AAfCW 2018 Volunteer Update #3

This is the third regular weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2018 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern and Common Tern from May 14 through 8:00pm on May 21 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff spanning the period.

Informational updates:

Our weather continues to be up and down but our birds are nesting successfully in many locations. Please keep monitoring as usual and submitting your data and information as soon as you can. 

This upcoming weekend is Memorial Day, and if the weather continues to be warm and sunny the holiday will mean busier beaches with a lot more traffic. Many visitors, including some from out of state, 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 nesting time at the unofficial beginning of summer. Even a quick stop for some education or a scan of the beach can be helpful, and you do not need to schedule it in advance. Thank you very much!

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover

5 pairs, 2 nests at Long Beach on 5/14

4 pairs, 4 adults, 3 nests at Bluff Point on 5/14

1 pair at Silver Sands State Park on 5/15

7 pairs, 3 adults, 2 nests at Long Beach on 5/15

1 pair, 1 nest at Short Beach on 5/15

7 pairs, 3 adults, 4 nests at Long Beach on 5/15

13 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/16

1 pair, 1 adult at Silver Sands State Park on 5/16

7 pairs, 5 nests at Milford Point on 5/16

1 adult, 1 nest at Short Beach on 5/16

6 adults, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/17

2 pairs, 4 adults, 4 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/17

5 adults, 5 nests at Milford Point on 5/17

3 pairs, 4 adults, 2 nests at Bluff Point on 5/18

1 pair, 6 adults, 4 nests at Long Beach on 5/18

2 pairs, 1 nest at Silver Sands State Park on 5/18

5 pairs, 1 adult, 5 nests at Milford Point on 5/19

2 pairs, 1 adult, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/20

6 pairs, 4 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/20

5 pairs, 5 nests at Hammonasset State Park on 5/20

American Oystercatcher

1 pair, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/14

2 pairs, 2 adults, 2 nests at Bluff Point on 5/14

1 pair, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/15

2 pairs, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/15

8 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/16

3 pairs, 2 nests at Milford Point on 5/16

2 pairs, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/17

6 pairs, 1 adult, 2 nests at Milford Point on 5/17

1 pair, 1 adult, 2 nests at Bluff Point on 5/18

1 pair at Long Beach on 5/18

2 pairs, 2 nests at Milford Point on 5/19

1 pair, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/20

2 pairs, 1 adult, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/20

2 pairs, 1 adult, 1 nest at Hammonasset State Park on 5/20

Least Tern

2 pairs at Long Beach on 5/14

8 adults at Bluff Point on 5/14

14 adults at Long Beach on 5/15

12 adults at Long Beach on 5/15

1 adult at Milford Point on 5/17

2 adults at Bluff Point on 5/18

2 adults at Long Beach on 5/18

1 pair, 8 adults at Milford Point on 5/19

3 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/20

3 pairs, 5 adults at Hammonasset State Park on 5/20

Common Tern

9 adults at Long Beach on 5/14

6 adults at Long Beach on 5/15

1 pair at Long Beach on 5/15

2 adults at Milford Point on 5/19

2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/20

17 adults at Hammonasset State Park on 5/20

This concludes update #3 through 5/22/18 as of 2:00 a.m.