This is the first regular weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2018 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover and American Oystercatcher starting from April 23 through 12:00pm on April 30 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff spanning the period.
Informational updates:
If you provided data and information prior to April 23 please be aware that we did receive it, and it is simply not listed in this report. Please also note that negative data is not included below. This very slow season is now about to become much more active as the weather is turning for spring and birds are beginning to nest. Please continue to provide your data and information to us, including negative data, on Piping Plovers, American Oystercatchers, and once they return in the next week or so, Least and Common Terns. Please also report new nests directly to rsuzf@hotmail.com and Laura.Saucier@ct.gov.
String fencing and signage is just about complete and repaired now after damage from storms and high tides. We are nearly done with all schedules and please contact us if you are not. We will also be pairing up new monitors in need of training with our staff beginning this week so you will be all set in the field.
West Haven monitors should be aware that the City has informed us they printed the passes, and hopefully they will be received by you - and all of our staff - soon. We apologize for the delay and are waiting as well. Please remember monitoring should be done when the temperature is between 50 and 90 degrees, with no rain or thunderstorms, and not on very windy days. Thank you all for your efforts! We look forward to many more reports of active birds and nests soon.
Survey and monitoring updates:
Piping Plover
4 pairs, 1 adult at Milford Point on 4/23
1 pair at Long Beach on 4/24
10 pairs at Long Beach on 4/24
3 pairs, 4 adults at Bluff Point on 4/27
2 pairs, 2 adults, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/28
4 pairs at Bluff Point on 4/28
8 pairs at Long Beach on 4/28
11 adults at Milford Point on 4/28
4 pairs, 18 adults at Long Beach on 4/28
1 adult at Silver Sands State Park on 4/28
3 pairs, 1 adult at Milford Point on 4/29
8 adults at Milford Point on 4/29
American Oystercatcher
3 pairs at Milford Point on 4/23
3 pairs, 2 nests at Falkner Island on 4/23
1 pair, 1 adult at Grass Island on 4/23
2 pairs at Long Beach on 4/24
3 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/26
2 pairs at Hammonasset on 4/26
1 pair, 4 adults, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 4/27
1 pair at Long Beach on 4/28
3 pairs at Milford Point on 4/28
2 pairs, 1 adult, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/28
1 pair at Bluff Point on 4/28
4 adults at Long Beach on 4/28
3 pairs, 1 nest at Milford Point on 4/29
3 pairs at Milford Point on 4/29
This concludes update #1 through 4/30/18 as of 3:30 p.m.
PIPL
Monday, April 30, 2018
Thursday, April 26, 2018
American Oystercatchers Nesting
It has been a very slow start to the 2018 Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds season thanks to our unusually cold and wet weather pattern. While I write this we are expecting yet more rain tomorrow after a rainy yesterday. April started off with multiple days of snow, making life very difficult for returning shorebirds looking for a home on the beach. Piping Plovers are only now beginning to display some breeding activities, but we have yet to locate a nest (don't worry, they will come fast soon).
American Oystercatchers started a little faster and our staff has recently found nests at offshore islands. Here are some recent photos I took during one of our string fencing and signage dates...
American Oystercatchers started a little faster and our staff has recently found nests at offshore islands. Here are some recent photos I took during one of our string fencing and signage dates...
Do you know what this pair was doing in the second photo? Apart from likely commenting on the continuously cruel Connecticut climate, they were eyeing a passing plane. Predators come in all shapes and sizes, so you can imagine what these birds think of loose dogs, drones, kites, parasailing, and many other human activities. Your dedicated stewardship efforts as monitors and volunteers make a tremendous difference in ensuring our focal species have a successful nesting season, and we thank you! Keep an eye on our blog and social media pages all spring and summer for more photos of our friends.
Scott Kruitbosch
AAfCW Volunteer Coordinator
RTPI Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Saturday, April 21, 2018
Fencing "Completed"
Thanks to everyone who assisted us with putting up string fencing and signage! This week's latest storm took down a considerable amount of fencing, and our staff is hard at work repairing damage at all beaches. The weather has continued to be a problem, and most of our birds have been seen only foraging and waiting for more acceptable conditions before nesting activities begin. Remember that we want to monitor when it is between 50 and 90 degrees, to avoid very windy days, and to stay home if it is raining.
When reporting observations we do want to hear about negative data as well if you did not see any of our four focal species: Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Terns and Common Terns. The terns will begin arriving in Connecticut slowly around May 1.
You can submit data via this form which is especially helpful in that it includes all we need.
Or email it to this address: ctwaterbirds@gmail.com
Or share it to this address via eBird, but please remember to include all the data and information we need.
Once we begin regular monitoring, which should be next week, we will post weekly data and information updates on all of our beaches. Thanks again!
When reporting observations we do want to hear about negative data as well if you did not see any of our four focal species: Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Terns and Common Terns. The terns will begin arriving in Connecticut slowly around May 1.
You can submit data via this form which is especially helpful in that it includes all we need.
Or email it to this address: ctwaterbirds@gmail.com
Or share it to this address via eBird, but please remember to include all the data and information we need.
Once we begin regular monitoring, which should be next week, we will post weekly data and information updates on all of our beaches. Thanks again!
Monday, April 16, 2018
Fencing continues
Our remaining spring string fencing dates are as follows - please join us!
Sandy/Morse Points, West Haven - April 17, 10:00am, rain date April 18
Bluff Point State Park, Groton - April 20, 10:00am, rain date April 23
Remember that any and all volunteers are welcome including those who are not monitors. 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. Less intensive work needed includes stringing posts and putting up signs. Please email us at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com if you can make it to any or all of these dates, and thank you!
Sandy/Morse Points, West Haven - April 17, 10:00am, rain date April 18
Bluff Point State Park, Groton - April 20, 10:00am, rain date April 23
Remember that any and all volunteers are welcome including those who are not monitors. 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. Less intensive work needed includes stringing posts and putting up signs. Please email us at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com if you can make it to any or all of these dates, and thank you!
Thursday, April 12, 2018
New Monitor Field Training 4/14
Good afternoon!
New monitor field training will take place this Saturday, April 14, from 10am-12pm at Long Beach in Stratford. Long Beach is located at the end of Oak Bluff Avenue. Once you drive in past the entrance booth head down to the western end where the group will assemble. There is ample parking and no permits or stickers are required as it is early in the season. This is the best chance for new monitors to learn the proper field techniques for monitoring our focal species from CT DEEP and AAfCW staff. Please make every effort to be there if you have just joined us in 2018, and it should be a beautiful day. Thank you!
New monitor field training will take place this Saturday, April 14, from 10am-12pm at Long Beach in Stratford. Long Beach is located at the end of Oak Bluff Avenue. Once you drive in past the entrance booth head down to the western end where the group will assemble. There is ample parking and no permits or stickers are required as it is early in the season. This is the best chance for new monitors to learn the proper field techniques for monitoring our focal species from CT DEEP and AAfCW staff. Please make every effort to be there if you have just joined us in 2018, and it should be a beautiful day. Thank you!
Wednesday, April 11, 2018
AAfCW Spring Fencing - Join Us!
Our spring string fencing dates are as follows - please join us!
- Pleasure Beach, Bridgeport - April 12, 10:00am, meet at the water taxi dock at 1 Seaview Avenue
- Griswold Point, Old Lyme - April 12, 12:00pm, meet at the I95 exit 70 commuter lot at 11:45 to carpool (PLEASE email erobinson@tnc.org to RSVP for this)
- Long Beach, Stratford - April 13, 10:00am, rain date April 16
- Sandy/Morse Points, West Haven - April 17, 10:00am, rain date April 18
- Bluff Point State Park, Groton - April 20, 10:00am, rain date April 23
Remember that any and all volunteers are welcome including those who are not monitors. 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. Less intensive work needed includes stringing posts and putting up signs. Please email us at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com if you can make it to any or all of these dates, and thank you!
Scheduling for our 2018 monitoring season continues and will be wrapped up by next week. The difficult weather has prevented acceptable monitoring on most days, but it should improve soon. Thank you to all who have submitted information, and please do so if you have not! Also if you are a West Haven monitor please remember to provide your license plate and address information to us at this email to get a parking pass.
Scheduling for our 2018 monitoring season continues and will be wrapped up by next week. The difficult weather has prevented acceptable monitoring on most days, but it should improve soon. Thank you to all who have submitted information, and please do so if you have not! Also if you are a West Haven monitor please remember to provide your license plate and address information to us at this email to get a parking pass.
Saturday, April 7, 2018
"Snowy" Plovers
It has been a very difficult start to the 2018 Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds season all due to the weather as snow, cold temperatures, and strong winds continue into April after a rough March. Piping Plovers started arriving back on the Connecticut shoreline a few weeks ago. However, these conditions will push the start of the nesting season back a bit, and they continue to keep our volunteer monitors and staff off of the beaches and islands.
This is the seventh season of AAfCW, and I have been wondering when we would get to see some Piping Plovers in the snow. Here is a bird on the beach the day after a snowfall during more tolerable weather for everyone involved.
This is the seventh season of AAfCW, and I have been wondering when we would get to see some Piping Plovers in the snow. Here is a bird on the beach the day after a snowfall during more tolerable weather for everyone involved.
With that said, we would much rather have poor conditions now while adults are pairing up instead of frequent inclement weather later as eggs and chicks are on our beaches. Fingers crossed for a calm, temperate and beautiful rest of the spring.
Scott Kruitbosch
AAfCW Volunteer Coordinator
RTPI Conservation & Outreach CoordinatorFriday, April 6, 2018
Important Updates - Field Training Postponed
Good morning, monitors!
1) New monitor field training has been postponed from this Saturday, April 7, to next Saturday, April 14, from 10-12pm. Location is tentatively Sandy/Morse Points in West Haven but may change to Long Beach in Stratford. More information soon.
2) We have an extraordinarily high number of monitors this year which is wonderful! It will help to ensure widespread beach coverage. It makes the scheduling process a bit slower, and please continue to send in your desired beaches, dates, AM or PM times, here to this email address at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com.
The list of available beaches include:
Sherwood Island State Park in Westport - Sherwood Island Connector, Westport - http://www.lisrc.uconn.edu/coastalaccess/site.asp?siteid=560
Pleasure Beach in Bridgeport - accessible via seasonal free Bridgeport water taxi at 1 Seaview Avenue, Bridgeport, or by walking approximately one mile from Long Beach in Stratford
Long Beach in Stratford - end of Oak Bluff Avenue - http://www.lisrc.uconn.edu/coastalaccess/site.asp?siteid=335
Russian Beach in Stratford - http://www.lisrc.uconn.edu/coastalaccess/site.asp?siteid=339
Short Beach in Stratford - Dorne Drive - http://www.lisrc.uconn.edu/coastalaccess/site.asp?siteid=340
Milford Point in Milford - http://www.lisrc.uconn.edu/coastalaccess/site.asp?siteid=514
Silver Sands State Park in Milford - http://www.lisrc.uconn.edu/coastalaccess/site.asp?siteid=516
Sandy/Morse Points in West Haven - http://www.lisrc.uconn.edu/coastalaccess/site.asp?siteid=383
Bluff Park State Park in Groton - http://www.lisrc.uconn.edu/coastalaccess/site.asp?siteid=458
If you are interested in monitoring Griswold Point in Old Lyme please email us and you can discuss it with CT DEEP. There will also be smaller beaches that we will request some monitors to check on as the season progresses.
3) We have our spring string fencing dates as follows:
Griswold Point - April 12, 12:00pm, meet at the I95 exit 70 commuter lot at 11:45 to carpool (PLEASE email erobinson@tnc.org to RSVP for this)
Long Beach - April 13, 10:00am, rain date April 16
Sandy/Morse Points in West Haven - April 17, 10:00am, rain date April 18
Bluff Point State Park - April 20, 10:00am, rain date April 23
Remember that any and all volunteers are welcome including those who are not monitors. 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. Less intensive work needed includes stringing posts and putting up signs. Please email us at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com if you can make it to any or all of these dates, and thank you!
4) If you were unable to attending training on March 31 as a new monitor please try to attend the field training session. If you cannot do that please email us at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com and we will set you up with a staff member to meet you in the field and go over the basics. If you are a returning monitor who did not attend the refresher training please email us your mailing address to send you a badge for 2018, and please let us know your schedule as usual. We will take care of the required paperwork with CT DEEP for new and past monitors who did not do so yet in 2018 in as well.
5) If you are a monitor at Sandy/Morse Points in West Haven you will need to display a parking pass or a West Haven beach pass (as a resident) or police may issue a $100 parking fine. These will not be waived. Parking in nearby private lots risks towing or fines. CT DEEP or AAfCW is not responsible for parking violations/fines. However, the City of West Haven will provide you with a parking pass for monitoring this year if you can provide your full name, license plate information, and mailing address. Please email it to ctwaterbirds@gmail.com and we will pass it on to CT DEEP and West Haven. They can be mailed to you or picked up at City Hall; hours are Monday to Friday, 8am-5pm.
The continuing poor weather conditions will provide time to complete scheduling, training, and paperwork before we get out to the beaches. Thank you all! Please email ctwaterbirds@gmail.com with any questions. We will be in touch again soon, and hopefully be in the field regularly in the next couple of weeks.
1) New monitor field training has been postponed from this Saturday, April 7, to next Saturday, April 14, from 10-12pm. Location is tentatively Sandy/Morse Points in West Haven but may change to Long Beach in Stratford. More information soon.
2) We have an extraordinarily high number of monitors this year which is wonderful! It will help to ensure widespread beach coverage. It makes the scheduling process a bit slower, and please continue to send in your desired beaches, dates, AM or PM times, here to this email address at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com.
The list of available beaches include:
Sherwood Island State Park in Westport - Sherwood Island Connector, Westport - http://www.lisrc.uconn.edu/coastalaccess/site.asp?siteid=560
Pleasure Beach in Bridgeport - accessible via seasonal free Bridgeport water taxi at 1 Seaview Avenue, Bridgeport, or by walking approximately one mile from Long Beach in Stratford
Long Beach in Stratford - end of Oak Bluff Avenue - http://www.lisrc.uconn.edu/coastalaccess/site.asp?siteid=335
Russian Beach in Stratford - http://www.lisrc.uconn.edu/coastalaccess/site.asp?siteid=339
Short Beach in Stratford - Dorne Drive - http://www.lisrc.uconn.edu/coastalaccess/site.asp?siteid=340
Milford Point in Milford - http://www.lisrc.uconn.edu/coastalaccess/site.asp?siteid=514
Silver Sands State Park in Milford - http://www.lisrc.uconn.edu/coastalaccess/site.asp?siteid=516
Sandy/Morse Points in West Haven - http://www.lisrc.uconn.edu/coastalaccess/site.asp?siteid=383
Bluff Park State Park in Groton - http://www.lisrc.uconn.edu/coastalaccess/site.asp?siteid=458
If you are interested in monitoring Griswold Point in Old Lyme please email us and you can discuss it with CT DEEP. There will also be smaller beaches that we will request some monitors to check on as the season progresses.
3) We have our spring string fencing dates as follows:
Griswold Point - April 12, 12:00pm, meet at the I95 exit 70 commuter lot at 11:45 to carpool (PLEASE email erobinson@tnc.org to RSVP for this)
Long Beach - April 13, 10:00am, rain date April 16
Sandy/Morse Points in West Haven - April 17, 10:00am, rain date April 18
Bluff Point State Park - April 20, 10:00am, rain date April 23
Remember that any and all volunteers are welcome including those who are not monitors. 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. Less intensive work needed includes stringing posts and putting up signs. Please email us at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com if you can make it to any or all of these dates, and thank you!
4) If you were unable to attending training on March 31 as a new monitor please try to attend the field training session. If you cannot do that please email us at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com and we will set you up with a staff member to meet you in the field and go over the basics. If you are a returning monitor who did not attend the refresher training please email us your mailing address to send you a badge for 2018, and please let us know your schedule as usual. We will take care of the required paperwork with CT DEEP for new and past monitors who did not do so yet in 2018 in as well.
5) If you are a monitor at Sandy/Morse Points in West Haven you will need to display a parking pass or a West Haven beach pass (as a resident) or police may issue a $100 parking fine. These will not be waived. Parking in nearby private lots risks towing or fines. CT DEEP or AAfCW is not responsible for parking violations/fines. However, the City of West Haven will provide you with a parking pass for monitoring this year if you can provide your full name, license plate information, and mailing address. Please email it to ctwaterbirds@gmail.com and we will pass it on to CT DEEP and West Haven. They can be mailed to you or picked up at City Hall; hours are Monday to Friday, 8am-5pm.
The continuing poor weather conditions will provide time to complete scheduling, training, and paperwork before we get out to the beaches. Thank you all! Please email ctwaterbirds@gmail.com with any questions. We will be in touch again soon, and hopefully be in the field regularly in the next couple of weeks.
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