AAfCW 2014 Volunteer Update #2

This is the second weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2014 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover and American Oystercatcher from April 7 through 3:00 p.m. on April 14 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff spanning that period.

Informational updates:
Please sign up to schedule your monitoring now by emailing ctwaterbirds@gmail.com if you have not as our field season is well underway! You should be sending all data and information from any monitoring to ctwaterbirds@gmail.com now and throughout the season.

Two fencing dates are coming up this week - NOTE CHANGE AT BLUFF POINT as rain has canceled tomorrow's fencing and moved it to Wednesday, April 16:

Wednesday, April 16 at 10:00AM - Bluff Point State Park, Groton
Tomorrow's heavy rain has moved this date back one day. At this location we will meet in the parking area and CT DEEP will shuttle people out to the beach.

Thursday, April 17 at 10:30AM - Harkness Memorial State Park, Waterford
Rain date Tuesday, April 22 at 10:30AM. Harkness is not on the list of our volunteer monitoring sites this season but CT DEEP is looking for assistance in erecting metal tern fencing and possibly Piping Plover string fencing and signage. We will meet in the main parking area and volunteers and staff will be transported in via the private CT DEEP entrance. If there is an attendant at the entrance booth we ask that volunteers explain they are U.S. Fish & Wildlife volunteers there to assist CT DEEP with fencing operations and you will be allowed entry.

Volunteers should bring: work gloves, water, a snack, appropriate footwear, sunscreen, sunglasses, hats and whatever else you may need avoid too much sun. These locations can either be quite cool or very warm depending on the day so dress for any weather. A pocket knife or multi-tool can be handy and a sledge hammer or mallet can be helpful to bring. Plan for heavy lifting and toting, but be mindful of your safety.

Please email us at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com if you will be joining us for fencing. It is important to know if you will be there so that we can best deploy staff and recruit more volunteers if needed - thank you!

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover
7 adults at Milford Point on 4/7
1 pair, 2 adults at Bluff Point on 4/7
3 adults at Long Beach on 4/7
1 pair, 3 adults at Bluff Point on 4/8
3 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/8
6 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/9
6 adults at Milford Point on 4/9
3 adults at Long Beach on 4/9
13 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/9
7 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/9
1 pair at Long Beach on 4/9
5 pairs at Milford Point on 4/10
1 pair at Long Beach on 4/10
4 adults at Long Beach on 4/10
3 pairs, 5 adults Milford Point on 4/10
5 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/10
3 pairs, 3 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/12
3 adults at Milford Point on 4/12
18 adults at Griswold Point on 4/13
3 pairs, 5 adults at Milford Point on 4/13
2 pairs at Long Beach on 4/13
2 pairs at Long Beach on 4/13

American Oystercatcher
4 pairs at Milford Point on 4/7
1 pair at Bluff Point on 4/7
1 pair, 1 adult at Griswold Point on 4/8
1 pair at Bluff Point on 4/8
1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/8
1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/9
2 pairs at Milford Point on 4/9
1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/9
1 adult at Long Beach on 4/9
1 pair at Milford Point on 4/10
2 pairs at Milford Point on 4/10
4 adults at Long Beach on 4/10
2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/10
4 pairs, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/12
2 pairs at Milford Point on 4/12
1 pair, 1 adult at Long Beach on 4/12
2 pairs at Milford Point on 4/12
1 pair at Long Beach on 4/13

This concludes update #2 through 4/14/14 as of 4:00 p.m.