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.