 hatchlings at Shell Avenue Milford on 7/12
2 pairs, 7 adults, 4 hatchlings, 14 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/12
1 pair, 1 adult, 3 hatchlings at Long Beach on 7/12

1 pair, 3 hatchlings at Long Beach on 7/13

1 pair, 4 fledglings at Short Beach on 7/13

1 pair, 1 adult, 5 hatchlings at Long Beach on 7/13

4 pairs, 4 adults, 4 fledglings, 9 juveniles at Long Beach on 7/13

1 adult at Shell Avenue Milford on 7/13

26 adults/juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/13

1 adult, 4 fledglings at Shell Avenue Milford on 7/14

7 adults, 7 fledglings, 1 hatchling at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/14

American Oystercatcher
1 pair, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/5
2 pairs, 3 adults, 1 hatchling at Milford Point on 7/6
2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/7
1 adult at Griswold Point on 7/7
1 adult at Harkness Memorial State Park on 7/7

2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/7

1 pair, 2 adults at Thimble Islands on 7/8
8 pairs, 1 adult, 6 fledglings at Sandy Point Stonington on 7/8
1 pair at Ram Island on 7/8

1 adult, 2 hatchlings at Long Beach on 7/8

1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/8

3 pairs, 5 fledglings at Cockenoe Island on 7/8

2 pairs, 1 fledgling at Milford Point on 7/9

1 adult at Long Beach on 7/9

1 pair, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/9

1 pair at Mumford Cove on 7/10
1 pair at Bluff Point on 7/10
3 pairs, 1 hatchling, 1 juvenile at Milford Point on 7/10
1 pair, 1 adult at Tuxis Island on 7/10

1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/10

1 pair at Green Island on 7/11
1 pair, 1 fledgling at Umbrella Rocks on 7/11
1 adult, 2 fledglings at Branford Harbor Channel Marker on 7/11
1 pair at Lewis Island, Thimble Islands on 7/11
3 pairs, 1 adult at Rocks off Cedar Island, Thimble Islands on 7/11
1 pair, 1 fledgling at Quinnipeag Rocks on 7/11
2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/11

2 adults at Great Captain's Island on 7/11

2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/12

2 pairs, 2 adults, 1 fledgling at Milford Point on 7/13

1 adult at Short Beach on 7/13

4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/13

4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/14

Least Tern

4 pairs, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/5

12 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/5

29 pairs, 3 hatchlings, 22 nests at Milford Point on 7/6
3 adults at Long Beach on 7/6
65 adults, 5 hatchlings at Griswold Point on 7/7
10 adults, 1 hatchling at Harkness Memorial State Park on 7/7
60 adults, 6 hatchlings at Griswold Point on 7/7
4 pairs, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/7

6 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/7

16 hatchlings, 1 fledgling, 10 nests at Griswold Point on 7/8
10 pairs, 10 hatchlings, 4 nests at Harkness Memorial State Park on 7/8
5 pairs, 3 hatchlings, 3 nests at Bluff Point on 7/8
5 adults at Barn Island on 7/8

18 adults at Long Beach on 7/8

8 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/8

1 adult at Silver Sands State Park on 7/9
14 pairs, 22 adults, 2 hatchlings, 8 nests at Milford Point on 7/9
1 adult at Short Beach on 7/9
9 adults at Long Beach on 7/9
2 adults at Russian Beach on 7/9

12 adults at Long Beach on 7/9

11 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/9

3 pairs, 2 adults, 1 nest at Pleasure Beach on 7/10
3 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 7/10
4 pairs, 1 adult, 2 hatchlings, 3 nests at Bluff Point on 7/10
38 adults, 2 hatchlings, 8 nests at Milford Point on 7/10
1 pair, 1 fledgling at Sasco Hill Beach on 7/10

3 pairs, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/10

4 pairs, 14 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/12
23 adults at Long Beach on 7/12

22 adults at Long Beach on 7/13

17 adults at Long Beach on 7/13

1 pair, 3 adults, 1 nest at Pleasure Beach on 7/13

13 pairs, 18 adults, 1 fledgling, 8 nests at Milford Point on 7/13

1 pair, 2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/13
15 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/14

Common Tern

2 pairs, 1 nest at Milford Point on 7/6
3 adults at Griswold Point on 7/7
5 adults at Harkness Memorial State Park on 7/7
10 adults, 1 juvenile at Griswold Point on 7/7
26 adults at Griswold Point on 7/8
1 pair, 1 adult at Sandy Point Stonington on 7/8

5 adults at Long Beach on 7/8

1 pair, 1 nest at Milford Point on 7/9

2 adults at Long Beach on 7/9

1 adult at Silver Sands State Park on 7/10
20 adults at Milford Point on 7/10

1 pair, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/10

2 pairs, 2 adults at Umbrella Island on 7/11
1 pair, 3 adults at Branford Harbor on 7/11

6 adults at Thimble Islands on 7/11

5 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/12
2 adults at Long Beach on 7/12

1 adult at Milford Point on 7/13

This concludes update #15 through 7/14/14 as of 5:00 p.m.

Assistance at Bluff Point tomorrow night

CT DEEP is looking for assistance tomorrow night, July 12, for monitoring at Bluff Point during another fireworks display. If anyone can accompany DEEP's Rebecca Foster at Bluff Point for Sailfest tomorrow evening around 7:30PM please email both Rebecca (rsuzf@hotmail.com) and us at this address (ctwaterbirds@gmail.com). Thank you very much for any help!

Stewart B. McKinney NWR in news

Below is a great message from Shaun Roche of USFWS:

I would like to let you know some very exciting news regarding recognition for the refuge. The national TV show CBS Sunday Morning (www.cbsnews.com/sunday-morning/) will feature footage from the Falkner Island Unit and the Salt Meadow Unit on it's July 13th broadcast. This footage was taken about a week ago by a talented nature videographer Jamie McDonald. Those of you who are familiar with the show will know that each week they air a segment called the "moment of nature." It comes on at the very end, usually between 10:25 and 10:30am EST.

I highly recommend that you try to watch this segment if you can. It will be short, but it has the potential to provide some great recognition for the Stewart B. McKinney NWR across the country.

Please pass this information along and let other interested parties know - thanks!

AAfCW 2014 Volunteer Update #14

This is the fourteenth weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2014 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern and Common Tern from June 30 through 4:00 p.m. on July 7 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff spanning that period.

Informational updates:

Thank you to those who assisted us with the fireworks displays last week.  We still have a lot of monitoring left this year for young terns on several beaches as well as Piping Plovers and American Oystercatchers of all ages - hatchlings, fledglings, and juveniles plus some birds still with eggs and on nest! Please continue stewardship efforts on the usual schedule during this now busy beach season after a terrific first few months of 2014 thanks to all of you.

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover 

5 pairs, 5 fledglings at Bluff Point on 6/30
8 pairs, 2 adults, 8 hatchlings, 7 fledglings, 1 nest at Griswold Point on 6/30
7 pairs, 8 hatchlings, 13 fledglings, 2 juveniles at Milford Point on 6/30
7 adults, 4 hatchlings, 7 fledglings, 3 juveniles at Griswold Point on 6/30
7 pairs, 4 hatchlings, 4 fledglings, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/1
4 pairs, 2 adults, 3 hatchlings, 9 juveniles at Griswold Point on 7/1

19 adults, 5 juveniles, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/1

13 adults, 4 fledglings, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/1

12 adults, 5 fledglings, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/2
1 pair, 4 hatchlings at Shell Avenue Milford on 7/2
1 pair, 4 hatchlings at Shell Avenue Milford on 7/2
1 pair, 1 nest at Pleasure Beach on 7/2
1 adult, 1 hatchling at Long Beach on 7/2
1 pair, 4 hatchlings at Short Beach on 7/2
3 pairs, 1 adult, 3 hatchlings at Sandy Point Stonington on 7/2

8 adults, 10 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/2

3 pairs, 3 fledglings, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/2

16 adults, 4 hatchlings, 8 fledglings at Milford Point on 7/3
1 pair, 2 hatchlings at Long Beach on 7/3
1 pair, 4 hatchlings at Short Beach on 7/3
2 pairs, 1 hatchling at Mumford Cove on 7/3
1 pair, 4 hatchlings at Shell Avenue Milford on 7/4

1 pair, 2 hatchlings at Long Beach on 7/5

7 pairs, 9 fledglings, 1 juvenile, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/5

1 pair, 1 nest at Pleasure Beach on 7/5

2 adults, 4 fledglings at Milford Point on 7/5

8 adults, 6 juveniles, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/6
1 pair, 2 hatchlings at Long Beach on 7/6

1 pair, 4 hatchlings at Shell Avenue Milford on 7/7

American Oystercatcher
2 pairs at Tuxis Island on 6/30
1 adult at Griswold Point on 6/30
2 pairs, 7 adults, 1 fledgling at Milford Point on 6/30
1 adult at Griswold Point on 6/30
1 pair, 1 fledgling at Quinnipeag Rocks on 6/30
2 pairs, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/1
2 adults at Griswold Point on 7/1

1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/1

2 pairs, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/1

1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/2
2 adults at Thimble Islands on 7/2
7 pairs, 1 adult, 6 fledglings at Sandy Point Stonington on 7/2

2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/2

1 pair, 1 adult, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/2

3 pairs at Milford Point on 7/3
6 adults at Short Beach on 7/3
1 adult at Ram Island on 7/3
1 pair at Mumford Cove on 7/3

3 adults, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/6

Least Tern

25 pairs, 6 adults, 2 hatchlings, 25 nests at Milford Point on 6/30
50 adults, 2 hatchlings at Griswold Point on 6/30
4 pairs, 3 nests at Bluff Point on 6/30
35 pairs, 10 adults, 20 hatchlings, 25 nests at Griswold Point on 6/30
9 pairs, 6 adults, 1 hatchling, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/1
1 adult at Silver Sands State Park on 7/1
65 adults, 3 hatchlings at Griswold Point on 7/1
7 adults, 3 hatchlings at Sasco Hill Beach on 7/1

3 pairs, 3 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/1

20 adults, 1 hatchling, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/1

20 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/2
1 adult at Silver Sands State Park on 7/2

12 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/2

3 pairs, 14 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/2

35 adults, 10 nests at Milford Point on 7/3
5 adults at Long Beach on 7/3
2 pairs, 2 nests at Mumford Cove on 7/3
11 adults, 1 hatchling at Sasco Hill Beach on 7/6

3 pairs, 1 adult, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/6
13 adults at Long Beach on 7/6

Common Tern

1 adult, 1 nest at Milford Point on 6/30
1 adult at Bluff Point on 6/30
2 pairs, 2 adults at Griswold Point on 6/30
2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/1
11 adults at Griswold Point on 7/1
3 adults at Sandy Point Stonington on 7/2
6 adults, 1 nest at Milford Point on 7/3

This concludes update #14 through 7/7/14 as of 5:00 p.m.

AAfCW 2014 Volunteer Update #13

This is the thirteenth weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2014 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern and Common Tern from June 23 through 4:00 p.m. on June 30 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff spanning that period.
 

Informational updates:

Several fireworks celebrations are taking place in Connecticut this week and we could use your help! Email us at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com if you can be at Stratford's Short Beach, Milford Point, or Sandy/Morse Points in West Haven on the evening of July 3. Our staff will be on these beaches and at other locations along with CT DEEP and the more help we can get the more we can do to ensure a successful evening for our birds while continuing our outreach and education efforts. Thank you!

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover 

3 pairs, 2 adults, 3 hatchlings, 1 nest at Sandy Point Stonington on 6/23
2 pairs, 2 adults, 2 hatchlings, 2 fledglings at Harkness Memorial State Park on 6/23
14 adults, 8 hatchlings at Milford Point on 6/23
9 pairs, 21 hatchlings, 4 fledglings at Milford Point on 6/23
5 pairs, 8 hatchlings, 4 fledglings at Griswold Point on 6/24
7 pairs, 11 hatchlings, 4 fledglings, 1 nest at Griswold Point on 6/24
6 pairs, 8 hatchlings, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 6/24
2 pairs, 2 hatchlings at Mumford Cove on 6/24
3 pairs, 5 adults, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/24
1 pair, 4 hatchlings at Shell Avenue Milford on 6/25
1 pair, 4 hatchlings at Shell Avenue Milford on 6/25
4 pairs, 2 adults, 5 hatchlings at Bluff Point on 6/25
1 pair, 4 hatchlings at Short Beach on 6/25
7 pairs, 3 hatchlings, 7 fledglings, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/25

4 pairs, 1 adult, 7 hatchlings, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/25

7 adults, 2 hatchlings, 10 fledglings at Griswold Point on 6/25
15 adults, 8 hatchlings, 5 fledglings at Milford Point on 6/26
3 pairs, 10 hatchlings, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/26
4 adults at Pleasure Beach on 6/26
9 adults, 9 fledglings, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/26
1 pair, 4 hatchlings at Shell Avenue Milford on 6/27
1 pair, 4 hatchlings at Short Beach on 6/27
1 pair, 2 hatchlings at Long Beach on 6/27

1 adult at Pleasure Beach on 6/27

18 adults, 3 hatchlings, 2 fledglings at Griswold Point on 6/27
1 pair, 1 nest at Pleasure Beach on 6/28
1 pair, 4 hatchlings at Short Beach on 6/28
1 pair, 4 hatchlings at Shell Avenue Milford on 6/29
12 adults, 8 hatchlings, 8 fledglings at Milford Point on 6/29
1 pair, 4 hatchlings at Short Beach on 6/29

American Oystercatcher
7 pairs, 1 adult, 5 fledglings at Sandy Point Stonington on 6/23
2 adults at Shore Rock on 6/23
2 adults at Milford Point on 6/23
2 pairs, 1 hatchling, 1 nest at Milford Point on 6/23
1 pair, 1 fledgling at Quinnipeag Rock on 6/24
1 pair, 1 nest at Mumford Cove on 6/24

1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/24

1 adult at Long Beach on 6/24
1 pair at Ram Island on 6/25
1 pair, 1 adult at Bluff Point on 6/25
1 adult, 2 hatchlings at Branford Harbor Channel Marker on 6/25
1 pair at Green Island on 6/25
1 pair, 1 fledgling at Umbrella Island on 6/25
1 adult at Kelsey Island on 6/25
3 pairs, 2 nests at Faulkner Island on 6/25

1 pair, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/25

1 pair, 2 hatchlings at Vincent Island on 6/25

1 adult at Greenway Island on 6/25

1 adult at Fish Islands on 6/25

1 pair, 5 adults at Thimble Islands on 6/26
1 pair, 1 nest at Lewis Island on 6/26
3 pairs, 1 fledgling, 1 nest at Milford Point on 6/26
1 adult at Long Beach on 6/26
4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/26
1 pair, 1 nest at Duck Island on 6/27
1 pair, 1 fledgling at Salt Island on 6/27
7 pairs, 1 adult, 2 hatchlings, 2 nests at Menunketesuck Island on 6/27
1 adult at Short Beach on 6/27
2 adults at Pleasure Beach on 6/28
15 adults, 1 fledgling at Milford Point on 6/29

Least Tern

50 adults at Milford Point on 6/23
25 pairs, 10 adults, 25 nests at Milford Point on 6/23
45 adults at Griswold Point on 6/24
30 pairs, 10 adults, 30 nests at Griswold Point on 6/24
3 pairs, 2 adults, 10 nests at Bluff Point on 6/24
2 pairs, 2 nests at Mumford Cove on 6/24

1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/24

2 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 6/25
4 adults at Short Beach on 6/25
3 pairs, 4 adults, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/25
3 pairs, 1 adult, 3 nests at Bluff Point on 6/25

1 pair, 4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/25

2 adults at Long Beach on 6/25

4 adults at Vincent Island on 6/25

2 pairs, 3 hatchlings at Sasco Hill Beach on 6/26
2 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 6/26
40 adults at Milford Point on 6/26
1 pair, 1 nest at Pleasure Beach on 6/26
1 pair, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/26
4 adults, 2 nests at Pleasure Beach on 6/27
2 pairs, 4 adults, 1 nest at Pleasure Beach on 6/28

6 adults at Long Beach on 6/29

25 adults at Milford Point on 6/29

Common Tern

24 adults at Thimble Islands on 6/20
11 adults at Sandy Point Stonington on 6/23
1 adult at Milford Point on 6/23
1 pair, 4 adults at Milford Point on 6/23
3 pairs at Griswold Point on 6/24
2 pairs at Bluff Point on 6/24
2 pairs, 2 adults at Umbrella Island on 6/25

5 pairs, 6 nests at Vincent Island on 6/25

5 adults at Thimble Islands on 6/26
2 adults at Milford Point on 6/26
1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/26
1 adult at Short Beach on 6/27

This concludes update #13 through 6/30/14 as of 5:00 p.m.

Help at Short Beach in Stratford

Good evening all,

Entering this season Stratford's Short Beach was not on the list of beaches for monitoring as it did not have Piping Plovers in recent years. However, we have a pair there this year that have successfully nested and as of today there are four hatchlings present.

CT DEEP is looking for some help this weekend at Short Beach during what should be a busy time - even a quick visit to check on them and if possible, educate some beachgoers, would be tremendously appreciated. CT DEEP is contacting the Town of Stratford to allow our monitors in free of charge. Thank you for any assistance you can provide! Remember we will also be looking for help on the evening of July 3 in Stratford, Milford and West Haven, so please let us know if you can join DEEP and AAfCW staff that night. Thanks again for all your efforts.

AAfCW 2014 Volunteer Update #12

This is the twelfth weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2014 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern and Common Tern from June 16 through 4:00 p.m. on June 23 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff spanning that period.

Informational updates:

We need your help for fireworks celebrations! Please email us if you can plan to be at Stratford's Short Beach, Milford Point, or Sandy/Morse Points in West Haven on the evening of July 3. Our staff will be on these beaches and at other locations along with CT DEEP and the more help we can get the more we can do to ensure a successful evening for our birds while continuing our outreach and education efforts. Thank you!

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover

1 pair, 3 hatchlings at Shell Avenue Milford on 6/16
1 pair, 1 hatchling at Shell Avenue Milford on 6/16
2 pairs at Pleasure Beach on 6/16
1 pair, 1 hatchling at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/16
3 pairs at Milford Point on 6/17
5 pairs, 1 adult, 2 hatchlings, 3 nests at Sandy Point Stonington on 6/17
13 adults, 7 hatchlings at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/17
2 pairs, 6 adults, 7 hatchlings, 4 fledglings at Griswold Point on 6/17
1 adult, 1 nest at Short Beach on 6/17
1 adult, 1 nest at Long Beach on 6/17
1 pair, 4 hatchlings at Shell Avenue Milford on 6/17
8 pairs, 25 hatchlings at Milford Point on 6/17

4 pairs, 2 adults, 7 hatchlings at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/17

13 adults, 7 hatchlings at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/17

5 pairs, 2 adults, 6 hatchlings, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/17

10 adults, 9 hatchlings at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/18
2 pairs, 2 hatchlings at Mumford Cove on 6/18
3 pairs, 2 adults, 7 hatchlings at Bluff Point on 6/18
2 pairs, 2 nests at Pleasure Beach on 6/18
8 pairs, 10 hatchlings, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/18

5 pairs, 6 hatchlings, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/18

1 pair, 3 hatchlings at Shell Avenue Milford on 6/19
1 pair, 4 hatchlings at Shell Avenue Milford on 6/19
15 adults, 15 hatchlings at Milford Point on 6/19
1 pair, 1 nest at Long Beach on 6/19
1 pair, 1 nest at Pleasure Beach on 6/19
1 pair, 1 nest at Short Beach on 6/19

2 pairs, 9 adults, 4 hatchlings, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/19

2 pairs, 2 nests at Pleasure Beach on 6/20

3 adults at Pleasure Beach on 6/20

1 pair, 4 hatchlings at Shell Avenue Milford on 6/21

1 pair, 4 hatchlings at Long Beach on 6/21

2 pairs, 2 nests at Pleasure Beach on 6/21

1 pair, 4 hatchlings at Shell Avenue Milford on 6/22

1 pair, 2 adults, 7 fledglings at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/22
1 pair, 4 hatchlings at Shell Avenue Milford on 6/23

6 adults, 4 hatchlings at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/23

2 pairs, 6 adults, 6 hatchlings, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/23

American Oystercatcher

1 pair, 2 hatchlings at Branford Harbor Channel Marker on 6/16
1 pair, 1 nest at Green Island on 6/16
1 pair at Darrow Rocks on 6/16
1 pair, 1 fledgling at Umbrella Island on 6/16
1 pair at Salt Island on 6/16
6 pairs, 1 hatchling, 1 nest at Menunketesuck Island on 6/16
1 pair, 1 nest at Duck Island on 6/16

1 pair at Great Captain's Island on 6/16

1 pair at Milford Point on 6/17
8 pairs, 1 adult, 7 hatchlings at Sandy Point Stonington on 6/17
2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/17
3 pairs, 1 hatchling, 1 nest at Milford Point on 6/17

2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/17

1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/17

2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/17

1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/18
1 pair, 1 nest at Mumford Cove on 6/18
1 pair, 1 fledgling at Quinnipeag Rock on 6/18
1 pair, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/18

2 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/18

1 adult at Long Beach on 6/18

7 adults, 2 nests at Milford Point on 6/19
4 adults at Long Beach on 6/19
2 adults at Milford Point on 6/19

2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/19

1 pair, 1 fledgling at Salt Island on 6/20
5 pairs, 1 fledgling, 3 nests at Menunketesuck Island on 6/20
2 pairs, 1 nest at Duck Island on 6/20

2 pairs, 1 adult, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/22

4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/23

2 pairs, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/23

 

Least Tern

12 adults at Milford Point on 6/17
1 pair at Sandy Point Stonington on 6/17
10 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/17
60 adults at Griswold Point on 6/17
2 adults at Long Beach on 6/17

4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/17

10 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/17

9 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/17

1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/18
2 pairs, 2 nests at Mumford Cove on 6/18
2 pairs, 2 nests at Bluff Point on 6/18
5 pairs, 5 nests at Pleasure Beach on 6/18
4 pairs, 4 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/18

6 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/18

1 adult at Long Beach on 6/18

2 pairs, 2 nests at Sasco Hill Beach on 6/19
50 adults at Milford Point on 6/19
8 pairs, 2 nests at Pleasure Beach on 6/19
1 adult at Long Beach on 6/19

5 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/19

10 pairs, 3 adults, 10 nests at Menunketesuck Island on 6/20

1 pair, 1 adult, 1 nest at Pleasure Beach on 6/20

1 pair, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/22

2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/23

1 pair, 5 adults, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/23

Common Tern

3 pairs, 3 nests at Umbrella Island on 6/16
1 pair at Green Island on 6/16
1 pair at Kelsey Island on 6/16

1 adult at Great Captain's Island on 6/16

2 pairs at Sandy Point Stonington on 6/17
1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/17
4 adults at Milford Point on 6/17

1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/17

3 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/17

2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/18

1 adult at Long Beach on 6/18

1 adult at Long Beach on 6/19

1 pair, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/19

This concludes update #12 through 6/23/14 as of 4:00 p.m.

“Be a Good Egg” Outreach Program comes to Sandy Point, Long Beach, and West Beach

This summer Audubon Alliance volunteers and technicians will be staffing information booths at Long Beach, Sandy Point, and West Beach (adjacent to the Menunkatesuck sand flats) where Piping Plovers and/or other beach nesting birds are found. By reaching out to visitors to these important bird habitats, the volunteers are playing a key role in increasing community awareness about beach-nesting birds, the threats they face, and how to help them. Beachgoers visiting the booths learn about the birds and their habitat needs and are asked to take the “Be a Good Egg Pledge” to 1) stay outside of string fenced areas, 2) not bring dogs to the beach, and 3) properly dispose of trash.   

The Be a Good Egg program was developed by Audubon North Carolina and comes to CT this summer with support from the Long Island Sound Futures Fund and in partnership with the Stewart B. McKinney NWR and the CT DEEP Wildlife Division. If you’d like to take the pledge, stop by one of the tables on the first or third Saturday or Sunday (just Sandy Point and West Beach) of June, July, and August. The take home pledge card can be downloaded here. If you would like to help staff an info booth, contact IBA Program Coordinator, Corrie Folsom-O’Keefe at cfolsom-okeefe@audubon.org or 203-264-5098 ext. 310.

AAfCW 2014 Volunteer Update #11

This is the eleventh weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2014 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern and Common Tern from June 9 through 4:00 p.m. on June 16 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff spanning that period.

Informational updates:

We seem to be near the peak of Piping Plover hatchlings running around our beaches with some locations having over 10 each. The more time you can spend monitoring and educating the public the better during what should be a warmer and drier stretch of weather coming up.

Fourth of July celebrations are coming up in 2-3 weeks across Connecticut. We will need volunteer assistance in Stratford at Short Beach, Milford at Milford Point and West Haven at Sandy/Morse Points, all likely on the night of July 3, and potentially more beaches/nights. Please email us if you can help on the 3rd!

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover

6 adults, 6 hatchlings at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/9
2 pairs, 2 nests at Long Beach on 6/10
1 adult at Short Beach on 6/10
2 pairs, 3 hatchlings, 1 nest at Mumford Cove on 6/10
1 pair, 1 nest at Shell Avenue Milford on 6/10
7 adults, 9 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/10
1 pair, 1 nest at Shell Avenue Milford on 6/11
6 pairs, 2 adults, 9 hatchlings, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/11
8 pairs, 14 hatchlings, 1 nest at Griswold Point on 6/11
4 pairs, 2 adults, 7 hatchlings, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 6/11
3 pairs, 3 nests at Sandy Point Stonington on 6/11
1 adult at Silver Sands State Park on 6/11
1 pair, 1 nest at Shell Avenue Milford on 6/11
12 adults, 12 hatchlings at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/11

2 pairs, 2 adults, 6 hatchlings at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/11

3 pairs, 4 adults, 8 hatchlings, 1 nest at Griswold Point on 6/11

13 adults, 14 hatchlings at Milford Point on 6/12
5 pairs, 11 adults, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 6/12
5 pairs, 12 adults, 1 nest at Harkness Memorial State Park on 6/12
6 pairs, 3 adults, 10 hatchlings, 1 nest at Griswold Point on 6/12
7 adults, 8 hatchlings, 1 nest at Griswold Point on 6/14
1 adult, 1 nest at Shell Avenue Milford on 6/14
9 pairs, 28 hatchlings at Milford Point on 6/14
1 adult, 1 nest at Short Beach on 6/14
2 adults, 1 nest at Long Beach on 6/14
12 adults, 14 hatchlings at Milford Point on 6/15
3 adults, 4 hatchlings, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 6/15
16 adults, 8 hatchlings at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/16
17 adults, 8 hatchlings at Milford Point on 6/16

American Oystercatcher

2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/9
2 adults at Long Beach on 6/10
1 pair, 3 adults at Short Beach on 6/10
1 pair at Griswold Island on 6/10
1 pair, 1 nest at Mumford Cove on 6/10
8 pairs, 5 hatchlings, 3 nests at Sandy Point Stonington on 6/11
2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/11
3 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/11
1 adult at Griswold Point on 6/11
1 pair at Harkness Memorial State Park on 6/11
15 adults, 2 nests at Milford Point on 6/12
1 pair at Bluff Point on 6/12
1 pair, 1 adult at Quinnipeag Rock on 6/12
1 adult at Tuxis Island on 6/12
1 adult at Griswold Point on 6/14
3 pairs, 1 hatchling, 2 nests at Milford Point on 6/14
4 adults at Milford Point on 6/15
2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/16
4 adults at Milford Point on 6/16

Least Tern

10 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/9
1 adult at Seaside Park on 6/10
4 pairs, 3 adults, 4 nests at Long Beach on 6/10
2 adults at Russian Beach on 6/10
9 adults at Short Beach on 6/10
2 pairs, 2 nests at Mumford Cove on 6/10
22 adults, 3 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/10
1 pair at Sandy Point Stonington on 6/11
2 pairs at Barn Island on 6/11
14 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/11
10 pairs, 10 adults, 8 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/11
30 pairs, 10 adults, 25 nest at Griswold Point on 6/11
2 pairs, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 6/11

1 pair, 4 adults, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/11

60 adults at Milford Point on 6/12
1 pair, 1 adult, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 6/12
4 pairs, 6 adults, 10 nests at Harkness Memorial State Park on 6/12
27 adults, 13 pairs, 19 nests at Griswold Point on 6/12
45 adults at Griswold Point on 6/14
60 adults at Milford Point on 6/15
2 pairs, 2 nests at Bluff Point on 6/15
4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/16
30 adults at Milford Point on 6/16

Common Tern

2 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 6/10
2 adults at Seaside Park on 6/10
2 adults at Long Beach on 6/10
1 pair at Russian Beach on 6/10
19 adults at Short Beach on 6/10
2 adults, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/10
2 pairs at Sandy Point Stonington on 6/11
2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/11
6 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/11
2 adults at Griswold Point on 6/11
2 adults at Milford Point on 6/12
10 pairs, 10 nests at Cockenoe Island on 6/12

This concludes update #11 through 6/16/14 as of 5:00 p.m.

Five-egg Piping Plover nest

About a week ago CT DEEP's Rebecca Foster discovered a cool oddity among the several Piping Plover nests at Milford Point. Take a look at this photo, right in the center, where there is a small depression. This nest has five eggs in it!

Piping Plovers lay four-egg nests almost 100% of the time. When they have completed the four-egg nest CT DEEP goes in to add a predator exclosure, the metal framing you see in Rebecca's photo above. In this case Rebecca says she exclosed the nest when it had four eggs, as usual, and the birds ended up laying another one. In all her summers of working with the Piping Plovers in Connecticut she had never seen this before.

Audubon Connecticut Field Technician Sean Graesser tells me he knows of at least a pair of birds on Long Island in the past that had a six-egg nest. Suffice it to say we are all very intrigued as to how this will turn out. Will all of the eggs hatch? I am guessing no but if they do seeing mom and dad running around with five little ones would be entertaining.

AAfCW 2014 Volunteer Update #10

This is the tenth weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2014 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern and Common Tern from June 2 through 1:00 p.m. on June 9 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff spanning that period.

Informational updates:

As we continue through the end of the spring and enter the summer we will be continually seeing more bird and human activity on our beaches with more nests and young to come. Please remember to visit our blog for dozens of documents including our datasheets, outreach materials, species fact sheets and more: http://ctwaterbirds.blogspot.com/

This PDF file from CT DEEP is one of the most important containing contact information, instructions on what to do in difficult situations and with disturbances plus dog laws on beaches: http://rtpi.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/WHO-TO-CONTACT-IN-AN-EMERGENCY_CT-Dog-Laws.pdf

As always if you have any questions email us at any time - thank you!

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover

1 pair, 1 nest at Shell Avenue Milford on 6/2
8 pairs, 2 adults, 4 hatchlings at Griswold Point on 6/2
3 adults, 1 hatchling at Harkness Memorial State Park on 6/2
2 pairs, 2 adults, 2 nests at Long Beach on 6/2
2 pairs, 1 nest at Pleasure Beach on 6/2

8 adults, 3 hatchlings at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/2

6 adults at Milford Point on 6/3
7 pairs, 11 hatchlings, 3 nests at Griswold Point on 6/3
4 pairs, 8 hatchlings, 2 nests at Bluff Point on 6/3
2 pairs, 2 nests at Mumford Cove on 6/3
3 pairs, 1 adult, 5 hatchlings, 2 nests at Bluff Point on 6/3
15 adults, 8 hatchlings, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/3

1 pair, 1 nest at Long Beach on 6/3

10 adults, 9 hatchlings at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/3

3 pairs, 2 nests at Long Beach on 6/4
2 pairs at Pleasure Beach on 6/4
9 adults, 7 hatchlings, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/4
3 pairs, 4 hatchlings at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/4

1 pair, 1 adult, 1 nest at Long Beach on 6/4

1 adult, 1 nest at Long Beach on 6/5
1 pair at Pleasure Beach on 6/5
1 adult, 1 nest at Short Beach on 6/5
2 pairs, 2 adults, 4 hatchlings at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/5
15 adults, 7 nests at Milford Point on 6/6
6 pairs, 12 hatchlings, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/6
8 pairs, 15 hatchlings, 4 nests at Milford Point on 6/6

2 adults at Long Beach on 6/6

1 pair at Long Beach on 6/7

7 adults, 10 hatchlings at Griswold Point on 6/8
1 pair at Long Beach 6/8

American Oystercatcher
1 adult at Griswold Point on 6/2
1 pair at Harkness Memorial State Park on 6/2
1 pair at Long Beach on 6/2
1 pair at Pleasure Beach on 6/2

4 adults, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/2

6 adults at Milford Point on 6/3
1 pair, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 6/3
1 pair, 1 nest at Griswold Island on 6/3
1 pair, 1 nest at Mumford Cove on 6/3
1 pair at Bluff Point on 6/3
1 pair, 1 adult, 1 hatchling at Tuxis Island on 6/3
3 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/3
1 pair, 4 adults at Long/Pleasure Beach on 6/3
1 pair, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 6/3

1 pair at Long Beach on 6/3
2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/3

1 pair at Sixpenny Island on 6/4
4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/4
1 pair, 4 adults at Long Beach on 6/4

2 pairs, 2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/4

1 adult at Long Beach on 6/4

3 adults at Long Beach on 6/5
1 adult, 1 hatchling at Tuxis Island on 6/5
2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/5
8 adults at Milford Point on 6/6
3 pairs, 3 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/6
2 pairs, 2 nests at Milford Point on 6/6

1 pair at Long Beach on 6/7

Least Tern

14 pairs, 6 nests at Long Beach on 6/2

7 pairs, 4 nests at Pleasure Beach on 6/2

24 adults, 6 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/2

10 adults at Milford Point on 6/3

2 pairs, 1 adult, 2 nests at Mumford Cove on 6/3

8 adults at Bluff Point on 6/3

6 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/3

25 pairs, 10 adults, 25 nests at Griswold Point on 6/3

6 pairs, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 6/3

2 pairs, 7 adults at Long Beach on 6/3

25 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/3

8 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/4

4 pairs, 10 adults, 3 nests at Long Beach on 6/4

7 pairs, 2 nests at Pleasure Beach on 6/4

6 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/4

4 adults at Long Beach on 6/4

21 adults at Long Beach on 6/5

4 adults at Pleasure Beach on 6/5

2 pairs, 2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/5

40 adults, 3 nests at Milford Point on 6/6

12 pairs, 5 adults, 5 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/6

32 pairs, 27 nests at Milford Point on 6/6

2 adults at Long Beach on 6/6

6 adults at Pleasure Beach on 6/6

5 adults, 2 nests at Sasco Hill Beach on 6/7

45 adults at Griswold Point on 6/8

5 adults at Sherwood Island State Park on 6/8

1 pair, 3 adults at Long Beach on 6/8

Common Tern

6 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/2
2 adults at Milford Point on 6/3
4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/3

2 adults at Pleasure Beach on 6/4

1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/4

2 adults at Long Beach on 6/5

8 adults at Milford Point on 6/6

4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/6

6 adults at Milford Point on 6/6

This concludes update #10 through 6/9/14 as of 1:00 p.m.