AAfCW 2017 Volunteer Update #5

This is the fifth weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2017 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, and Least Tern through 1:00 p.m. on May 8 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff since the previous update on May 1.

Informational updates:

We had some surveys canceled in the last week because of the weather, and this may continue with chilly mornings, windy days, and rain. Please do not hesitate to cancel if the conditions are not conducive - you are helping to protect the birds and there will likely be fewer beachgoers at your location as well. Flushing birds off nests at this time of year can be deadly to the eggs, and nests may not all be exclosed immediately, so please be mindful of where you walk and stay near the water as much as you can.

Between widespread Piping Plover and American Oystercatcher nests plus the arrival of Least and Common Terns there is a lot to look at out there! However, we always want to observe the birds with binoculars and spotting scopes from a distance, never entering fenced areas even if we are trying to help. Photos can be taken but at such a distance that the bird pays us no mind (e.g. running away or a broken wing display are not good!), and we do not require them if you are a monitor or a volunteer. It is often best to leave the birds be as much as possible and hold the photography until after nesting has ended in the late summer. Walking out and lingering on a thin and soon to be busier nesting bar, for example, can be very disruptive even if we are monitoring.

This is a delicate balance, but considering we have set all-time success records repeatedly during the past several years of our work in AAfCW, we know our volunteers are the best and our methods seem to be working well. Thank you all so much!

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover

2 pairs, 4 adults, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/1

1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/1
4 pairs, 5 adults, 4 nests at Long Beach on 5/1
1 pair at Shell Avenue Milford on 5/1
10 pairs, 5 nests at Long Beach on 5/1
4 pairs, 3 nests at Milford Point on 5/1
1 pair at Hammonasset, Cedar Island on 5/1
1 pair, 1 nest at Pleasure Beach on 5/2
4 pairs, 3 nests at Milford Point on 5/2

5 pairs, 1 adult, 3 nests at Long Beach on 5/2

6 pairs, 1 adult at Milford Point on 5/2

3 pairs, 3 adults, 3 nests at Long Beach on 5/2

3 pairs, 2 adults, 2 nests at Bluff Point on 5/3
11 adults, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/3
2 pairs, 6 adults, 4 nests at Long Beach on 5/4
2 pairs, 2 nests at Harkness Memorial State Park on 5/4
4 pairs, 2 adults, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 5/4
1 pair, 1 nest at Pleasure Beach on 5/4
10 pairs, 7 nests at Milford Point on 5/4
1 pair at Silver Sands State Park on 5/4
4 adults, 3 nests at Long Beach on 5/4
14 adults, 3 nests at Milford Point on 5/4

4 pairs, 5 adults, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/4

5 pairs, 8 adults, 2 nests at Griswold Point on 5/4

4 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/7

6 pairs, 1 adult, 4 nests at Long Beach on 5/7

6 pairs, 3 adults, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/7

1 pair, 6 adults, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/7

2 pairs, 2 adults, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/7

American Oystercatcher
2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/1
1 pair, 2 adults at Shell Ave/East Broadway on 5/1
1 pair at Hammonasset, Cedar Island on 5/1
3 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/2

1 pair, 1 adult at Long Beach on 5/2

4 pairs, 1 adult at Milford Point on 5/2

1 pair at Long Beach on 5/2

2 pairs, 1 adult, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/3
1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/3
2 pairs, 1 nest at Fish Islands on 5/3
1 pair at Long Beach on 5/4
1 pair, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 5/4
1 pair at Grass Island on 5/4
3 pairs, 3 nests at Falkners Island on 5/4
3 adults at Short Beach on 5/4
1 adult at Pleasure Beach on 5/4
3 pairs, 2 nests at Milford Point on 5/4
3 pairs, 3 adults, 2 nests at Milford Point on 5/4

5 adults at Griswold Point on 5/4

2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/4

3 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/7

1 pair, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/7

1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/7

Least Tern

2 adults at Milford Point on 5/2

2 adults at Hammonasset on 5/3

2 adults at Short Beach on 5/4

4 adults at Milford Point on 5/4

1 adult at Griswold Point on 5/4

8 adults at Milford Point on 5/4

5 adults at Long Beach on 5/7

6 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/7

This concludes update #5 through 5/8/17 as of 5:00 p.m.