Menunketesuck Island fencing and more

Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds field staff has been extremely busy seven days a week with both assisting CT DEEP in exclosing four egg Piping Plover nests and continuing to add fencing and signage to locations with terns moving in, American Oystercatcher nests, and so forth. Yesterday our staff visited the critical Menunketesuck Island in Westbrook to continue this effort.

Elizabeth Amendola and Luis Martin completed this work and Elizabeth snapped a couple of shots before they left the island.

 

Looking good! Our staff being so busy does mean that there are many waterbirds nesting in Connecticut and we will do our best to ensure the maximum number of young fledge and head south in the coming months.

AAfCW 2014 Volunteer Update #8

This is the eighth 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 May 19 through 4:00 p.m. on May 27 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff spanning that period.

Informational updates:

Thank you to all of the monitors who spent extra time out on the beach last weekend! We educated and spoke to hundreds of beachgoers in the beautiful weather. We also had the first Piping Plover hatchlings of 2014 at Griswold Point and then Milford Point and Sandy/Morse Points. This will pick up very rapidly now with many young emerging in the next couple of weeks as our terns begin to nest as well. Please monitor as much as you can in this critical time!

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover
1 pair, 7 adults, 1 nest at Griswold Point on 5/19
1 pair, 1 nest at Harkness Memorial State Park on 5/19
2 adults at Bluff Point on 5/19
1 adult, 1 nest at Shell Avenue Milford on 5/19
2 adults at Milford Point on 5/20
2 pairs, 6 adults, 8 nests at Milford Point on 5/20
4 pairs, 3 nests at Long Beach on 5/20
1 pair, 1 nest at Pleasure Beach on 5/20
9 adults, 4 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/20
1 pair, 2 adults, 3 nests at Long Beach on 5/20
3 pairs, 12 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/20
2 adults at Sandy Point Stonington on 5/20
3 pairs, 2 adults, 5 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/21
1 nest at Peck Ave. Beach, West Haven on 5/21
4 adults, 8 nests at Milford Point on 5/21
1 adult at Short Beach on 5/21
2 pairs, 5 adults, 4 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/21
2 pairs, 4 adults, 4 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/21
2 pairs, 4 adults, 2 nests at Long Beach on 5/21
1 adult at Short Beach on 5/22
14 adults, 8 nests at Milford Point on 5/23
2 pairs, 6 adults, 8 nests at Milford Point on 5/23
1 pair, 1 nest at East Broadway Milford on 5/23
3 pairs at Bluff Point on 5/23
12 adults, 3 hatchlings, 4 nests at Griswold Point on 5/24
1 pair, 1 nest at Shell Avenue Milford on 5/24
4 pairs, 2 adults, 5 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/24
1 nest at Peck Ave. Beach, West Haven on 5/24
6 pairs, 2 adults, 8 nests at Milford Point on 5/24
4 pairs, 1 adult, 4 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/24
8 pairs, 8 nests at Milford Point on 5/25
1 pair, 1 nest at Shell Avenue Milford on 5/25
8 pairs, 8 nests at Milford Point on 5/25
1 pair, 1 nest at Short Beach on 5/25
8 pairs, 4 hatchlings, 7 nests at Griswold Point on 5/25
4 pairs, 1 adult, 3 nests at Bluff Point on 5/25
2 pairs, 4 adults at Long Beach on 5/25
2 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/25
6 pairs, 3 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/26
4 pairs, 3 nests at Long Beach on 5/26
1 pair, 1 nest at Pleasure Beach on 5/26
8 pairs, 4 hatchlings, 7 nests at Milford Point on 5/26
1 adult at Milford Point on 5/26
3 pairs, 5 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/26
3 pairs, 1 adult, 3 nests at Long Beach on 5/27
15 adults, 2 hatchlings, 4 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/27

American Oystercatcher
1 pair at Griswold Point on 5/19
1 pair at Bluff Point on 5/19
4 pairs at Cockenoe Island on 5/19
1 pair at Chimon Island on 5/19
2 pairs at Long Beach Island on 5/19
1 pair, 1 nest at Rocky Island on 5/19
1 pair at Fish Islands on 5/20
3 pairs, 1 adult, 1 nest at Menunketesuck Island on 5/20
1 pair, 1 adult, 1 nest at Duck Island on 5/20
1 pair at Salt Island on 5/20
3 adults, 2 nests at Milford Point on 5/20
1 adult at Tuxis Island on 5/20
4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/20
1 pair, 1 nest at Milford Point on 5/20
1 adult at Long Beach on 5/20
2 adults at Penfield Reef on 5/20
2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/20
9 pairs, 9 nests at Sandy Point Stonington on 5/20
2 pairs, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/21
4 adults at Milford Point on 5/21
2 adults at Short Beach on 5/21
2 pairs, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/21
3 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/21
1 adult at Sixpenny Island on 5/21
1 adult at Ram Island on 5/21
2 adults at Long Beach on 5/21
1 adult at Quinnipeag Rocks on 5/22
2 pairs, 1 adult at Milford Point on 5/23
2 pairs, 1 nest at Milford Point on 5/23
1 adult at Bluff Point on 5/23
1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/24
2 pairs, 2 nests at Milford Point on 5/24
2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/24
2 adults at Milford Point on 5/25
2 pairs, 1 adult, 2 nests at Milford Point on 5/25
1 pair, 4 adults at Bluff Point on 5/25
2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/26
2 pairs, 2 nests at Milford Point on 5/26
4 adults at Milford Point on 5/26
3 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/26
1 pair at Long Beach on 5/27
2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/27

Least Tern
4 adults at Griswold Point on 5/19
1 adult at Harkness Memorial State Park on 5/19
1 adult at Bluff Point on 5/19
38 adults at Shell Avenue Milford on 5/19
4 adults at Norwalk Island Area on 5/19
18 adults at Milford Point on 5/20
12 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/20
17 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/20
3 pairs, 19 adults at Milford Point on 5/20
5 pairs, 30 adults at Long Beach on 5/20
10 adults at Long Beach on 5/20
27 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/20
3 adults at Barn Island on 5/20
7 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/21
20 adults at Milford Point on 5/21
5 adults at Short Beach on 5/21
2 pairs, 14 adults at Long Beach on 5/21
50 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/21
20 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/21
2 pairs, 5 adults at Long Beach on 5/21
1 pair, 1 adult at Short Beach on 5/22
20 adults at Milford Point on 5/23
10 adults at Bluff Point on 5/23
9 adults at Sasco Hill Beach on 5/24
35 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/24
150 adults at Milford Point on 5/25
15 adults at Milford Point on 5/26
1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/26
24 adults at Long Beach on 5/27
10 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/27

Common Tern
5 adults at Shell Avenue Milford on 5/19
5 pairs at Cockenoe Sand Spit on 5/19
1 pair at Westbrook Beach on 5/20
1 adult at Silver Sands State Park on 5/20
4 adults at Milford Point on 5/20
25 adults at Long Beach on 5/20
2 adults at Pleasure Beach on 5/20
3 adults at Penfield Reef on 5/20
4 adults at Long Beach on 5/20
2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/20
1 pair at Tuxis Island on 5/21
1 pair at Grass Island on 5/21
1 pair, 2 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/21
10 adults at Milford Point on 5/21
5 adults at Short Beach on 5/21
1 pair, 15 adults at Long Beach on 5/21
2 pairs, 11 adults at Sandy/Morse Point on 5/21
4 adults at Long Beach on 5/21
6 adults at Milford Point on 5/23
14 adults at Sandy/Morse Point on 5/24
15 adults at Peck Ave. Beach, West Haven on 5/24
2 adults at Milford Point on 5/24
12 adults at Sasco Hill Beach on 5/24
1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/24
4 pairs, 15 adults at Long Beach on 5/25
12 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/25
6 adults at Sandy/Morse Point on 5/26
3 adults at Long Beach on 5/26
12 adults at Milford Point on 5/26
2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/26
6 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/27

This concludes update #8 through 5/27/14 as of 5:00 p.m.

Share the shore this weekend!

Please see the "TIP SHEET: Sharing Our Shores with Shorebirds" below or open the original PDF version by clicking here. Spread the word!

Talking about waterbirds

This past Wednesday, May 21, President & Executive Director of the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History Dr. Twan Leenders spoke at RTPI on various topics that included the initiatives we are participating in to engage more people in environmental outreach and stewardship efforts. RTPI became an official partner in the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds this season to bolster the already impressive efforts across Connecticut and spread the word of our mission even further.

Twan explained to our audience how AAfCW functions with our volunteer monitors being deployed across the state working with our seasonal staff as well as CT DEEP and USFWS.

 

Twan also spoke on the species involved like the Piping Plover.

 

With tomorrow being Memorial Day weekend we hope you will be speaking to as many people as you can on the beach - or anywhere - about our waterbirds and why sharing the beach is important. Let's get everyone we can to be amazed at what our "backyard" has to offer and energized to get to know our natural "neighbors" a little better!

AAfCW 2014 Volunteer Update #7

This is the seventh 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 May 12 through 4:00 p.m. on May 19 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff spanning that period.

Informational updates:

All is running smoothly with our waterbirds for the most part thus far this season. After a slow start we have many nests of Piping Plover and American Oystercatcher across our beaches with at least sightings of birds nearly everywhere. Least Terns and Common Terns will be starting to pair off to nest in the coming weeks.

Please remember that next weekend is Memorial Day. The holiday will mean busier beaches with a lot more traffic, especially if the weather is cooperative. Many of these visitors will not know about our birds or why they're important and need to be educated on what is happening on the beach. If you have any extra time to monitor outside of your usual shifts please try to visit any of our beaches next Saturday, Sunday and Monday during this critical nesting time at the unofficial beginning of summer. Thank you in advance!

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover
6 pairs, 6 nests at Milford Point on 5/12
1 adult at Russian Beach on 5/12
2 pairs, 1 adult, 2 nests at Long Beach on 5/12
1 pair at Pleasure Beach on 5/12

3 pairs, 8 adults, 5 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/12

2 adults at Harkness Memorial State Park on 5/13
1 pair at Silver Sands State Park on 5/13
2 pairs, 1 adult, 2 nests at Long Beach on 5/13
3 pairs, 3 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/13

2 pairs at Long Beach on 5/13

2 pairs, 8 adults, 4 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/13

1 adult, 1 nest at Peck Ave. Beach, West Haven on 5/13

4 pairs, 1 adult, 4 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/14
1 pair, 1 nest at Peck Ave. Beach, West Haven on 5/14
3 pairs, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 5/14
8 pairs, 6 nests at Griswold Point on 5/14
1 pair at East Broadway Milford on 5/14
8 adults, 4 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/14

5 pairs, 3 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/14

1 pair at Sandy Point Stonington on 5/14

6 pairs, 1 adult, 7 nests at Milford Point on 5/15
4 pairs, 4 nests at Milford Point on 5/15
2 adults, 2 nests at Long Beach on 5/15

2 pairs at Griswold Point on 5/15
1 pair, 4 adults, 4 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/15

1 pair, 1 nest at Shell Avenue Milford on 5/16

2 pairs, 1 adult, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 5/16

3 pairs, 3 nests at Long Beach on 5/17

4 pairs at Long Beach on 5/17

1 pair, 2 adults, 2 nests at Long Beach on 5/18

2 pairs, 2 adults, 2 nests at Long Beach on 5/18

1 pair, 6 adults, 4 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/18

3 adults, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/19

American Oystercatcher
1 pair at Salt Island on 5/12
3 pairs, 1 adult, 1 nest at Menunketesuck Island on 5/12
1 pair, 1 nest at Duck Island on 5/12
2 pairs, 2 nests at Milford Point on 5/12

3 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/12

1 pair at Rocky Island on 5/12

2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/13
1 pair at Compo Beach on 5/13
1 pair at Long Beach on 5/13

1 pair at Long Beach on 5/13

2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/13

3 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/14
1 pair at Bluff Point on 5/14
1 pair, 1 nest at Griswold Point on 5/14
2 adults at Thimble Islands on 5/14
4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/14
1 pair, 1 nest at Milford Point on 5/15
4 adults at Milford Point on 5/15
4 adults at Long Beach on 5/15

9 pairs, 9 nests at Sandy Point Stonington on 5/15

1 adult at Dodges Island on 5/15
1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/15
2 adults at Pleasure Beach on 5/15

1 pair at Bluff Point on 5/16

4 adults at Long Beach on 5/17

1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/18

1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/19

Least Tern
4 adults at Menunketesuck Island on 5/12
5 pairs, 22 adults at Milford Point on 5/12
2 pairs at Long Beach on 5/12
3 adults at Pleasure Beach on 5/12
12 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/12

7 adults at Griswold Point on 5/13
2 adults at Harkness Memorial State Park on 5/13
10 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/13
2 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/13
15 adults at Long Beach on 5/13

6 adults at Long Beach on 5/13

12 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/13

10 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/14
5 adults at Bluff Point on 5/14
8 adults at Griswold Point on 5/14
8 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/14
2 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/14
10 adults at Milford Point on 5/15
30 adults at Milford Point on 5/15
18 adults at Long Beach on 5/15

1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/15

1 pair at Bluff Point on 5/16
10 adults at Long Beach on 5/17

3 adults at Pleasure Beach on 5/17

6 pairs at Long Beach on 5/18

1 pair, 2 adults at Pleasure Beach on 5/18

6 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/19

Common Tern
4 adults at Milford Point on 5/12
4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/12

1 pair at Compo Beach on 5/13
1 pair, 2 adults at Sandy/Morse Point on 5/14
1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/14
3 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/15
6 adults at Milford Point on 5/15
3 adults at Long Beach on 5/15

2 pairs at Sandy Point Stonington on 5/15

4 adults at Penfield Reef on 5/17

6 adults at Long Beach on 5/18

11 adults at Long Beach on 5/18

3 adults at Pleasure Beach on 5/18

7 adults at Sherwood Island on 5/18

This concludes update #7 through 5/19/14 as of 5:00 p.m.

Banded American Oystercatchers Stonington

Sandy Point Island in Stonington is having a remarkable occurrence at the moment! Some of our seasonal waterbirds field staff, and more specifically the American Oystercatcher crew, is monitoring the waterbird population on Sandy Point via kayak. AAfCW's Elizabeth Amendola has been watching them vigilantly and she has found several banded birds among the nine - NINE! - nesting pairs present.

Here are a bunch of her photos taken from a considerable distance zooming to 50 times with her camera. I assure you they were not being disturbed in any way.

Elizabeth also notes that two of the pairs are made up of banded birds (3M Yellow and 7N Red, 73 Yellow and EJ Red are pairs). That's incredible! Having nine pairs of American Oystercatchers all with nests is fantastic but to be able to find out the life history of some of these individuals will be tremendous for our research.

Knowledge of where they are now and what these birds are doing will assist the organizations and/or people who initially banded them. We will keep you updated on the background information on these individuals and if they can all successfully hatch young.

AAfCW 2014 Volunteer Update #6

This is the sixth 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 May 5 through 4:00 p.m. on May 12 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff spanning that period.

Informational updates:

Least Terns and Common Terns are now widespread in Connecticut and all four of our focal species are being reported. Please send us data and information both tern species to us as you do with Piping Plovers and American Oystercatchers.

We have new nests being discovered and reported nearly every day right now. Please remember we do not need egg counts if it is a disturbance of any sort to the birds and that we value their safety over more complete data, thank you!

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover

3 adults at Griswold Point on 5/5
1 pair, 1 adult at Harkness Memorial State Park on 5/5
1 adult at Bluff Point on 5/5
1 adult at West Haven between Washington Ave and East Ave on 5/5
6 pairs, 3 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/5
1 pair, 1 nest at West Haven between Washington Ave and East Ave on 5/5
5 pairs, 4 adults, 3 nests at Milford Point on 5/5
1 pair at Silver Sands State Park on 5/5
1 pair, 1 adult, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/6
8 pairs, 3 nests at Griswold Point on 5/6
2 pairs, 1 adult, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/6
2 adults Pleasure Beach on 5/6
1 adult Milford Point on 5/6

7 adults, 4 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/6

2 pairs, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/6
1 pair at Silver Sands State Park on 5/7
1 pair at Silver Sands State Park on 5/7
2 pairs, 2 nests at Milford Point on 5/7
12 adults, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/7
4 pairs, 3 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/7

2 pairs at Long Beach on 5/7
1 pair at East Broadway Milford on 5/8

4 pairs, 8 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/9
1 adult, 1 nest at West Haven between Washington Ave and East Ave on 5/10
5 pairs, 1 adult, 4 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/10
5 pairs, 1 adult, 5 nests at Milford Point on 5/10
1 pair at East Broadway Milford on 5/10
2 pairs, 11 adults, 1 nest at Griswold Point on 5/10

4 pairs, 3 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/10
3 pairs at Bluff Point on 5/11
7 pairs, 2 adults, 3 nests at Griswold Point on 5/11

2 adults at Long Beach on 5/11

1 pair, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/11

12 adults, 4 nests at Milford Point on 5/12
7 adults, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/12 

American Oystercatcher
2 adults at Griswold Point on 5/5
1 adult at Shore Rock on 5/5
1 pair at Bluff Point on 5/5
9 pairs at Sandy Point Stonington on 5/5
3 pairs, 2 adults at Menunketesuck Island on 5/6
1 pair at Long Beach on 5/6
1 pair, 1 nest at Griswold Point on 5/6
1 pair at Long Beach on 5/6
1 pair at Pleasure Beach on 5/6
1 pair, 1 nest at Milford Point on 5/6
1 pair at Mumford Cove on 5/6
3 adult, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/6
4 adults, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/6
2 adults at Thimble Islands on 5/7
2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/7
1 pair, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/7
1 pair at Long Beach on 5/7
1 pair at Sixpenny Island on 5/8
2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/9
1 pair at Quinnipeag Rocks on 5/9
2 pairs at Jordan Cove on 5/9
3 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/10
3 pairs, 2 nests at Milford Point on 5/10
1 pair, 4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/10
1 pair at Bluff Point on 5/11
1 pair, 1 nest at Griswold Point on 5/11

2 pairs, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/11
4 adults at Milford Point on 5/12
3 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/12

Least Tern
24 adults at Long Beach on 5/6
11 adults at Long Beach on 5/6
1 pair at Mumford Cove on 5/6
25 adults at Long Beach on 5/7
1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/9
12 adults at Milford Point on 5/10
2 adults at West Haven Washington Ave and Peck Ave on 5/10
52 adults at Sandy/Morse Point on 5/10
20 adults at Milford Point on 5/10
12 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/10
30 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/10
10 adults at Bluff Point on 5/11
1 pair, 9 adults at Griswold Point on 5/11
19 adults at Long Beach on 5/11
13 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/11
20 adults at Milford Point on 5/12
12 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/12 

Common Tern
2 adults at Long Beach on 5/6
5 adults at Milford Point on 5/6
4 pairs at Cockenoe Sand Spit on 5/6
6 adults at Norwalk Island area on 5/6
2 adults at Thimble Islands on 5/7
1 adult at Long Beach on 5/7
8 adults at Sandy/Morse Point on 5/10
2 adults at Milford Point on 5/10
5 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/10
2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/10

This concludes update #6 through 5/12/14 as of 5:00 p.m.

Griswold Point busy with birds

CT DEEP staff members are exclosing Piping Plover nests all over Connecticut beaches right now with the help of AAfCW field staff members Ewa Holland and Sean Graesser. Piping Plover nests are exclosed to keep predators out once they have the complete clutch of four eggs. A careful process occurs to ensure the parents are not overly disturbed and do not abandon the nest. This is completed by trained and experienced biologists who will remove the exclosure if the parents do not accept it (though this is very rare thankfully!).

Earlier this week Sean took a number of great photos during this work at Griswold Point which has at least seven pairs of Piping Plovers that may nest there this season.

Here's hoping we can get the maximum number of nests at Griswold and that some of the other more quieter beaches thus far can find birds and breeding success. Please remember that if you find a new nest to email rsuzf@hotmail.com and Laura.Saucier@ct.gov along with us at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com so that it can be checked as soon as possible and exclosed if and when needed.

AAfCW 2014 Volunteer Update #5

This is the fifth weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2014 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher and Least Tern from April 28 through 3:00 p.m. on May 5 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff spanning that period.

Informational updates:

On the right-side of this blog in the "Important Documents" column is a PDF document from CT DEEP titled, "Connecticut Dog Laws & Who To Contact" describing who to contact in different situations during monitoring as well as the dog laws at various state beaches. Please download it and view it. If you have any questions please email Laura.Saucier@ct.gov.

The weather prevented some surveys from occurring last week and disrupted monitoring but this week should be more cooperative outside of a couple days. We lost a number of Piping Plover and American Oystercatcher nests due to washout. The birds have already started to re-nest and we should find many this week. Please email rsuzf@hotmail.com and Laura.Saucier@ct.gov along with us at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com if you find a new nest.

Least Terns have arrived and Common Terns should be seen this week as well. Please report both species to us as you do with Piping Plovers and American Oystercatchers. Thank you, good luck and enjoy monitoring!

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover
1 pair at West Haven between Washington Ave and East Ave on 4/282 pairs, 3 adults, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/28
1 pair at West Haven between Washington Ave and East Ave on 4/28
2 pairs, 2 adults at Long Beach on 4/28

2 pairs, 7 adults, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/28

1 pair, 4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/29

1 pair, 1 adult at Long Beach on 5/1
4 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/1
1 adult at West Haven between Washington Ave and East Ave on 5/1
4 pairs, 1 adult, 1 nest at Milford Point on 5/1
1 adult at Silver Sands State Park on 5/2
5 pairs, 1 nest at Milford Point on 5/2
2 pairs at Bluff Point on 5/2
3 pairs, 9 adults at Griswold Point on 5/2
1 pair, 1 adult at Long Beach on 5/2
16 adults at Griswold Point on 5/3

2 pairs, 3 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/3

1 pair, 2 adults at Long Beach on 5/3

6 adults, 1 nest at Milford Point on 5/5

1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/5

American Oystercatcher
3 pairs, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/28

3 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/28

2 pairs, 1 adult at Thimble Islands on 4/29

2 pairs, 1 adult at Griswold Point on 4/29

1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/29

1 pair at Long Beach on 5/1
2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/1
2 pairs at Milford Point on 5/1
2 pairs at Milford Point on 5/2
1 pair at Bluff Point on 5/2
3 adults at Long Beach on 5/2
2 adults at Pleasure Beach on 5/2
1 adult at Griswold Point on 5/3

1 adult at Quinnipeag Rocks on 5/3

2 pairs, 5 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/3

1 pair at Long Beach on 5/3

4 adults at Milford Point on 5/5

3 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/5

Least Tern
8 adults at Long Beach on 5/2
1 adult at Pleasure Beach on 5/2

4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/3

4 adults at Long Beach on 5/3

2 adults at Milford Point on 5/5

6 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/5

This concludes update #5 through 5/05/14 as of 4:00 p.m.

Tracking outreach and education

One of the main goals of monitoring coastal waterbirds is to reach out to the public and all beachgoers in order to educate them on our birds, why they're important, how come they need our help and protection, what we can do to give them a better chance at nesting success and so forth. This may be especially important when it comes to large groups of visiting folks who do not know what the string fencing and signage is in place for, children and students on the beach, events during holidays and hot summer days or those walking their dogs on the beach.

Many of you already tell us about how many people you speak to on the beach but if everyone could please include the number of folks you talk to and educate during your monitoring when you submit the rest of your data and information we would appreciate it. We want to track how many people we as a collective educate this year. If you could tell us how many people you speak to each visit to your beach that would help us tremendously, thank you!