AAfCW 2017 Volunteer Update #4

This is the fourth weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2017 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover and American Oystercatcher through 4:00 p.m. on May 1 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff since the previous update on April 24.

Informational updates:

Nearly all of our "expected" Piping Plovers and American Oystercatchers have arrived by now, with a few potentially showing up in a handful of additional locations. Nests are beginning to be discovered with more frequency. The stormy weather and high tides did wash some nests away, especially impacting our Oystercatchers. Please remember whether it is a marked bird, a disturbance of note that however does not reach "take" status, a new nest, and other significant information, please email CT DEEP (Laura.Saucier@ct.gov and Rebecca.Foster@ct.gov) and AAfCW directly about it with all the information you can as soon as possible. Please see this blog entry about flagged birds in Connecticut this year.

Both Least and Common Terns begin returning to Connecticut usually right around May 1 meaning that it is time for them to begin trickling in. There have been a couple confirmed reports of both species here already. As we get into nesting season we have to keep in mind that the parents need to incubate and keep the eggs at the perfect temperature making it all the more important that if the temperature is below 50, above 90, it is raining, or it is especially windy, you should stay home on these dangerous days for the birds and soon to be young. Thank you all for your hard work!

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover
5 pairs, 1 nest at Milford Point on 4/24
2 pairs, 2 adults at Sandy Point Island on 4/24
5 pairs, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 4/24
7 pairs, 3 adults at Long Beach on 4/24
3 adults at Long Beach on 4/26
1 pair, 5 adults at Long Beach on 4/27
5 pairs, 2 adults at Milford Point on 4/27
1 pair, 1 adult, 1 nest at Long Beach on 4/27
5 pairs, 2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/27
5 pairs, 1 adult at Long Beach on 4/28
3 pairs, 5 adults, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 4/28
2 pairs, 3 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/28
2 pairs, 9 adults at Long Beach on 4/28
4 pairs, 4 adults, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/29
7 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/29
1 adult at Long Beach on 4/30
3 adults at Sherwood Island State Park on 4/30
6 pairs at Long Beach on 4/30
2 pairs, 2 adults at Long Beach on 4/30
6 pairs, 3 adults at Long Beach on 4/30
4 adults at Long Beach on 5/1

American Oystercatcher
3 pairs at Milford Point on 4/24
3 pairs at Milford Point on 4/24
1 pair at Long Beach on 4/24
9 pairs, 1 adult, 4 nests at Sandy Point Island on 4/24
1 pair at Bluff Point on 4/24
1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/26
1 pair at Long Beach on 4/26
2 pairs, 1 nest at Hammonasset on 4/26
1 pair, 3 adults at Bluff Point on 4/27
1 pair, 1 nest at Griswold Point on 4/27
2 pairs, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/27
1 pair at Compo Beach on 4/27
13 pairs, 7 nests at Cockenoe Island on 4/27
3 pairs at Milford Point on 4/27
3 pairs at Milford Point on 4/28
2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/28
1 pair, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 4/28
3 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/29
1 pair at Sherwood Island State Park on 4/30
1 pair at Long Beach on 4/30
1 pair at Long Beach on 4/30

This concludes update #4 through 5/1/17 as of 6:00 p.m.