AAfCW 2021 Field Update #9

After mentioning that the 2021 Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds season has been an extremely difficult one in the last update, we received more difficult weather and tidal conditions in the past couple of weeks. High tides have even been pushing people further up the beach, close and into fenced areas, as they have disturbed and harmed birds at some locations. Busy summer beach days also mean continued high traffic, fires, loose dogs, and more. 

The upcoming 14 or so days do look to feature some of the best weather of the season. This should allow more monitoring and more safety for our birds. For the most part, we are nearing the end of nesting. Young of our four focal species are all at different ages thanks to a lot of re-nesting this year, with some already on their way south and other hatchlings still unable to fly and relying on parents.

This update period, through midnight of July 26, had some volunteer surveys skipped due to inclement conditions. We continue to record disturbances as a staff across the Connecticut coast - natural and from or influenced by humans. There is no way to adequately summarize all our staff has seen or documented throughout the year, but we will do so at the conclusion of the season. We encourage you to please continue to report your observations, including negative data and disturbances, documenting as much as you can with every trip to the beach. Every little bit helps piece together an enormous puzzle. 

Piping Plover:

14 adults, 2 fledglings at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/12

1 pair, 4 adults, 3 hatchlings, 1 nest at Milford Point on 7/13

1 pair, 1 nest at Long Beach on 7/13

2 adults, 1 hatchling at Long Beach on 7/13

2 pairs, 1 adult, 2 nests at Griswold Point on 7/13

1 pair, 8 adults, 3 hatchlings, 1 nest at Milford Point on 7/14

6 adults, 4 hatchlings, 1 nest at Milford Point on 7/14

1 pair, 25 adults, 8 hatchlings, 15 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/14

7 adults, 3 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/15

1 pair, 2 adults, 4 hatchlings, 1 juvenile at Mile Creek on 7/16

1 pair, 2 adults, 4 hatchlings at Mile Creek on 7/16

2 pairs, 3 adults, 3 hatchlings, 3 fledglings at Milford Point on 7/19

15 adults, 4 fledglings, 1 juvenile at Milford Point on 7/19

1 adult, 8 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/19

1 pair, 8 adults, 6 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/19

1 pair, 1 adult, 1 nest at Long Beach on 7/20

1 pair, 13 adults, 4 hatchlings, 6 fledglings, 1 juvenile at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/20

1 adult at Long Beach on 7/22

5 adults, 13 hatchlings at Milford Point on 7/22

7 adults, 12 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/22

2 pairs, 4 hatchlings at Bluff Point on 7/23

1 pair, 3 adults, 3 hatchlings at Milford Point on 7/23

1 adult, 3 hatchlings at Mile Creek on 7/23

1 adult at Griswold Point on 7/24

1 adult, 4 hatchlings, 1 nest at Mile Creek on 7/24

2 pairs, 4 adults, 5 hatchlings, 4 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/24

11 adults, 3 hatchlings, 5 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/25

American Oystercatcher:
2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/12

1 pair, 3 adults at Long Beach on 7/13

1 pair, 1 adult, 1 hatchling at Milford Point on 7/14

1 pair, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/14

4 adults, 1 hatchling at Milford Point on 7/14

14 adults, 1 fledgling at Milford Point on 7/19

1 adult, 1 nest at Milford Point on 7/19

1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/19

1 pair, 1 juvenile at Long Beach on 7/20

2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/20

3 adults at Milford Point on 7/22

2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/22

1 adult at Bluff Point on 7/23

2 pairs at Milford Point on 7/23

1 pair, 2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/24

1 pair, 2 adults, 1 juvenile at Milford Point on 7/25

Least Tern:

150 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/12

22 adults at Griswold Point on 7/13

150 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/14

50 adults at Milford Point on 7/14

100 adults, 1 fledgling, 1 juvenile at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/15

15 adults at Milford Point on 7/19

150 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/19

100 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/20

8 adults at Milford Point on 7/22

100 adults, 7 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/22

60 adults at Griswold Point on 7/24

75 adults, 6 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/24

600 adults, 10 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/25

Common Tern:

4 adults at Long Beach on 7/13

51 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/14

2 adults at Milford Point on 7/14

107 adults at Milford Point on 7/19

2 pairs, 1 nest at Milford Point on 7/19

35 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/19

1 pair at Long Beach on 7/20

2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/20

4 adults at Milford Point on 7/22

Thank you so much for all your efforts.