The remarkable Memorial Day weekend storm washed away many or all nests on our beaches and took numerous hatchlings with coastal flooding and high tides. String fencing and exclosures were damaged or destroyed in multiple locations. Staff worked hard all weekend and throughout the last two weeks to not only monitor as usual but also remove and/or repair all of the exclosures and fencing.
Now, our birds have been renesting in several locations. This means our staff has had to shift or extend string fencing for birds like American Oystercatchers and Least Terns. CT DEEP and AAfCW have also had to find new Piping Plover nests and exclose them when necessary. We are slowly building back our nests, and if all goes well, these nests and new hatchlings will be all over our beaches for the July 4th weekend. In short, we anticipate a very busy couple of months across Connecticut.
Please always keep monitoring near the wet sand and water line, ideally at lower tides. Nearing or entering dunes will disturb any birds, other wildlife, or trample the very important dune and its vegetation. We do not want to be walking through these grasses or other dune vegetation with how fragile it is, how often ticks can be found here, and because we do not want to harm any birds or nests.
Remaining monitor badges were sent out personally by Laura Saucier. CT DEEP Wildlife had sent them to Hartford where problems were encountered in the state mailing process. Lanyards proved to be extremely difficult to mail as well, so for now, the ID cards have been sent. For those of you new to the program, all physical materials are typically provided after completing in-person monitor training in March. COVID-19 has complicated numerous aspects of our efforts, and we are hopeful that next year the usual in-person components will be able to happen safely. Thank you for your patience in all of the extraordinary circumstances.
All birds hatched so far this year are still hatchlings. A few are near fledging, and none are juveniles. Below are observations on our beaches as submitted from noon on May 31 through 12:00am today, Monday, June 14. Reports of data and information prior to May 31 were received but are excluded from listing below. Thanks again!
Piping Plover:
2 pairs, 1 adult at Long Beach on 6/1
2 pairs, 2 adults, 3 hatchlings at Milford Point on 6/1
2 pairs, 2 adults at Long Beach on 6/1
4 pairs, 9 adults, 3 hatchlings, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/1
11 adults, 6 hatchlings, 2 nests at Milford Point on 6/1
1 pair, 6 adults, 2 nests at Bluff Point on 6/1
1 pair, 1 adult at Griswold Point on 6/1
3 pairs, 20 adults, 8 hatchlings at Milford Point on 6/2
1 pair, 11 adults, 1 hatchling, 4 nests at Bluff Point on 6/2
1 pair, 1 nest at Griswold Point on 6/2
2 adults at Long Beach on 6/2
1 pair, 14 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/2
3 pairs, 12 adults, 5 hatchlings at Milford Point on 6/3
3 pairs, 4 adults, 2 hatchlings at Bluff Point on 6/4
4 pairs, 1 adult, 1 hatchling, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 6/4
7 pairs, 18 adults, 11 hatchlings at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/5
3 pairs, 9 adults, 1 nest at Long Beach on 6/6
4 pairs, 2 adults at Long Beach on 6/6
5 pairs, 5 adults, 1 nest at Milford Point on 6/7
1 adult at Long Beach on 6/8
2 pairs, 4 adults, 2 hatchlings at Milford Point on 6/8
3 adults at Long Beach on 6/8
15 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/8
3 pairs, 8 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/9
6 adults, 1 hatchling at Milford Point on 6/9
2 pairs, 3 adults, 1 hatchling, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 6/9
2 adults at Long Beach on 6/10
10 adults, 5 hatchlings, 1 nest at Milford Point on 6/10
14 adults, 4 hatchlings, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/10
1 pair, 1 adult at Griswold Point on 6/10
3 pairs, 4 adults, 2 hatchlings at Bluff Point on 6/11
2 pairs, 1 adult, 2 nests at Bluff Point on 6/11
5 pairs, 5 nests at Long Beach on 6/13
1 pair, 4 adults, 1 hatchling at Long Beach on 6/13
1 pair, 5 adults, 1 hatchling, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 6/13
American Oystercatcher:
1 pair, 2 hatchlings at Long Beach on 6/1
5 adults at Milford Point on 6/1
1 pair, 2 hatchlings at Long Beach on 6/1
1 pair, 1 adult, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/1
12 adults at Milford Point on 6/1
1 pair at Griswold Point on 6/1
3 adults at Bluff Point on 6/1
2 adults at Milford Point on 6/2
2 pairs, 1 adult at Bluff Point on 6/2
3 pairs, 4 adults, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/2
3 pairs, 4 adults at Milford Point on 6/3
2 pairs, 2 hatchlings, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 6/4
2 pairs, 3 hatchlings at Bluff Point on 6/4
1 pair, 1 nest at Griswold Point on 6/5
5 pairs, 11 adults, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/5
2 pairs at Milford Point on 6/8
1 pair at Long Beach on 6/8
3 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/9
1 pair at Milford Point on 6/9
2 pairs, 1 adult, 3 hatchlings at Bluff Point on 6/9
9 adults, 2 nests at Milford Point on 6/10
2 pairs, 2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/10
1 pair, 2 adults, 1 hatchling at Bluff Point on 6/11
1 pair, 2 hatchlings at Bluff Point on 6/11
1 pair at Long Beach on 6/13
Least Tern:
1 pair at Long Beach on 6/1
2 pairs, 24 adults at Long Beach on 6/1
3 pairs, 15 adults, 3 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/1
12 adults, 2 nests at Milford Point on 6/1
4 adults at Bluff Point on 6/1
18 adults at Griswold Point on 6/1
43 adults at Milford Point on 6/2
1 pair at Bluff Point on 6/2
6 pairs, 18 adults, 3 nests at Griswold Point on 6/2
41 adults at Long Beach on 6/2
30 adults, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/2
1 pair, 4 adults at Milford Point on 6/3
2 pairs, 1 adult at Bluff Point on 6/4
2 adults at Bluff Point on 6/4
2 pairs, 3 adults, 2 nests at Griswold Point on 6/5
2 adults at Long Beach on 6/5
1 adult at Long Beach on 6/6
80 adults, 15 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/8
87 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/9
6 adults at Milford Point on 6/10
200 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/10
22 adults at Griswold Point on 6/10
1 adult at Long Beach on 6/13
Common Tern:
3 adults at Long Beach on 6/1
1 pair, 3 adults at Long Beach on 6/1
8 adults at Milford Point on 6/2
1 pair, 3 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/2
4 adults at Milford Point on 6/3
6 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/5
22 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/9
4 adults at Milford Point on 6/9
1 adult at Bluff Point on 6/9
2 adults at Milford Point on 6/10
12 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/10
Thanks again!
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