Fencing Dates & Monitoring Begins!

String fencing and signage erection dates for Connecticut beaches in spring 2015 are as follows and we need all the volunteers we can get!

April 8th, 11:00 Long Beach, Stratford

Meet at the far west parking area.

April 10th, 11:00 Sandy Point, West Haven

Meet in the parking lot.

April 13th, 9:30 Griswold Point, Old Lyme

We recommend carpooling if possible which can be done at the park and ride commuter lot off exit 70 of Interstate 95 on Neck Road. The nearby businesses also have the only available restrooms. The group will meet up at the end of the private Griswold Point Lane for a 9:30AM start.

April 16th, 11:00 Bluff Point, Groton

Meet in the parking area and CT DEEP will shuttle people out to the beach.

April 20th, Cockenoe Island. Only a few volunteers can be taken. Please email USFWS Wildlife Biologist Kristina Vagos at kristina_vagos@fws.gov for more details and to sign up.

Remember that any and all volunteers are welcome including those who are not monitors. These dates are rain or shine, but snow or thunderstorms will postpone them.

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 can make it to any of those first four dates.

Thank you all very much and enjoy the beginning of field season which kicks off today. Thanks again to those of you who have submitted your schedule for this spring and summer, and if you have not already please send it to ctwaterbirds@gmail.com as soon as you can. We plan to hold a field training session that will be especially helpful for new monitors, and it will likely be on April 11 or 12 at Sandy/Morse Points in West Haven. Final details will follow in the next few days. A few monitors have been hitting the beaches already, reporting occasional pairs of American Oystercatchers and a slowing growing population of Piping Plovers. The cold weather and snow is delaying them so far this year, but territories are being created at locations like Milford Point with pairs being seen. We will send out the first report of data and observations next Monday.