2023 American Oystercatcher - Record Numbers!

We hope you have been enjoying the offseason for the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds. Today we are sharing results of the American Oystercatcher 2023 season as compiled by Elizabeth Amendola, Audubon Connecticut Coastal Program Coordinator. You'll find presentation slides in a PDF here that includes all the American Oystercatcher data from the start of the AAfCW in 2012 through 2023.

Happily, we can report that this season had the highest number of breeding pairs and chicks we have ever recorded, and the highest productivity as well. Our breeding population continues to increase thanks in part to all of your efforts! You'll see more information in the slides on beach vs. island birds, disturbances, and banding efforts, too. Predation and human disturbance continue to be a problem, and all of us will collectively work to lessen their impact in 2024. We hope you will be with us again next season.

We will soon be sending out the final 2023 numbers for Piping Plovers from CT DEEP Wildlife - stay tuned!

Best,
Scott Kruitbosch
AAfCW Volunteer Coordinator

AAfCW - USFWS Milford Point Unit Fencing Removal

Please see the below message from Shaun Roche, Visitor Services Manager of the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge and Great Thicket National Wildlife Refuge (CT). Please email Shaun at shaun_roche@fws.gov if you can join the crew, thanks!

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Hi All-

It is time for us to take down the string fencing and shorebird nesting signs at the refuge's Milford Point Unit. We are planning to meet at 9am at the CT Audubon Coastal Center (1 Milford Point Road) on Tuesday the 19th. The work will include taking down string and putting it back on large spools for winter storage and clipping the wire to remove signs. We expect the work to take until about lunch time, so please bring food and a drink, and dress appropriately for the weather. If rain is predicted, we will move the work day to Thursday the 21st. I will email participants beforehand if this is the case.

To sign up, please email me if you can make it next Tuesday (and also indicate if you would be free Thursday in case of rain).

Thank you! 🙂

Shaun Roche, Visitor Services Manager
Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge
and
Great Thicket National Wildlife Refuge (CT)

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Sandy Point fencing removal *rescheduled*

The AAfCW has decided to reschedule Sandy Point's fencing removal due to the rainy forecast on Wednesday and make it Thursday, September 14, at 10am. We will meet at the south end of Morse Ave.

It has been a difficult few months for beach weather, from frequent rain to uncomfortable heat and humidity, or both. Those who join us in West Haven on Thursday should remember a few things:

-wear sunscreen and a hat
-drink plenty of water or sports drink and bring a snack
-do not attempt to carry too many stakes as there will be enough volunteers and staff members so that no one should overexert themselves
-take a break when needed

Thank you so much, and please send us an email to let us know if you can make it to Sandy Point this Thursday at 10am for fencing removal!

AAfCW - submitting CT DEEP timesheets

Good evening!

As we wrap up our 2023 season data and information for the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, CT DEEP Wildlife asks that you please mail their specific timesheets to:

Laura Saucier
CT DEEP WIldlife Division
P.O. Box 1550
Burlington, CT 06013

These "volunteer time and activity record" sheets are for record keeping for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and CT DEEP. They are located in the second page of the volunteer packet CT DEEP provided in the spring found by clicking here.

If mailing is not possible, you can also potentially return them in person at the volunteer thank you party (details TBA soon). 

Thank you!

Scott Kruitbosch
AAfCW Volunteer Coordinator

Hatchling Piping Plovers

We know adult and young Piping Plovers blend in so well on the sand. However, you may not have noticed how that camouflage translates perfectly to other aspects of their beach homes, including these slipper shells on Long Beach in Stratford earlier this summer. Incredible!

As always, any birds I post are photographed with a 500mm lens on a Nikon D850, extremely cropped, and heavily edited, to ensure these "close" cute photos were taken safely while I walked along the water. That is why this hatchling is relaxed even in these frozen moments, without crouching in fear, or rapidly running to a safer spot. Ideally, wildlife should not know you are present or ignore you entirely.

Scott Kruitbosch
AAfCW Volunteer Coordinator

AAfCW 2023 Field Update #11

This is the eleventh and final field update for the AAfCW in 2023 with data provided from volunteer monitors spanning August 13 through August 31. Thank you all once again for your monitoring this season! We plan to hold a volunteer thank you party later this fall for everyone who helped us this year, and we will share those details with you soon as they are finalized.

Please submit any and all data and information you have for our season via our electronic form, and our final field update will be coming soon. You are more than welcome to share Connecticut eBird checklists with shorebirds, terns, and long-legged waders year-round when you go birding with us via the eBird share function - just use ctwaterbirds@gmail.com, thanks!

With that said, we have more events to come this fall, including two string fencing dates:

-Griswold Point 9/7 @ 9AM-12PM. We will meet at the park and ride off Exit 70 in Old Lyme at 9:00 a.m. Please contact Martha Rice, Volunteer Coordinator at mrice@tnc.org and ctwaterbirds@gmail.com for questions and to register. Don't forget waterproof shoes or work boots!
-Sandy Point 9/13 @ 10 AM. We will meet at the south end of Morse Ave.

Assisting helps AAfCW and aids CT DEEP staff and their busy schedules. It also limits the stress on our birds. Those who join us should remember a few things:

-wear sunscreen and a hat
-drink plenty of water or sports drink and bring a snack
-do not attempt to carry too many stakes as there will be enough volunteers and staff members so that no one should overexert themselves
-take a break when needed

In general we look for everyone we can to help out even if you are not a regular AAfCW monitor or volunteer - the more the merrier. It also makes for a more pleasant morning of bird watching and discussions on the beach. Please RSVP to ctwaterbirds@gmail.com if you will be joining us at Sandy Point, and mrice@tnc.org plus ctwaterbirds@gmail.com if you plan to attend at Griswold Point, thank you!

Species	Date	Location	Pairs	Adults	Hatchlings	Fledglings	Juveniles
AMOY	August 13	Long Beach	1				1
PIPL	August 13	Long Beach				3
LETE	August 13	Long Beach	1	2			1
PIPL	August 13	Sandy/Morse Points					2
COTE	August 13	Sandy/Morse Points		4
AMOY	August 14	Bluff Point		1
COTE	August 14	Bluff Point		1
LETE	August 14	Bluff Point					1
PIPL	August 14	Sandy/Morse Points					4
AMOY	August 14	Sandy/Morse Points	1				3
LETE	August 14	Sandy/Morse Points		36			28
COTE	August 14	Sandy/Morse Points		3
PIPL	August 14	Milford Point					3
LETE	August 14	Milford Point		25
AMOY	August 15	Milford Point		6
PIPL	August 15	Milford Point					1
COTE	August 15	Milford Point		1
LETE	August 15	Milford Point		6
AMOY	August 15	Milford Point		7			6
PIPL	August 15	Milford Point		3			2
COTE	August 15	Milford Point		2	1
AMOY	August 16	Long Beach	1				1
LETE	August 16	Long Beach		1
LETE	August 17	Sandy/Morse Points		12
AMOY	August 18	Milford Point		3
COTE	August 18	Milford Point		2
PIPL	August 18	Milford Point		2
AMOY	August 18	Milford Point	1				1
AMOY	August 19	Sandy/Morse Points		1
COTE	August 20	Sandy/Morse Points		20
AMOY	August 20	Sandy/Morse Points	1				3
COTE	August 20	Sandy/Morse Points		80
PIPL	August 20	Milford Point	2	4
COTE	August 20	Sandy/Morse Points		3
LETE	August 21	Bluff Point		12
AMOY	August 21	Sandy/Morse Points	1				3
LETE	August 21	Sandy/Morse Points		4			4
PIPL	August 22	Milford Point					1
AMOY	August 23	Sandy/Morse Points	1			3
PIPL	August 23	Sandy/Morse Points		1
AMOY	August 24	Milford Point		60
PIPL	August 24	Milford Point		1			2
AMOY	August 24	Griswold Point		1
LETE	August 24	Griswold Point		7			3
AMOY	August 26	Milford Point	1				1
AMOY	August 27	Long Beach	1				1
AMOY	August 29	Milford Point		12			2