AAfCW 2021 Field Update #11

Good afternoon! 

Volunteer monitoring officially ends today. It has been an extremely busy month to conclude our field season. Thankfully for Connecticut, Hurricane Henri came ashore in Rhode Island at a good tide with a patchy and weakened wind field, and its impacts were less severe than anticipated. Nevertheless, we hurriedly removed a great deal of fencing and signage wherever possible, and some beaches saw some higher waters.

As mentioned last week, we have started to note higher than average mortality for terns in Connecticut in the past month. CT DEEP Wildlife continues to collect numerous specimens for testing and necropsies to determine the cause of these losses. As previously mentioned, species listed on Connecticut’s Endangered Species Act - including our Least Tern, Common Tern, American Oystercatcher, and Piping Plover - can only be collected by authorized personnel. Please do not attempt to recover any bird, living or dead, on the beaches. Sick and deceased birds have been collected at an even higher rate by staff over the past week.

While monitoring is officially ending, your observations on your own time are always appreciated. CT DEEP Wildlife needs to be notified of dead or dying birds as soon as possible so they can collect them. Staff will assess where the bird was discovered, prepare it for transport or preservation, and continue to catalog all data and information. Once again, all of this needs to be done in person by CT DEEP and AAfCW staff. If you find a dead or dying bird, please notify CT DEEP (Laura.Saucier@ct.gov and rsuzf@hotmail.com) and us at AAfCW (ctwaterbirds@gmail.com). Do not take any physical action on your own. Photos - safely, and staying outside of any remaining fenced areas - data, information, and notifications are all superb.

The following data is through August 31. Thank you! Be well and stay safe.

Piping Plover:

3 fledglings at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/7

1 fledgling, 10 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/7

1 fledgling at Milford Point on 8/9

10 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/10

1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/10

2 pairs at Griswold Point on 8/11

3 juveniles at Bluff Point on 8/13

2 fledglings, 2 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/13

1 juvenile at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/14

1 adult, 2 fledglings, 14 juveniles at Milford Point on 8/15

4 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/15

1 juvenile at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/16

1 pair, 3 adults, 15 hatchlings, 7 fledglings at Milford Point on 8/16

8 juveniles at Milford Point on 8/17

7 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/17

1 juvenile at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/18

2 adults, 3 fledglings at Milford Point on 8/20

2 fledglings, 6 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/20

3 juveniles at Bluff Point on 8/20

6 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/21

2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/24

3 adults at Bluff Point on 8/25

7 adults at Bluff Point on 8/25

2 fledglings, 2 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/26

5 juveniles at Milford Point on 8/29

American Oystercatcher:
1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/7

1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/10

1 pair at Bluff Point on 8/13

2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/14

2 pairs, 1 fledgling at Milford Point on 8/15

5 adults at Milford Point on 8/20

1 pair at Bluff Point on 8/20

1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/24

2 adults at Bluff Point on 8/25

1 adult, 2 juveniles at Bluff Point on 8/27

1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/28

20 adults at Milford Point on 8/29

34 birds at Milford Point on 8/29

Least Tern:

100 adults, 5 hatchlings, 4 fledglings, 1 juvenile at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/7

50 adults, 2 hatchlings, 15 juveniles, 5 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/7

100 adults, 12 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/10

12 adults, 8 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/10

132 adults, 2 hatchlings, 1 fledgling, 12 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/13

2 pairs, 60 adults, 2 hatchlings, 1 fledgling, 7 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/14

10 adults, 1 hatchling, 1 fledgling, 2 juveniles at Milford Point on 8/15

6 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/16

3 adults at Milford Point on 8/17

3 adults, 2 fledglings at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/17

2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/18

4 adults at Milford Point on 8/20

14 adults, 7 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/20

2 adults, 3 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/21

1 pair, 186 adults, 2 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/26

3 adults, 6 juveniles at Milford Point on 8/29

Common Tern:

40 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/10

1 pair, 4 adults, 4 fledglings at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/15

1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/17

12 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/24

500 birds at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/28

--

Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds

http://ctwaterbirds.blogspot.com

Tern Mortality

In the past month, we have started to note higher than average mortality for terns in Connecticut. There is an unknown issue behind these losses, and CT DEEP Wildlife has collected numerous specimens for testing and necropsies. We wanted to remind everyone that species listed on Connecticut’s Endangered Species Act - including our Least Tern, Common Tern, American Oystercatcher, and Piping Plover - can only be collected by authorized personnel. Birds cannot be picked up, alive or dead. 

CT DEEP Wildlife needs to be notified of sick or dead birds as soon as possible. Apart from legality, it can be unsafe to handle these birds. Additionally, CT DEEP needs to see where the bird was found, transport it to a proper destination, and continue to catalog all data and information - all without the bird being touched. All of this will be done in person by CT DEEP and AAfCW staff. If you find a dead or dying bird, please notify CT DEEP (Laura.Saucier@ct.gov and rsuzf@hotmail.com) and us at AAfCW (ctwaterbirds@gmail.com). Do not take any physical action on your own. Photos - safely, and staying outside of fenced areas - data, information, and notifications are all superb. Thank you!

Scott Kruitbosch
AAfCW Volunteer Coordinator

Hurricane Henri

Good afternoon all!

By now everyone is undoubtedly aware of tropical storm/hurricane Henri inbound to Connecticut for Sunday. Unfortunately for us as people, our state looks to get the brunt of the storm surge, rain, and wind. Thankfully for our birds, we have remaining young fledged and hopefully capable of hunkering down through the period and making it out of the storm in decent shape. Henri seems to have slowed a bit and may not impact Connecticut at the worst high tides, but it will still be a tough time this weekend. Please stay home, stay safe, and only return to monitoring next week when it is advisable to do so. Beaches and coastal areas may have power line, tree, tidal and more damage that prevents us from visiting, or otherwise complicates clean-up or relief efforts. 

If we are to look for a positive it is that tropical cyclones are vital to the health of our beaches. They often enhance and create new habitat for shorebirds and terns, especially for nesting. Perhaps 2022 will feature a strong year for our birds. 

Thanks and best,
Scott Kruitbosch
AAfCW Volunteer Coordinator 

Poor Photography

This is a great example of what not to do as a photographer spending time around nesting birds on the beach or in any habitat.

I can tell you that I find this sort of nonsense, which happens almost daily across Connecticut, disturbing both as a professional photographer and a conservationist. One of our staff, Natalie, took the photo weeks ago after these people said conservation staff and volunteers working every day to protect endangered nesting waterbirds were more of a disturbance than they were in this moment.

In actuality, CT DEEP, Wildlife Division, all the trained employees of the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, and all of our fabulous volunteers do more to protect and aid these species 24/7 than can ever be adequately summarized. Our sharing the shore philosophy is what allows everyone to still visit these beaches as other states close down entire locations to prevent anyone from entering. I hope it is self-evident that encroaching on fencing like this for prolonged periods is extremely detrimental to the birds and our mission. We are doing our best to educate and change these mindsets.

Scott Kruitbosch
AAfCW Volunteer Coordinator

AAfCW 2021 Field Update #10

Good morning! 

We are continuing all monitoring for our waterbirds across the Connecticut coast as we move into August. As always, please keep your safety in mind at all times. Stay home in very hot and humid conditions, or when thunderstorms are occurring. Various breeding conditions continue across Connecticut with young birds still working to fledge and migrants moving through. Our staff will be slowly removing fencing and signage at sites based on when the birds have completed nesting and all young have fledged. We once again anticipate all of this work will be completed by staff due to COVID-19.

It's very important to collect negative data and know that birds are not present, too, whether it is nesting or now migrating. As mentioned, we are at the time of year where some young are dispersing, and other adults are already heading south. We want to make sure we see these birds at all locations if they show up. Quieter beaches that had a tough year, or may have no birds at the end of July, can be a spot where others pass through in migration from nearby locations in Connecticut and even other states.

Some of these birds on the move may be flagged or banded, too - an always exciting sight! That goes for Piping Plover, Least Tern, American Oystercatcher, and Common Tern. Please record and report this whenever possible. We want to keep tracking all that happens at the beach with people, especially in such a busy year for the outdoors. In short, all of your observations are vital, and please keep submitting them through the end of August at your beaches. The following data is through midnight on August 9.

Thank you! Be well and stay safe.

Piping Plover:

11 adults, 5 fledglings, 5 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/26

1 adult, 1 hatchling at Milford Point on 7/27

3 adults, 6 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/27

1 adult at Bluff Point on 7/27

2 pairs, 1 adult, 2 juveniles at Griswold Point on 7/27

3 adults, 3 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/28

5 adults, 3 fledglings at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/28

3 adults, 8 hatchlings at Milford Point on 7/29

7 juveniles at Bluff Point on 7/29

2 adults, 1 hatchling, 5 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/30

3 adults, 5 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/30

2 adults, 9 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/31

4 adults, 4 hatchlings, 2 fledglings, 9 juveniles at Milford Point on 8/1

2 adults, 4 hatchlings, 1 fledgling at Milford Point on 8/2

1 adult at Griswold Point on 8/2

7 adults at Milford Point on 8/2

9 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/3

6 fledglings at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/3

1 fledgling at Long Beach on 8/4

4 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/4

1 adult, 3 hatchlings at Bluff Point on 8/6

1 hatchling, 2 fledglings at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/6

3 adults, 2 fledglings at Milford Point on 8/7

3 fledglings at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/7

American Oystercatcher:
26 adults, 1 juvenile at Milford Point on 7/26

2 pairs, 1 hatchling at Bluff Point on 7/27

1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/28

2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/28

3 adults, 2 hatchlings at Milford Point on 7/29

1 pair, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 7/29

1 pair, 1 adult at Bluff Point on 7/30

2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/30

2 pairs, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/31

3 adults at Long Beach on 8/1

1 pair, 1 adult, 1 hatchling at Milford Point on 8/1

31 adults, 1 juvenile at Milford Point on 8/2

1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/3

1 pair at Milford Point on 8/3

2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/4

1 adult at Long Beach on 8/5

1 pair at Bluff Point on 8/6

1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/7

Least Tern:

130 adults, 1 hatchling, 8 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/27

6 adults at Griswold Point on 7/27

100 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/28

150 adults, 6 hatchlings, 4 fledglings at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/28

150 adults, 2 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/29

48 adults, 8 hatchlings, 9 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/30

45 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/30

50 adults, 1 hatchling, 4 juveniles, 7 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/31

30 adults, 8 nests at Milford Point on 8/1

100 adults, 6 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/3

50 adults, 1 hatchling at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/3

100 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/4

1 pair, 86 adults, 5 hatchlings, 2 fledglings, 8 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/6

100 adults, 5 hatchlings, 4 fledglings, 1 juvenile at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/7

Common Tern:

227 adults at Milford Point on 7/26

100 adults at Griswold Point on 7/27

4 adults at Milford Point on 7/29

1 adult at Bluff Point on 7/30

2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/30

31 adults, 1 juvenile at Milford Point on 8/2

4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/3

20 adults, 4 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/4

1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/6

Thank you!