June Piping Plover Census

Good morning AAfCW monitors! CT DEEP is looking for extra help and any volunteers to check additional sites for Piping Plovers (or terns) from June 1 to June 9 during the annual statewide census to ensure we have not missed any pairs in Connecticut. For sites that are staffed (such as with booths) volunteers will need to show their badge and request (free) access to check for nesting birds. 

Laura Saucier (Laura.Saucier@ct.gov) will be collecting data directly, and you can use this data sheet for these specific surveys. This is different from all normal monitoring, and respective protocols should be followed. Laura can ideally take the data via scanned forms sent back to her email, or you can send an email containing at minimum the following information:

• Date (Must be June 1st-June 9th)
• Tide (High, low, or mid)
• Weather conditions (What is the temperature? Sun? Precipitation? Windy?)
• Town
• Beach
• Any plovers seen? (If so, how many? Any nests? Any chicks?)
• Any other focal species observed?
• Amount of time spent walking the site (in minutes)

The sites are listed below. As they are not typical breeding locations, Laura and CT DEEP usually do not have an ongoing relationship with owners or management, and access may not be a given. If denied access, please let her know, and she will reach out to the managing entity to arrange entry for you. 

Piping Plover Census Areas (typically non-breeding sites)

• Sand Island, Greenwich
• Calf Pasture Beach, Norwalk
• Sasco Hill Beach (Fairfield Country Club), Fairfield
• Fairfield Town Beach
• Jennings Beach, Fairfield
• Penfield Beach, Fairfield
• Cockenoe Island, Westport
• Driftwood Point, Westport
• Seaside Park, Bridgeport
• Walnut Beach, Milford
• Savin Rock, W. Haven
• Nathan Hale Park Beach, New Haven
• E. Shore Park, E. Haven
• Lighthouse Point Park, E. Haven
• Silver Sands Beach Club, E. Haven
• Cosey Beach, E. Haven
• Kelsey Island, Branford
• Guilford Town Beach
• Jacobs Beach, Guilford
• Grass Island, Guilford
• Madison Town Beach
• Clinton Town Beach
• Grove Beach, Clinton
• Small Beach, Clinton
• West Beach, Westbrook
• Grass Island, Westbrook
• Salt Island, Westbrook
• Westbrook private beaches, Westbrook
• Old Saybrook Town Beach
• Fenwick Point, Old Saybrook
• White Sands Beach, Old Lyme (mainland beach adjacent to Griswold Point)
• Millstone Beach, Waterford
• Pleasure Beach, Waterford
• Jordan Cove, Waterford
• Rocky Neck State Park, Niantic
• Attawan Beach, Niantic
• Niantic Bay Beach, Niantic
• Eastern Point, New London
• Pine Island, New London
• Latimer Point Beach, Stonington
• Mason’s Island Beach, Stonington
• Ram Island Beach, Stonington

Thanks so much!