AAfCW 2021 Field Update #1

All address information, along with needs for lanyards, was submitted to DEEP at the end of March. They will be getting out official ID cards to everyone, and lanyards for those who requested, as soon as possible. Additionally, vehicle and address information was provided to the City of West Haven and The Nature Conservancy. If you provided any or all of this before March 29, you are all set.

In the meantime, if you would like to casually visit your beach for your scheduled monitoring session, that would be great. However, please do not go to West Haven until you receive a parking pass unless you are a resident with a parking sticker as they will ticket vehicles otherwise. Typically physical materials are provided at in-person training. However, with COVID-19 necessitating virtual sessions, plus more logistical delays for all parties involved, the process takes additional time. Thanks for understanding and your patience!

Please enter your data and information as soon as possible after monitoring. Our blog has a link in the right-hand column under "Important Documents" to the "Online Data Submission Form" which you should review and use for data entry. It will prompt you to input all of the information we require, and you can add comments for more details as well. 

If you do not see any of our target species (Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, and starting in May, Least Tern and Common Tern) please submit data regardless. Your trip information, hours, lack of birds, disturbances, observations of weather or people - all of that is vital to know. If you have no nests, you do not have to enter the field on the form. If you have two pairs of birds, you can simply enter two pairs - no need to put four adults as well. That would double the count, and "adults" is simply for unpaired adult birds.

We have started collecting data and information from volunteers now as we have entered April. Below are observations on our beaches as submitted through 12:00pm today, Thursday, April 8. Lastly, we will soon be providing information for field training for new volunteers.

Piping Plover:

2 adults at Milford Point on 3/23

1 pair, 2 adults at Milford Point on 3/30

1 adult at Bluff Point on 3/31

1 adult at Bluff Point on 4/2

5 adults at Bluff Point on 4/2

4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/3

4 pairs at Long Beach on 4/5

2 adults at Long Beach on 4/6

3 adults at Long Beach on 4/6

3 adults at Bluff Point on 4/7

10 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/7

3 adults at Milford Point on 4/7

American Oystercatcher:

2 adults at Milford Point on 3/23

1 pair, 4 adults at Milford Point on 3/30

2 pairs, 1 adult at Bluff Point on 4/2

2 pairs at Bluff Point on 4/2

3 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/3

3 pairs, 6 adults at Milford Point on 4/3

1 pair at Long Beach on 4/5

3 pairs, 3 adults at Milford Point on 4/6

2 pairs at Bluff Point on 4/7

3 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/7

1 pair, 5 adults at Milford Point on 4/7

Thanks again!