AAfCW 2015 Volunteer Update #7

This is the seventh weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2015 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern and Common Tern from May 11 through 4:00 p.m. on May 18 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, with potentially a few nests yet to come. Least Terns and Common Terns will be starting to pair off to nest in the coming weeks.

Please remember that this upcoming 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
2 pairs at Silver Sands State Park on 5/11
2 pairs, 2 nests at Long Beach on 5/11
2 pairs, 2 nests at Short Beach on 5/11
3 pairs, 1 adult, 3 nests at Milford Point on 5/11
2 pairs, 2 adults, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/12
1 pair, 2 adults, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/12
1 pair, 1 adult, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/12
1 pair at Silver Sands State Park on 5/12
10 pairs, 3 adults, 6 nests at Griswold Point on 5/12
3 pairs, 1 adult at Bluff Point on 5/12
3 adults at Long Beach on 5/13
6 adults, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/13
1 pair at Silver Sands State Park on 5/13
11 pairs, 1 adult, 8 nests at Milford Point on 5/13
1 pair, 1 nest at East Broadway Milford on 5/13
1 pair, 1 adult, 2 nests at Bluff Point on 5/14
8 adults, 4 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/14
2 pairs at Silver Sands State Park on 5/14
4 pairs, 1 adult, 3 nests at Long Beach on 5/14
13 adults, 4 nests at Milford Point on 5/14
1 adult at Long Beach on 5/15
3 pairs, 5 adults, 3 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/15
1 pair, 2 adults at Long Beach on 5/16
2 pairs, 2 nests at Long Beach on 5/17
1 pair, 5 adults at Bluff Point on 5/17

American Oystercatcher
3 pairs, 3 nests at Milford Point on 5/11
1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/12
1 pair at Long Beach on 5/12
1 adult at Stratford Point on 5/12
5 pairs, 4 nests at Cockenoe Island on 5/12
3 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/12
4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/13
2 pairs, 1 nest at Duck Island on 5/13
1 adult at Stratford Point on 5/13
1 adult at Long Beach on 5/13
3 pairs, 2 nests at Milford Point on 5/13
3 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/14
4 pairs at Milford Point on 5/14
2 pairs, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/14
2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/15

Least Tern
9 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/12
9 adults at Long Beach on 5/12
3 adults at Stratford Point on 5/12
8 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/12
30 adults at Griswold Point on 5/12
6 adults at Bluff Point on 5/12
20 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/13
7 adults at Milford Point on 5/13
2 adults at Stratford Point on 5/13
5 adults at East Broadway Milford on 5/13
5 adults at Long Beach on 5/13
12 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/14
8 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/14
30 adults at Milford Point on 5/14
6 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/14
1 adult at Sasco Hill Beach on 5/16
5 adults at Long Beach on 5/16
2 adults at Long Beach on 5/17
8 adults at Stratford Point on 5/18

Common Tern
2 adults at Stratford Point on 5/12
6 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/12
8 adults at Griswold Point on 5/12
2 adults at Bluff Point on 5/12
3 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/13
14 adults at Stratford Point on 5/13
7 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/14
4 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/14
2 adults at Long Beach on 5/14
1 adults at Milford Point on 5/14
14 adults at Stratford Point on 5/18

This concludes update #7 through 5/18/15 as of 5:00 p.m.