American Oystercatchers at Stratford Point

I was happy to see a pair of American Oystercatchers at Stratford Point today. They were feeding and hanging out in the intertidal zone. Oystercatchers are one of the target species in the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, and they are beginning to nest across Connecticut's islands and beaches.

While these birds may have arrived recently and are trying to settle in, there are always non-breeding pairs as well. And that glance at the sky...I love when birds go bird watching themselves.

Scott Kruitbosch
AAfCW Volunteer Coordinator
RTPI Manager of Connecticut Programs

AAfCW Volunteer Monitoring and Field Updates

Good afternoon all, Scott here - we have a two part update today via CT DEEP, first with a message from Laura, followed by information and data from Rebecca. Volunteer monitoring is now on hold through May 31st, 2020. To add to Laura's staff information, AAfCW staff that are permitted in the field are continuing to work solo and practicing safe social distancing. We are doing all that is possible, and considering the complex variables, the season is off to a decent start. We hope you are staying safe and doing well! We will keep you updated on the birds overall. Please see below and read down to the bottom of the email.

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Dear Volunteers,

We hope that you and your families are continuing to stay healthy. Initially, to comply with Governor Lamont’s Stay Home, Stay Safe executive order, the DEEP Wildlife Division postponed shorebird monitoring by volunteers through May 1st, 2020. After some discussion, it was decided to extend the postponement of volunteer shorebird monitoring through May 31st, 2020. Keeping all our conservation partners safe is our number one priority.

We have a skeleton crew of staff that managed to get string fencing up at most breeding beaches. A couple of our staff are also conducting some limited beach monitoring to keep tabs on the birds and to make sure our fencing is in good shape.  

Again, we will keep you apprised of changes moving forward. Thank you.

Take care,
Laura

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General: all shorebird nesting areas are being monitored by very limited DEEP and AAfCW staff. At this time, nest exclosures are not planned.

Bluff Point State Park/Mumford Cove: the nesting areas are fenced. There are 4-5 pairs of PIPL with established territories. One pair of AMOY has been observed.

Waterford: the beach is currently closed but is being monitored by DEEP.

Harkness Memorial State Park: the beach is closed to the public. The preserve is fenced and there are two pairs of PIPL.

Griswold Point: management is being negotiated. There is currently one pair of PIPL here.

Hammonasset Preserve: closed to the public. The area is fenced and three pairs of PIPL and one pair of AMOY have been observed.

Hammonassett West Beach: this area is being monitored daily by AAfCW staff for the arrival of PIPL and will be fenced shortly.

Sandy Point: West Haven beaches are closed. The nesting areas are fenced. There are three pairs of PIPL with two nests and two pairs of AMOY with one nest.

Silver Sands State Park: the beach is fenced and being monitored. No PIPL have been observed.

Milford Point: the spit is fenced, there are 4-5 pairs of PIPL and three pairs of AMOY with two nests. The area is monitored daily by AAfCW staff.

Long Beach: this beach is open only to Stratford residents. The beaches are all fenced. There are currently 5-6 pairs of PIPL and one pair of AMOY.

Short Beach: this beach is open only to Stratford residents. It is fenced and one pair of PIPL have established a territory.

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Thank you all once again - stay safe, and keep in touch! We expect many other shorebird species, plus our terns, to arrive in Connecticut over the next week or two. We will continue to reach out and share what we can with you, and we'll hopefully be getting going on full monitoring later this spring.

Common Raven

One of the most common predators of the nests and young of our shorebirds is the Fish Crow. We also occasionally see the American Crow, and now even the Common Raven looking for a meal on the shoreline. This was an uncommonly good view of a Common Raven at Stratford Point.

The species has become widespread in the state over the past two decades. If you see any predators when monitoring, even if they are not actively engaging in trying to predate nests or young, please let us know. The more information we have, the better!

Killdeer

As we pass through mid-April we find ourselves with more shorebirds on our shores. One sometimes confusing bird often encountered by people in mowed fields, parking lots, airports, parks, gravel roads, and other more developed spots is the Killdeer. They somewhat resemble the Piping Plover and the Semipalmated Sandpiper, but the first clue as to their identity comes as you'll find Killdeer in those dry habitats instead of only sandy beaches, marshes, or mudflats.

They have a bright red eye ring and two breast bands. Their long, all black bill fits well with their long wings and long tail. They are overall larger, bulkier, and noisier birds, too. This bird was hanging out with another at Stratford Point, occasionally hopping up to avoid a passing Northern Harrier. The next few weeks should yield a lot more shorebirds passing through Connecticut.

Scott Kruitbosch
AAfCW Volunteer Coordinator
RTPI Conservation & Outreach Coordinator

Online Birding Workshops - Audubon Connecticut

Hello everyone,

My spring birding workshops for groups have been cancelled, so I’ve learned how to convert them to an online, interactive experience and now travel is not a limiting factor to participate! I’ll be sending registrants a workbook to print and follow along, or you’ll be able to use scrap paper if you can’t print at home. All sessions will be recorded and saved for registrants, in case someone can’t attend a class. These 4-week courses are usually $80-$100+ per person depending on site, but we’ve lowered the price to $25 per course online. I hope to see you online in a few short weeks!

Ken Elkins
Community Conservation Manager
Audubon Connecticut

Birding your Backyard and Beyond

Wednesdays, 7:00-8:30pm
April 15-May 6

Join Audubon staff for an online and interactive course built around developing and honing your birding skills and knowledge. This four-part series will first touch on birding skills for a variety of levels before diving into learning ways to identify our returning migrant birds as well as focal birds in our Healthy Forests program.  We will finish up with a review as well as ways you can support bird conservation in your very own way. Upon registration, you'll receive a link to login into the classroom, and workbook to download and print to follow along through the activities.

1. Birding Skills-  Whether a beginner or intermediate level birder, we can practice observation skills to identify a bird by sight or sound.  We’ll take a look at the plethora of new resources out there to help you practice at home too.
2. Neotropical Migrants- There are so many birds, and not enough time to find them all during spring migration!  While we learn tips from the field on identifying them by sight and sound, we’ll also discuss their stopover habitat preferences to possibly find them easier.  By knowing their habitat needs, we can also find ways to help birds on their journey.
3. Birds of the Northeastern Forests- We’ll study Audubon’s focal species of our Healthy Forests program, learning to identify the birds, and their preferred habitats.  Skills learned today will translate well to volunteering for your state’s Breeding Bird Surveys.
4. Community Science is for the Birds- We’ll review the skills we’ve developed in this series, and take a look at how you can support conservation by reporting your bird sightings.  Breeding Bird Atlas projects in both CT & NY need more volunteers and incidental reporting of key species.  We’ll take a look at how to participate in these projects and more.

Click Here to register for Birding Your Backyard and Beyond

​“Tuning our Ears for Spring Migration”

Tuesdays, 3:00-4:30 pm
April 14-May 5

A 4-part online, interactive workshop There's a lot to look forward to in spring, including the welcomed hullabaloo of birdsong. The sheer volume of songs and calls can often feel overwhelming for birders, but these sounds offer an opportunity and a challenge. Our new series to help you build your birding skills—and love of birds—by learning how to bird by ear.  We’ll begin by growing familiar with neighborhood voices, distinctive migrant songs, and the wonders of nature's lesser-known musicians: frogs, toads, mammals, and stridulating insects. Upon registration, you'll receive a link to login into the classroom, and workbook to download and print to follow along through the activities.

$25 per person for the series
Click here to register for Tuning Our Ears for Spring Migration

Wintering Piping Plovers

As I wrote previously, my 2020 AAfCW season started of my own volition in Charleston, South Carolina in February followed by a couple weeks based out of in Miami from February to early March. I wanted to spend some time with the Piping Plovers on their wintering grounds. This would allow me to see what their behavior was like in comparison to essentially a more narrow slice of life during the nesting season in Connecticut. Some of our Piping Plovers arrive in April and leave by June or July, even if they have had success in fledging young! Thus most of their lives are actually spent elsewhere to our south in tropical regions.

There is a small flock of Piping Plovers that enjoys wintering in Miami itself. Good choice, birds! They have a quiet section of beach tucked away in a gorgeous location. I took these group shots on February 29 while they were preening and resting.

You can see 10 of the 12 or 13 individuals I would typically see.

There were a good variety of looks based on age, sex and who was coming into breeding plumage. They had a lot of work to do before heading north.

Feather maintenance and preening are critical tasks for birds about to fly up the eastern seaboard.

Isn't it amazing how much they can reach apparently without getting a neck ache?

In this final shot you can see a hint of a Laughing Gull in the back on the left. There's also an imposter up front! Can you identify it? That is a Sanderling, a bird that winters in Connecticut, second from the right with those black legs and a bulkier body.

Being able to feed, rest and preen undisturbed is of vital importance for our birds traveling through Connecticut as well. Please give all the space you can to shorebird groups of all species. I could not help but to wonder where all these birds ended up this spring I was writing this entry. Are some in Connecticut? I do know where one of the group (not pictured) was headed, though, as there is a flagged Piping Plover that regularly spends her winter here with this flock. I will tell you about her in an upcoming entry.

Scott Kruitbosch

AAfCW Volunteer Coordinator

RTPI Conservation & Outreach Coordinator

April 2020 Situational Update

Good afternoon!

I wanted to reiterate that we are currently still doing all we can behind the scenes, mostly while working at home, and occasionally solo in the field, for our waterbirds this spring. The solo or socially distanced string fencing and signage operations continue by AAfCW, CT DEEP, and USFWS at critical locations and islands throughout Connecticut. We are adjusting to beach closures at some spots as well. Our continued communications with cities, towns, private land owners, and state parks is helping to get everything as set as possible for best management practices for our birds and habitats. CT DEEP will be mailing materials to you in coming weeks. Please keep in mind everything they do in the Wildlife Division, which stretches far beyond this program and involves all wildlife across Connecticut, is impacted by our current status as a society with COVID-19. It is an extremely busy and ever-changing day to day work environment.

Scheduling continues with me via this email address (ctwaterbirds@gmail.com) for those of you who have yet to select a beach, dates/days of week, and AM/PM slots. Thank you to everyone who has submitted one. Please also understand schedules are undergoing changes because of COVID-19 as our volunteers have to adjust their lives due to shifting circumstances. Also please keep in mind this will be dynamic throughout the season as certain beaches may open and close depending on local situations. For example, West Haven and Waterford beaches are currently closed. I would anticipate they open in coming weeks with social distancing still required.

We will let you know as soon as possible what the status for monitoring is in May. Thank you to all for your contributions now and throughout 2020. I know everyone is doing their best as volunteers and staff, and it is greatly appreciated!

Stay safe and be well. Thank you all!

Scott Kruitbosch
AAfCW Volunteer Coordinator
RTPI Conservation & Outreach Coordinator

Reddish Egret

Here's a long-legged wader species that has never been recorded in Connecticut - the Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens). A spectacular and uncommon species, this bird allowed me rather close for a while in Miami, Florida on February 29. They’re a great sight anywhere, but in Miami waters? This was probably the luckiest random and prolonged sighting I had in my two weeks in the south considering the species, proximity, and the fact is was not targeted that day.

If you know how to behave around wildlife they’ll tolerate your presence and go about their business. When they ignore you entirely, including our Piping Plovers and American Oystercatchers, you know you're doing it right. This bird was foraging nonstop, making for some sensational shots. You can still see the drops of water flying after this catch. The Reddish Egret has a range that includes the Gulf Coast, parts of eastern Florida, Central America, the Caribbean, and Mexico. If you're ever in the area, be sure to try to find one!

Scott Kruitbosch
AAfCW Volunteer Coordinator
RTPI Conservation & Outreach Coordinator

Piping Plovers in Miami

I hope all of you are doing well, staying home, and being safe. This is not how we thought our season would be progressing but, we are all making the most of it. AAfCW and CT DEEP Wildlife Division staff are working hard behind the scenes, mostly at home, and occasionally solo in the field, to do all they can for waterbirds this spring. String fencing and signage has been erected in several locations, with more to come. Constant communications with cities, towns, private land owners, state parks, and more are helping to do our best to protect habitat and nesting areas with increased usage by the public. While the State of Connecticut has paused volunteer monitoring for the month of April, we will be bringing you updates more based in media - photos, videos, and other special surprises. There is still so much we can do as a collective group in conservation and education via all of our social platforms, email, Zoom webinars, and other mediums.

Personally, my 2020 AAfCW season started of my own volition in Charleston, South Carolina in February followed by a couple weeks based out of in Miami from February to early March. I wanted to spend some time with the Piping Plovers on their wintering grounds along with other beautiful shorebirds, terns, and long-legged waders. I have a lot of photos from my trip to share with you throughout 2020 of various species - some we see in Connecticut in migration, during nesting season, only very rarely, or not at all.

To start off, here are a couple shots of an adult Piping Plover and an immature bird actually in Miami itself on February 26.

In upcoming posts I will share more of a flock of Piping Plovers. It was endlessly engrossing to watch their behavior on the wintering grounds, and to feel even more free to photograph them with my 500mm lens without concern for their nest or young on wide open, quiet beaches. I am grateful to have made the time to visit these birds and areas while it was safe. We hope all of you stay safe, and we will be speaking with you often, and soon!

Scott Kruitbosch
AAfCW Volunteer Coordinator
RTPI Conservation & Outreach Coordinator

Social Distancing

Via the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Northeast Region...