AAfCW 2017 Volunteer Update #17

This is the seventeenth weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2017 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern, and Common Tern through 12:00 p.m. on July 31 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff since the previous update on July 24.

Informational updates:

Surveys by volunteers and staff were reduced over the past week due to various inclement weather conditions. We continue to have hatchlings at multiple locations, so please do keep monitoring throughout the period while watching for additional banded or flagged birds migrating through the region. Next week's update will come midweek instead of Monday. Thank you all for your invaluable efforts!

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover

4 adults, 2 hatchlings, 8 juveniles at Long Beach on 7/25

1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/25

2 adults, 1 hatchling, 3 fledglings at Milford Point on 7/25
1 adult, 2 hatchlings at Silver Sands State Park on 7/25
1 pair, 2 adults, 6 hatchlings, 3 juveniles at Bluff Point on 7/25
1 adult, 1 hatchling at Mumford Cove on 7/25
4 adults, 5 hatchlings at Hammonasset on 7/26
1 pair, 2 hatchlings, 3 fledglings, 3 juveniles at Long Beach on 7/26
1 pair, 1 nest at Short Beach on 7/26
2 adults at Long Beach on 7/26
1 pair, 1 adult, 2 hatchlings, 3 fledglings at Long Beach on 7/26

2 adults, 2 hatchlings at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/27
2 juveniles at Griswold Point on 7/27
1 pair, 2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/27
4 adults, 5 hatchlings, 7 fledglings at Milford Point on 7/27
1 pair, 4 adults, 4 hatchlings, 3 fledglings at Hammonasset on 7/28
9 adults/juveniles at Bluff Point on 7/28

2 adults, 2 hatchlings, 4 fledglings, 2 juveniles at Bluff Point on 7/28

2 pairs, 1 adult, 1 hatchling, 2 juveniles at Long Beach on 7/28

10 adults, 1 hatchling, 3 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/29
1 pair, 5 fledglings at Bluff Point on 7/29

1 adult, 2 juveniles at Long Beach on 7/30

2 adults, 2 hatchlings, 2 fledglings, 2 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/30

1 adult, 2 hatchlings at Silver Sands State Park on 7/30

American Oystercatcher

1 adult at Long Beach on 7/24
3 pairs at Milford Point on 7/25

22 adults at Milford Point on 7/25

1 adult at Silver Sands State Park on 7/25
1 pair, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/25

1 pair at Long Beach Island on 7/26
3 adults at White Rock on 7/26
6 pairs, 2 adults, 2 hatchlings, 6 juveniles at Cockenoe Island on 7/26
1 adult at Griswold Point on 7/27

3 pairs, 33 adults at Milford Point on 7/27

1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/27
3 pairs, 25 adults at Milford Point on 7/27

2 adults at Bluff Point on 7/28
1 pair at South Brother on 7/28
1 pair, 1 juvenile at Quinnipeag Rocks on 7/29

25 adults at Milford Point on 7/29
1 pair, 1 adult, 1 hatchling at Waterford Town Beach on 7/29

Least Tern

1 pair, 1 nest at Milford Point on 7/25

28 adults, 1 juvenile at Long Beach on 7/25

2 adults at Milford Point on 7/25
46 adults, 3 hatchlings, 5 fledglings at Mumford Cove on 7/25

60 adults, 2 juveniles at Long Beach on 7/26
12 adults at Long Beach on 7/26
3 adults at Milford Point on 7/27
2 pairs, 1 nest at Milford Point on 7/27
16 adults, 2 fledglings at Griswold Point on 7/27
23 adults, 1 nest at Harkness Memorial State Park on 7/27

10 adults at Long Beach on 7/28
16 adults at Hammonasset on 7/28
1 pair at Bluff Point on 7/29

1 pair, 1 nest at Milford Point on 7/29

26 adults, 6 juveniles at Long Beach on 7/30

Common Tern

18 adults, 1 juvenile at Long Beach on 7/24
27 adults at Milford Point on 7/25
4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/25

45 adults at Milford Point on 7/25
5 adults, 3 juveniles at Silver Sands State Park on 7/25
16 adults at Long Beach on 7/26
22 adults at Hammonasset on 7/26
45 adults, 15 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/27
8 adults at Griswold Point on 7/27
3 adults at Ram Island on 7/27
46 adults, 21 fledglings at Griswold Island on 7/28

2 adults, 2 juveniles at Bluff Point on 7/28

62 adults, 6 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/29
36 adults at Hammonasset on 7/29

27 adults, 6 juveniles at Long Beach on 7/30
13 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/30

This concludes update #17 through 7/31/17 as of 5:00 p.m.

Improved International Shorebird Surveys

We know that when you are all out collecting data on our beach-nesting birds, some of you also record information on migrating shorebirds at sites. When you do this, you are basically conducting an International Shorebird Survey. And if we are collecting the data, it would be good to submit it.

Submitting ISS data is actually pretty easy. The main things to know are:

1) Submit the data to http://ebird.org/content/iss/ instead of the regular eBird portal.

2) When you are out surveying, quickly note the:

      a. Tide (1=high, 2=near high&rising, 3=near high&falling, 4=half &rising, 5=half&falling, 6=near low&rising, 7=near low&falling, 8=low, 9=unknown)

      b. Disturbance (A=undisturbed, B=disturbed 1-2 times, C=3-4 times, D=5-10 times, E=>10 times, X=unknown)

      c.And if you are surveying a non-tidal site, note the water level (N=normal, H=higher than normal, L=lower than normal, X=not observed)

3) When choosing the site in eBird.org/content/ISS/, pick the eBird Hotspot if there is one. 

4) Enter the survey as a Stationary or Traveling counts.

5) If you encounter a large number of birds – say a flock of Semipalmated Sandpipers - and don’t have time to count each individual, estimate. When you enter the data, make a note in the comment section for that species that the number is an estimate.

6) Once entered, share your checklist with ctwaterbirds. This shares the data with the Audubon Alliance.

There are actually some well written – not too long - instructions at:
http://ebird.org/content/iss/issprism-protocols/
http://ebird.org/content/iss/online-data-entry-guide/

Thank you in advance for all your extra efforts!

Banded Terns

Here's an uncommonly good view of a Common Tern, one of our focal species.

Please be on the lookout for Roseate and Common Terns with 3-character plastic field-readable (PFR) color bands. More than 1,500 Roseate Tern chicks were recently received these bands at Great Gull Island, New York as well as nearly 80 more chicks at Falkner Island. Tracking their movements from the breeding colony sites to Cape Cod is vital information, so please send your sightings to jspendelow@usgs.gov and us at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com, thanks!

AAfCW 2017 Volunteer Update #16

This is the sixteenth weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2017 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern, and Common Tern through 11:00 a.m. on July 24 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff since the previous update on July 17.

Informational updates:

Early week rain should clear to seasonable conditions and continued good beach weather for our birds and the many visitors to our shores. Your education of beachgoers is always welcome and greatly appreciated. We have heard a lot of great and positive stories from interactions with the public this year amidst the typical disturbances, so please keep including all in your reports. Thank you so much for helping to clean our beaches as well! The Audubon WildLife Guards will be hosting a beach clean up day at Bridgeport's Pleasure Beach on Saturday, July 29 from 12:30-3:30PM. Find more information on the event on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/562821094108757

Please be on the lookout for Roseate and Common Terns with 3-character plastic field-readable (PFR) color bands. More than 1,500 Roseate Tern chicks were recently received these bands at Great Gull Island, New York as well as nearly 80 more chicks at Falkner Island. Tracking their movements from the breeding colony sites to Cape Cod is vital information, so please send your sightings to jspendelow@usgs.gov and us at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com, thanks!

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover

1 adult at Sandy Point Island on 7/17
1 adult, 5 juveniles at Griswold Point on 7/17
1 adult, 3 juveniles at Harkness Memorial State Park on 7/17
6 adults, 4 hatchlings, 17 fledglings at Milford Point on 7/17

7 pairs, 1 adult, 5 hatchlings, 14 fledglings at Milford Point on 7/18

1 adult, 2 hatchlings at Silver Sands State Park on 7/18

8 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/18

6 adults, 4 hatchlings, 17 fledglings at Milford Point on 7/18

2 pairs, 9 adults, 4 hatchlings, 3 fledglings, 1 nest at Long Beach on 7/18

1 adult, 2 hatchlings at Silver Sands State Park on 7/19

1 adult, 1 nest at Short Beach on 7/19
1 adult, 1 nest at Short Beach on 7/19
5 adults at Milford Point on 7/20
3 adults, 2 juveniles at Griswold Point on 7/20

7 adults, 7 hatchlings, 19 fledglings at Milford Point on 7/20

2 pairs, 2 hatchlings, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/20
3 pairs, 2 adults, 10 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Point on 7/20

2 pairs, 2 adults, 7 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/20

1 adult, 2 hatchlings at Silver Sands State Park on 7/20
1 adult at Short Beach on 7/20
3 pairs, 5 adults, 12 hatchlings, 3 fledglings, 9 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/21

7 pairs, 22 adults, 2 hatchlings, 7 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/21

1 adult, 2 hatchlings at Silver Sands State Park on 7/21

2 pairs, 6 adults, 3 hatchlings, 5 fledglings, 1 juvenile at Bluff Point on 7/21

1 juvenile at Harkness Memorial State Park on 7/22

1 pair, 2 hatchlings, 3 fledglings at Milford Point on 7/22

3 pairs, 3 adults, 2 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/22

1 adult, 2 hatchlings at Silver Sands State Park on 7/22
1 adult, 1 juvenile, 1 nest at Short Beach on 7/22
3 pairs, 3 adults, 9 hatchlings, 1 fledgling, 1 juvenile at Hammonasset on 7/22
2 pairs, 2 adults, 2 hatchlings, 4 juveniles, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/22

1 pair, 4 adults, 4 fledglings, 3 juveniles, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/22

1 pair, 2 hatchlings at Silver Sands State Park on 7/23

1 pair, 4 adults, 2 hatchlings, 7 fledglings, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/23

3 adults, 3 fledglings, 11 juveniles at Long Beach on 7/23

1 pair, 3 juveniles at Long Beach on 7/23

American Oystercatcher

1 pair, 9 adults, 1 fledgling at Sandy Point Island on 7/17
1 pair, 2 fledglings at Tuxis Island on 7/17
1 adult at Gull Rocks on 7/17
3 pairs, 9 adults at Milford Point on 7/17
1 pair at Griswold Point on 7/17
4 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 7/18

1 pair, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/18

1 adult at Long Beach on 7/18

3 pairs, 2 adults at Milford Point on 7/18

3 pairs at Milford Point on 7/18

1 adult at Silver Sands State Park on 7/19

22 adults at Short Beach on 7/19
2 pairs at Milford Point on 7/20

1 pair, 17 adults at Milford Point on 7/20

1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/20

1 adult at Griswold Point on 7/20
2 pairs, 14 adults, 3 juveniles at Menunketesuck Island on 7/20
5 pairs, 1 adult at Milford Point on 7/21

2 pairs, 7 adults at Milford Point on 7/21

1 pair at Hammonasset on 7/22
1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/22

2 pairs at Milford Point on 7/22

1 pair, 2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/22

2 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 7/23

1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/23

Least Tern

2 pairs, 5 adults at Sandy Point Island on 7/17
25 adults at Milford Point on 7/17
47 adults, 1 nest at Griswold Point on 7/17
11 pairs, 7 adults, 2 hatchlings, 3 fledglings, 7 nests at Harkness Memorial State Park on 7/17
3 pairs, 30 adults, 1 nest at Milford Point on 7/18

2 pairs, 8 adults, 1 nest at Milford Point on 7/18

1 pair, 70 adults, 1 juvenile at Long Beach on 7/18

1 adult at Silver Sands State Park on 7/19

3 pairs, 11 adults at Milford Point on 7/20
22 adults, 6 fledglings, 3 nests at Harkness Memorial State Park on 7/20

10 adults, 2 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/20

9 pairs, 2 hatchlings, 2 fledglings, 5 nests at Griswold Point on 7/20
13 adults, 1 nest at Milford Point on 7/21

12 adults, 1 nest at Milford Point on 7/21

1 pair at Milford Point on 7/22

23 pairs, 1 juveniles, 2 nests at Harkness Memorial State Park on 7/22
15 pairs, 20 adults, 6 hatchlings, 3 fledglings, 6 nests at Hammonasset on 7/22

2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/23
7 adults at Long Beach on 7/23

Common Tern

4 adults at Sandy Point Island on 7/17
4 adults at Griswold Point on 7/17
1 adult at Harkness Memorial State Park on 7/17

35 adults at Milford Point on 7/18

6 adults at Long Beach on 7/18

100 adults at Short Beach on 7/19
25 adults at Long Beach on 7/19
1 pair, 30 adults, 3 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/20
10 pairs, 6 adults, 1 hatchling, 2 fledglings, 6 nests at Shore Rock on 7/20
3 adults at Harkness Memorial State Park on 7/20
11 adults, 2 juveniles at Griswold Point on 7/20
12 adults at Menunketesuck on 7/20
6 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/20

90 adults, 10 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/20

29 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/20
37 adults, 5 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/21

4 adults at Bluff Point on 7/21

60 adults, 5 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/21

7 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 7/21
4 adults at Harkness Memorial State Park on 7/22
30 adults at Milford Point on 7/22
12 adults at Short Beach on 7/22
47 adults, 7 juveniles at Hammonasset on 7/22
5 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/22
5 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/23

This concludes update #16 through 7/24/17 as of 2:30 p.m.

Sandy Point IBA meeting

It has come to our attention that the re-zoning of five parcels, located across the street from the Sandy Point Important Bird Area (IBA), from residential to residential/retail is being considered by the West Haven Planning and Zoning Commission during a public hearing this coming Tuesday, July 25th. Two of the parcels are directly adjacent to Old Field Creek which flows into the lagoon at Sandy Point. The lagoon is valuable foraging habitat for breeding Piping Plovers and American Oystercatchers, and is used during migration or for foraging by many more bird species of conservation concern. The rezoning would be to encourage revitalization of the properties. Several West Haven residents who live nearby have reached out to the Audubons and are afraid the properties will be redeveloped into either an extensive restaurant complex or condo complex. Building of a new structure at this location could have a major impact on Sandy Point, especially if there are any spills during the construction phase, not to mention it would cut off the local community (many volunteer their time at Sandy Point) from the shore. The residents are asking the birding community to come to the meeting to show their support for Sandy Point.

Some of our staff and volunteer crew during fencing operations in West Haven this spring

The Public Meeting will take place on Tuesday July 25th, 2017 at 7pm in Harriet Room North on the 2nd floor of City Hall at 355 Main Street in West Haven. Please consider attending and showing your support for Sandy Point and its birds!!! If you'd like more information, contact Corrie or Miley at the below email addresses.

Thank you,

Corrie Folsom-O'Keefe
IBA Program Coordinator
Audubon Connecticut
cfolsom-okeefe AT audubon.org

Milan G. Bull
Senior Director of Science and Conservation
Connecticut Audubon Society
mbull AT ctaudubon.org

AAfCW 2017 Volunteer Update #15

This is the fifteenth weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2017 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern, and Common Tern through 12:00 p.m. on July 17 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff since the previous update on July 10.

Informational updates:

The most notable aspect of our monitoring this July continues to be nests and hatchlings, especially those of the Piping Plover and the Least Tern, across several of our beaches. While in some years we are concluding fledging birds, seeing juveniles disperse, and finding migrant adult Piping Plovers, we have weeks to go with hopefully more successful nests and chicks. Least Terns had a difficult beginning to their nesting season though they are now also hatching and successfully raising young in small colonies at various locations. We could be heading toward a record setting year for our young plovers, so please help us continue our summer stewardship during the busiest part of the year on the shore. Thank you!

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover

4 adults at Short Beach on 7/10
5 pairs, 2 hatchlings, 5 fledglings at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/10

5 pairs, 4 adults, 5 hatchlings, 8 fledglings, 1 nest at Long Beach on 7/10

1 pair, 3 hatchlings at Silver Sands State Park on 7/10
7 pairs, 4 adults, 3 hatchlings, 13 fledglings, 1 nest at Long Beach on 7/10
26 individuals at Long Beach on 7/11
1 pair, 3 hatchlings at Silver Sands State Park on 7/11

5 pairs, 1 adult, 3 hatchlings, 8 fledglings, 1 nest at Long Beach on 7/11

3 pairs, 7 adults, 2 hatchlings, 10 fledglings, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/11

5 pairs, 1 adult, 1 hatchling, 4 fledglings, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 7/11
3 fledglings at Shell Ave/East Broadway on 7/11

1 pair, 9 adults, 2 fledglings, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/11

1 pair, 3 hatchlings at Silver Sands State Park on 7/11
2 fledglings at Shell Ave/East Broadway on 7/12
6 pairs, 3 adults, 16 hatchlings, 2 fledglings, 1 nest at Milford Point on 7/12

3 pairs, 8 adults, 1 hatchling, 9 fledglings, 3 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/12

1 pair, 2 hatchlings at Silver Sands State Park on 7/12
1 pair, 3 hatchlings at Silver Sands State Park on 7/12
10 adults, 5 hatchlings, 3 fledglings, 1 nest at Long Beach on 7/12
4 adults, 4 juveniles, 2 nests at Long Beach on 7/12
11 adults, 2 hatchlings at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/12

1 pair, 4 adults, 2 hatchlings, 5 fledglings at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/13

4 adults, 20 juveniles at Long Beach on 7/13
8 pairs, 2 adults, 8 hatchlings, 2 fledglings, 3 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/13
1 adult at Short Beach on 7/14
3 pairs, 4 adults, 5 hatchlings, 3 juveniles at Bluff Point on 7/15
2 pairs, 1 adult, 2 hatchlings, 1 juvenile at Mumford Cove on 7/15
5 pairs, 2 adults, 9 hatchlings, 1 fledglings at Hammonasset on 7/15

2 pairs, 2 adults, 4 fledglings, 4 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/15

3 pairs, 1 adult, 2 hatchlings, 3 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/15
1 pair, 3 hatchlings at Silver Sands State Park on 7/15

1 pair, 3 adults, 2 fledglings, 2 juveniles, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/15

1 pair, 2 adults, 3 juveniles at Griswold Point on 7/16
1 pair, 2 hatchlings at Silver Sands State Park on 7/16
6 pairs, 1 adult, 8 hatchlings, 2 fledglings, 2 juveniles at Hammonasset on 7/16
1 pair, 2 hatchlings at Silver Sands State Park on 7/16
2 pairs, 4 adults, 5 hatchlings, 5 juveniles at Bluff Point on 7/16
1 pair, 2 hatchlings at Silver Sands State Park on 7/16

2 pairs, 7 adults, 2 hatchlings, 4 fledglings, 1 nest at Long Beach on 7/16

4 pairs, 6 adults, 2 hatchlings, 5 juveniles, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/16

5 adults, 6 fledglings, 1 nest at Long Beach on 7/16

1 pair, 3 adults, 2 hatchlings, 3 fledglings at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/16

American Oystercatcher

3 adults at Bluff Point on 7/11
1 adult at Silver Sands State Park on 7/11

2 pairs, 19 adults at Milford Point on 7/11

3 pairs, 17 adults, 1 nest at Milford Point on 7/12
4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/12

1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/13

4 adults at Short Beach on 7/13
5 pairs at Milford Point on 7/13
2 pairs at Short Beach on 7/14
1 adult at Bluff Point on 7/15
1 pair, 1 hatchling at Hammonasset on 7/15

1 pair, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/15

3 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/15

2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/15

1 adult at Long Beach on 7/16

1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/16
1 pair, 2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/16

Least Tern

18 pairs at Long Beach on 7/10
18 pairs, 22 adults, 5 hatchlings, 7 nests at Hammonasset on 7/11
2 adults at Bluff Point on 7/11

1 pair, 3 adults, 1 nest at Milford Point on 7/11

2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/11

76 adults at Long Beach on 7/11

40 adults at Long Beach on 7/12
4 pairs, 3 nests at Milford Point on 7/12
52 adults, 1 hatchling, 2 fledglings, 4 nests at Long Beach on 7/13
1 adult at Short Beach on 7/13
3 pairs, 2 nests at Milford Point on 7/13
1 pair at Short Beach on 7/14
2 adults at Short Beach on 7/14
15 pairs, 33 adults, 4 hatchlings, 5 nests at Hammonasset on 7/15
2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/15
1 pair at Bluff Point on 7/15
22 pairs, 4 hatchlings, 8 fledglings, 4 nests at Mumford Cove on 7/15

30 adults, 2 fledglings, 1 juvenile at Long Beach on 7/16

68 adults, 4 hatchlings, 6 nests at Hammonasset on 7/16
11 pairs, 24 adults, 6 hatchlings, 4 nests at Griswold Point on 7/16
2 adults at Bluff Point on 7/16

2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/16

Common Tern

1 pair, 3 adults at Hammonasset on 7/11

2 adults at Milford Point on 7/11

1 pair, 1 adult at Milford Point on 7/12
1 adult at Long Beach on 7/13
1 pair, 9 adults at Hammonasset on 7/15
1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/15
1 adult at Griswold Point on 7/16
2 adults at Bluff Point on 7/16
27 adults at Hammonasset on 7/16

6 adults at Long Beach on 7/16

1 adult at South End Point, East Haven on 7/16

1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/16

This concludes update #15 through 7/17/17 as of 5:00 p.m.

Least Terns

If you are visiting the beach this weekend please remember to watch for the tiniest of our terns. Some sites on the Connecticut shoreline have colonies of Least Terns with nests, hatchlings, and even fledglings already. Those incubating eggs may be hunkered down in the sand like this.

These birds take an active defense and dive bomb intruders to protect their offspring. You may love the terns and wish them all the best, but if you are being attacked, you are too close. Please keep on sharing our shore with our friends who call it home - thank you!

AAfCW 2017 Volunteer Update #14

This is the fourteenth weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2017 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern, and Common Tern through 12:00 p.m. on July 10 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff since the previous update on July 5.

Informational updates:

Our collective surveys were a bit reduced over the past several days due to inclement weather and staff scheduling after the Fourth holiday and previous weekend. Nevertheless, we will maintain monitoring for Piping Plovers throughout July and all of August as we still have birds at all stages of life - even on nests! Silver Sands State Park is an example of why we work all summer long as we had hatchlings hatching this weekend that need frequent and vigilant monitoring and stewardship. We are on track to have a sensational year overall, so please remember what a tremendous difference all of you are making for them and our other focal species here in Connecticut. If you visit Pleasure Beach or Sandy/Morse Points you may see our WildLife Guards crew also conducting outreach and monitoring - please do say hello!

See more about the WildLife Guards on the Audubon Connecticut and Roger Tory Peterson Institute websites:
http://ct.audubon.org/conservation/coasts/wildlife-guards
http://rtpi.org/education/wildlife-guards/

And check out their own website and Facebook page:
https://www.bridgeportwildlifeguards.org/
https://www.facebook.com/AudubonWildlifeGuards/

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover

8 pairs, 2 adults, 15 hatchlings, 1 fledgling, 2 juveniles, 2 nests at Milford Point on 7/5
2 pairs, 1 adult, 2 juveniles at Griswold Point on 7/5

1 adult, 1 nest at Silver Sands State Park on 7/5

5 pairs, 10 adults, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/5

2 pairs, 4 hatchlings at Harkness Memorial State Park on 7/5

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

1 pair, 3 hatchlings at East Broadway Milford on 7/5
1 pair, 16 adults, 1 fledgling at Long Beach on 7/5
1 adult, 1 nest at Silver Sands State Park on 7/6

2 pairs, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/6

1 pair, 3 fledglings at East Broadway Milford on 7/6

2 pairs, 10 adults, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/6

1 pair, 3 hatchlings at Shell Avenue on 7/6
1 pair, 1 nest at Short Beach on 7/6
1 pair, 1 nest at Fenwick Point on 7/6
1 adult, 1 nest at Short Beach on 7/6

5 pairs, 2 adults, 13 hatchlings, 1 juvenile at Milford Point on 7/7

1 adult, 1 nest at Silver Sands State Park on 7/7

1 adult, 1 nest at Short Beach on 7/7

1 adult, 1 hatchling, 1 nest at Silver Sands State Park on 7/8

1 pair, 3 fledglings at East Broadway Milford on 7/9

3 pairs, 6 adults, 5 hatchlings, 6 juveniles at Long Beach on 7/9

2 pairs, 2 adults, 5 fledglings, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/9

1 pair, 10 adults, 3 juveniles, 2 nests at Long Beach on 7/9

3 pairs, 7 adults, 2 hatchlings, 5 fledglings, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/9

3 pairs, 5 adults, 5 hatchlings, 4 fledglings at Bluff Point on 7/9
1 pair, 1 hatchling, 1 nest at Silver Sands State Park on 7/9

1 pair, 8 adults, 5 hatchlings, 11 fledglings, 1 nest at Long Beach on 7/9

3 fledglings at East Broadway Milford on 7/10

4 pairs, 3 adults, 2 hatchlings, 4 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/10

1 pair, 2 hatchlings at Silver Sands State Park on 7/10
1 pair, 3 hatchlings at Silver Sands State Park on 7/10

American Oystercatcher

1 pair at Long Beach on 7/5

2 pairs at Waterford Town Beach on 7/5

1 pair, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/6
1 adult at Silver Sands State Park on 7/7

2 pairs at Milford Point on 7/7

1 adult, 1 fledgling at Bluff Point on 7/8

1 adult at East Broadway Milford on 7/9

2 pairs, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/9

3 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 7/9

2 pairs, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/9

2 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 7/10

Least Tern

9 pairs, 1 adult, 6 hatchlings, 9 nests at Harkness Memorial State Park on 7/5

1 pair on Milford Point on 7/7

22 pairs, 5 hatchlings, 13 nests at Mumford Cove on 7/8

28 pairs, 1 adult, 1 hatchling, 2 fledglings, 20 nests at Long Beach on 7/9

4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/9

1 pair, 12 adults, 3 nests at Long Beach on 7/9

60 adults, 2 hatchlings, 1 fledgling, 10 nests at Long Beach on 7/9

Common Tern

17 adults at Waterford Town Beach on 7/5
3 adults at Fenwick Point on 7/6

1 adult at Silver Sands State Park on 7/6

This concludes update #14 through 7/10/17 as of 3:00 p.m.

Hatchlings to Fledglings

Good news! Many of these adorable Piping Plover hatchlings are growing up and turning into fledglings on our Connecticut beaches, able to fly for short distances and stretching those wings out into adulthood. Please keep spreading our message to #ShareTheShore this weekend because amazingly we still have nesting pairs on eggs as well as plenty of precious little ones like this running around. Thank you all for your plover passion during this terrific year!

AAfCW 2017 Volunteer Update #13

This is the thirteenth weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2017 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern, and Common Tern through 12:00 a.m. on July 5 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff since the previous update on June 26.

Informational updates:

Thank you all for your extra efforts this holiday weekend in covering the very busy Fourth of July beaches. More of our hatchlings are nearing fledgling stage or beginning to take flight, with a few now independent of adults and becoming juveniles. Least and Common Terns are hatching on select beaches and offshore islands as well. The upcoming week looks to continue our warm beach weather with a lot of traffic along the shore. Keep in mind that "fall" migration is slowly beginning for migrant shorebirds, and we should see species diversity and abundance increasing in coastal areas throughout the month.

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover

4 pairs, 5 hatchlings, 1 fledgling at Harkness Memorial State Park on 6/26
2 adults at Waterford Town Beach on 6/26
1 pair, 1 nest at Silver Sands State Park on 6/26

7 pairs, 6 adults, 10 hatchlings, 2 fledglings, 1 nest at Long Beach on 6/26

1 pair at Waterford Town Beach on 6/26
3 pairs, 1 adult, 1 fledgling at Harkness Memorial State Park on 6/26
4 pairs, 1 adult, 2 hatchlings at Griswold Point on 6/26
1 pair, 2 hatchlings at Peck Ave West Haven on 6/26
1 adult, 2 hatchlings at Peck Ave West Haven on 6/26

1 adult at Long Beach on 6/26

1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/26

1 pair, 3 hatchlings at East Broadway Milford on 6/27
1 pair, 1 nest at Silver Sands State Park on 6/27

6 pairs, 5 adults, 8 hatchlings, 7 nests at Milford Point on 6/27

2 pairs, 7 adults, 2 hatchlings, 3 nests at Milford Point on 6/27

6 pairs, 3 adults, 7 hatchlings, 3 fledglings, 1 nest at Long Beach on 6/27

7 pairs, 2 adults, 8 hatchlings at Milford Point on 6/27
1 pair, 3 hatchlings at East Broadway Milford on 6/27
1 adult at Short Beach on 6/27

4 pairs, 12 adults, 10 hatchlings, 7 fledglings, 1 nest at Long Beach on 6/27

1 pair, 1 nest at Silver Sands State Park on 6/28
4 adults, 20 hatchlings at Long Beach on 6/28

24 adults, 5 hatchlings at Long Beach on 6/28

8 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/28
1 pair, 3 hatchlings at East Broadway Milford on 6/28
1 pair, 3 hatchlings at East Broadway Milford on 6/28

3 pairs, 3 adults, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/28

4 pairs, 2 adults, 1 fledgling at Hammonasset on 6/28
10 adults, 5 hatchlings, 1 fledgling, 3 nests at Milford Point on 6/29
2 pairs, 2 adults, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/29
3 pairs, 10 adults, 4 hatchlings, 2 fledglings at Hammonasset on 6/30
10 adults, 6 hatchlings, 1 nest at Long Beach on 6/30

4 pairs, 1 adult, 2 hatchlings, 3 fledglings, 1 nest at Long Beach on 6/30

1 pair, 3 hatchlings at East Broadway Milford on 6/30
6 pairs, 4 adults, 15 hatchlings at Milford Point on 7/1
1 pair at Short Beach on 7/1

1 pair, 1 nest at Silver Sands State Park on 7/2

3 pairs, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/2 
1 pair, 2 hatchlings at Peck Ave West Haven on 7/2

1 pair, 1 nest at Silver Sands State Park on 7/2

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

1 pair, 3 hatchlings at East Broadway Milford on 7/2

8 pairs, 5 adults, 5 hatchlings, 13 juveniles, 1 nest at Long Beach on 7/2

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

5 pairs, 2 adults, 6 hatchlings, 4 fledglings, 1 nest at Long Beach on 7/3

7 pairs, 4 adults, 9 hatchlings, 12 fledglings, 1 nest at Long Beach on 7/4

1 pair, 3 hatchlings at East Broadway Milford on 7/4
9 adults, 3 fledglings, 1 nest at Long Beach on 7/4

1 adult, 1 nest at Silver Sands State Park on 7/4
1 adult, 2 hatchlings at Peck Ave West Haven on 7/4

American Oystercatcher

1 adult at Long Beach on 6/26
2 adults at Waterford Town Beach on 6/26
1 pair, 1 nest at Shore Rock on 6/26
1 pair, 1 adult at Griswold Point on 6/26
3 adults at Peck Ave West Haven on 6/26
10 pairs, 1 adult at Milford Point on 6/27
1 pair at Long Beach on 6/27

1 pair, 17 adults at Milford Point on 6/27

4 adults at Long Beach on 6/27

3 adults at Long Beach on 6/27

2 pairs, 19 adults at Milford Point on 6/27

2 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 6/28
2 adults at Long Beach on 6/28
1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/28

1 pair at Long Beach on 6/28

1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/28
2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/28
1 pair, 5 adults, 1 nest at Hammonasset on 6/28
1 pair, 1 hatchling at Bluff Point on 6/29
3 pairs, 3 adults at Milford Point on 6/29
1 pair at Veddar Point, Thimble Islands on 6/29
3 adults at Burr Island, Thimble Islands on 6/29
1 pair, 1 fledgling at Cedar Island, Thimble Islands on 6/29
1 adult at Wayland Island, Thimble Islands on 6/29
1 pair at Hen Island, Thimble Islands on 6/29
2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/29
1 pair, 1 nest at Long Beach Island on 6/30
1 pair, 1 nest at Hammonasset on 6/30
1 pair, 2 adults at Milford Point on 7/1

1 pair at Silver Sands State Park on 7/2
8 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/2

2 pairs, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/2

1 pair, 1 adult, 3 hatchlings at Bluff Point on 7/3

1 pair, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/3

1 pair at Long Beach on 7/4

Least Tern

11 pairs, 15 adults, 1 hatchling at Long Beach on 6/26
19 adults, 6 hatchlings, 7 nests at Harkness Memorial State Park on 6/26
12 pairs, 6 hatchlings, 7 nests at Harkness Memorial State Park on 6/26
3 adults at Milford Point on 6/27
31 pairs, 8 adults, 2 hatchlings, 29 nests at Long Beach on 6/27
2 pairs, 36 adults at Long Beach on 6/27

1 pair at Milford Point on 6/27

38 adults at Long Beach on 6/27

30 adults, 2 hatchlings at Long Beach on 6/28
16 adults, 3 nests at Hammonasset on 6/28
40 adults at Long Beach on 6/28
8 adults at Milford Point on 6/29
8 pairs, 1 adult, 9 nests at Hammonasset on 6/30

20 adults at Long Beach on 6/30

15 adults at Milford Point on 7/1

3 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/2

28 pairs, 1 hatchling, 4 nests at Long Beach on 7/2

1 pair, 1 adult at Bluff Point on 7/3

Common Tern

1 adult at Waterford Town Beach on 6/26
5 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 6/26
4 adults at Waterford Town Beach on 6/26
9 pairs, 3 adults, 7 nests at Shore Rock on 6/26
6 adults at Harkness Memorial State Park on 6/26
2 adults at Griswold Point on 6/26

1 adult at Milford Point on 6/27

1 pair at Milford Point on 6/27
3 pairs at Cedar Beach on 6/27

6 adults at Milford Point on 6/27

3 adults at Hammonasset on 6/28
8 adults at Milford Point on 6/29

1 pair at Long Beach on 6/30

3 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/2

This concludes update #13 through 7/5/17 as of 12:30 p.m.