AAfCW 2025 Field Update #4

There is only one week left until meteorological summer begins and the cold, wet spring will soon be replaced with heat and sunshine.

With the heat, come beach crowds and higher stress for our beach-nesting birds. Now that there are chicks running around on several beaches across the shoreline, we want to remind all volunteers to cancel their monitoring if temperatures are above 90°F. This is not only for the birds, but for your safety as well! Remember to wear sunscreen and bring plenty of water when you go out to monitor.

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Volunteer Spotlight!

The Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds has been in existence for over a decade. That's longer than the average lifespan of a piping plover! Over the years, we have accumulated an incredible group of volunteers who deserve to be recognized for their dedication to this project. Starting this week, we will be highlighting the contributions of numerous volunteers across the state. Today, I would like to introduce you all to Nicole Crane!

I had the pleasure of meeting Nicole earlier this spring during a visit to Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison. What immediately stood out to me about Nicole was her enthusiasm and kindness when educating other beachgoers about the importance of sharing the shore with beach-nesting birds. Additionally, Nicole is a very talented artist who enjoys nature journalling while she monitors at Hammonasset! Get to know more about Nicole and her artwork below as she answers questions about her experience volunteering with AAfCW.

When did you begin volunteering with the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds? 

2022. I moved to southern Connecticut toward the end of 2021 and shorebird monitoring is one initiative I undertook to learn about and become a part of my new community.

What is your favorite part of volunteering as a shorebird monitor?

I’m very thankful to be able to volunteer with the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds. Monitoring is a great opportunity to learn about our coastal community. We have an astounding diversity of wildlife and habitat here in Southern Connecticut. We are also at a critical moment in the balance between community and wild spaces. Monitoring, I’m able to witness that relationship from a thousand different perspectives. When we spend a lot of time watching quietly in a place, things come to life that we hadn’t imagined. Hammonasset’s West Beach draws crowds of people who may not even realize that what attracts them to the water and the park is endangered by their behavior. As monitors, we have the opportunity to learn about what is often overlooked. It is extremely rewarding to draw casual visitors into my excitement about what I observe as a monitor. When I approach people I assume that when they learn about what we are doing, they will want to help. Usually they do! My favorite part of this work is when I see the light in someone’s eyes change when they suddenly realize where they are. 

What do you do outside of your volunteer work?

Nicole Crane (2022)

Monitoring also happens to fit in with all of my work! I am a communication strategist. I am active mainly in academia. I specialize in science, visual, and cultural studies. I especially like to support policy makers, scientists and creatives such as authors, visual artists and architects. Lateral thinking practice is one of my greatest strengths.

I had a career of leadership roles in international arts and cultural institutions. I love learning languages and working in a multi-lingual environment. I’m also a total science nerd. When my son was young I decided to reincorporate art practice and science in the form of scientific illustration. I knew that if I leaned in to all of my passions something amazing would emerge! 

When I’m monitoring, I like to explore my environment visually. I don’t focus on making virtuosic illustrations. Illustrating is a way of challenging and solidifying the information we take in. How is this connected to that? What IS that? Why does this look that way? What am I missing? Similar to scientific enquiry, when we try to represent what we perceive on paper, we find many assumptions that we have made and we are able to ask better questions. Anyone can do this! 

I also like to volunteer with my local land trust. I lead hikes and I’m currently helping them with the newest edition of a trail guide. The Christmas Bird Count is another of my favorite opportunities to learn from experts in an amazing community. 

Nicole Crane (2025)

If you would like to nominate a fellow volunteer for an upcoming volunteer spotlight, email us at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com!

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Latest Monitoring Data

Here is a summary of all volunteer-collected data submitted between May 30th and June 12th, 2025.

• Number of volunteer reports submitted: 93
• Total volunteer monitoring hours: 148
• Number of beachgoers engaged in conversations about birds/conservation: 162

Before we get into the newest bird observation data, I wanted to highlight an interesting data trend from your monitoring reports! Memorial Day Weekend is traditionally the first busy beach weekend of the year in Connecticut, and it often coincides with the first few Piping Plover chicks hatching on our beaches. The graph below shows the cumulative number of beachgoers that you have engaged with over the duration of the monitoring season so far. Do you notice the sharp increase during Memorial Day Weekend? Throughout the latter half of May and the beginning of June, our beaches have become much busier. Now, volunteer and beachgoer interactions are increasing, and your hard work is making an impact on the number of beachgoers who receive information about beach-nesting birds across the state. Thank you!

Piping Plover. Photo: Merri-Lee Metzger/Audubon Photography Awards

Piping Plover Data Summary

Piping Plover Pair Observations

There were Piping Plover pairs observed at Sherwood Island, Long Beach, Milford Point, Sandy Point, and Bluff Point between May 30th and June 12th.

Sites with Piping Plover nests: 

Site	Piping Plover Nests
Compo Beach - Westport	0
Sherwood Island - Westport	1
Long Beach - Stratford	7
Russian Beach - Stratford	0
Short Beach - Stratford	0
Milford Point - Milford	15
Silver Sands State Park - Milford	1
Sandy Point Bird Sanctuary - West Haven	6
Hammonasset - Madison	0
Griswold Point - Old Lyme	1
Waterford Town Beach - Waterford	0
Bluff Point - Groton	5

American Oystercatcher. Photo: Walker Golder

American Oystercatcher Data Summary

American Oystercatcher Pair Observations

There were American Oystercatcher pairs observed at Compo Beach, Sherwood Island, Long Beach, Short Beach, Milford Point, Silver Sands, Sandy Point, Griswold Point, Waterford Town Beach, and Bluff Point between May 30th and June 12th.

Sites with American Oystercatcher nests:

Site	American Oystercatcher Nests
Compo Beach - Westport	1
Sherwood Island - Westport	0
Long Beach - Stratford	0
Russian Beach - Stratford	0
Short Beach - Stratford	0
Milford Point - Milford	4
Silver Sands State Park - Milford	0
Sandy Point Bird Sanctuary - West Haven	4
Hammonasset - Madison	0
Griswold Point - Old Lyme	0
Waterford Town Beach - Waterford	0
Bluff Point - Groton	0

Common Tern. Photo: Luke Franke/Audubon

Common Tern Data Summary

Adult Common Tern Observations

There were Common Terns observed at Sherwood Island, Long Beach, Milford Point, Sandy Point, Hammonasset, Waterford Town Beach, and Bluff Point between May 30th and June 12th.

Least Tern. Photo: Charlie Trapani/Audubon Photography Awards 

Least Tern Data Summary

Adult Least Tern Observations

There were Least Terns observed at Long Beach, Milford Point, Sandy Point, Hammonasset, Griswold Point, Waterford Town Beach, and Bluff Point between May 30th and June 12th.

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Thank you all for your continued hard work and dedication towards this project!

Marissa

Audubon CT Volunteer Coordinator

**All photos are licensed for use through the National Audubon Society. Audubon Connecticut is a state office of the National Audubon Society**

AAfCW 2025 Field Update #3

Memorial Day Weekend is behind us, and summer is just ahead! Thank you to all of those who spent extra time monitoring beaches during the holiday weekend. Your hard work helped to protect multiple locations across the shoreline where this year's American Oystercatcher and Piping Plover chicks are just beginning to hatch. While many birds will now tend to their young, some will continue to incubate their eggs, and others will be attempting to renest after recent nest failures or predation events.

Some friendly reminders:

As summer rapidly approaches, beach crowds will also begin to grow. Remember that we always want to educate beachgoers with a kind, positive attitude. If somebody is not interested in productive conversation, it is best to move on.

With chicks running around on many of the beaches, now it is even more important to ensure that we are monitoring effectively. Walk below the high tide line whenever possible and be aware that Least Terns may nest in or near the wrack line. If you find a nest outside of the string fencing areas, please make note of the location and email laura.saucier@ct.gov, rsuzf@hotmail.com, and ctwaterbirds@gmail.com as soon as possible.

Piping Plovers may renest up to three times after losing their nests to predation, disturbance, or weather events. Remember that it is very important to continue monitoring the "quieter" beaches because some birds may now choose those beaches for a renest attempt. 

Do not linger near any exclosures, nests, chicks, or adult birds. Remember that the birds will tell you when you are too close by doing broken wing displays, alarm calls, or by dive-bombing. Bird safety is always most important! 

There are many other shorebirds foraging and resting on the shoreline this time of year. For a review of additional species that you may encounter while monitoring, check out this online guide to shorebirds of New England created by Soheil Zendeh in Massachusetts: https://www.birdobserver.org/NESG

Thank you for your continued hard work throughout the beginning of the season. We have enjoyed meeting many of you in the field, and we greatly appreciate your dedication to protecting nesting shorebird populations across Connecticut. As always, if you have any comments, questions, or concerns please contact ctwaterbirds@gmail.com.

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Here is a summary of all volunteer-collected data submitted between May 13th and May 29th, 2025.

• Number of volunteer reports submitted: 108
• Total volunteer monitoring hours: 164
• Number of beachgoers engaged in conversations about birds/conservation: 177

**Please note: Each graph below displays the numeric range of birds observed by volunteers at major monitoring sites across the state. These ranges are based on the minimum and maximum number of birds reported at each site in our online data submission form. Click on each graph to view a higher resolution image.**

**Also note: Chicks have begun to hatch at a number of sites across the state, but in the interest of bird safety, we will not be sharing chick counts by site. Questions can be directed to ctwaterbirds@gmail.com**

Piping Plover. Photo: Sarah Devlin/Audubon Photography Awards

Piping Plover Data Summaries:

Unpaired (Individual Adult) Piping Plover Observations

There were individual adult Piping Plover observed at Long Beach, Short Beach, Milford Point, Silver Sands, Sandy Point, Hammonasset, Griswold Point, and Bluff Point between May 13th and May 29th.

Piping Plover Pair Observations

There were Piping Plover pairs observed at Sherwood Island, Long Beach, Milford Point, Silver Sands, Sandy Point, Hammonasset, Griswold Point, and Bluff Point between May 13th and May 29th.

Sites with Piping Plover nests:

Site	Piping Plover Nests
Compo Beach - Westport	0
Sherwood Island - Westport	1
Pleasure Beach - Bridgeport	0
Long Beach - Stratford	10
Russian Beach - Stratford	0
Short Beach - Stratford	0
Milford Point - Milford	16
Silver Sands State Park - Milford	1
Sandy Point Bird Sanctuary - West Haven	8
Hammonasset - Madison	0
Griswold Point - Old Lyme	1
Waterford Town Beach - Waterford	0
Bluff Point - Groton	4

American Oystercatcher. Photo: Walker Golder

American Oystercatcher Data Summaries:

Unpaired (Individual Adult) American Oystercatcher Observations

There were individual adult American Oystercatchers observed at Sherwood Island, Long Beach, Short Beach, Milford Point, Silver Sands, Sandy Point, Hammonasset, Griswold Point, Waterford Town Beach, and Bluff Point between May 13th and May 29th.

American Oystercatcher Pair Observations

There were American Oystercatcher pairs observed at Compo Beach, Sherwood Island, Long Beach, Milford Point, Silver Sands, Sandy Point, Hammonasset, Griswold Point, and Bluff Point between May 13th and May 29th.

Sites with American Oystercatcher nests:

Site	American Oystercatcher Nests
Compo Beach - Westport	0
Sherwood Island - Westport	0
Pleasure Beach - Bridgeport	0
Long Beach - Stratford	2
Russian Beach - Stratford	0
Short Beach - Stratford	0
Milford Point - Milford	3
Silver Sands State Park - Milford	1
Sandy Point Bird Sanctuary - West Haven	2
Hammonasset - Madison	0
Griswold Point - Old Lyme	1
Waterford Town Beach - Waterford	0
Bluff Point - Groton	1

Common Tern. Photo: Tom Reichert/Audubon Photography Awards

Common Tern Data Summary:

Adult Common Tern Observations

There were adult Common Terns observed at Sherwood Island, Short Beach, Milford Point, Sandy Point, Griswold Point, and Waterford Town Beach between May 13th and May 29th.

Least Terns. Photo: Robert Blanchard/Audubon Photography Awards

Least Tern Data Summary:

Adult Least Tern Observations

There were adult Least Terns observed at Long Beach, Short Beach, Milford Point, Sandy Point, Griswold Point, Waterford Town Beach, and Bluff Point between May 13th and May 29th.

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Thank you all for your continued hard work and dedication to this project! 

Marissa

Audubon CT Volunteer Coordinator

**All photos in this post are licensing for use through the National Audubon Society. Audubon Connecticut is a state office of the National Audubon Society

AAfCW 2025 Field Update #2

Welcome to the second Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds 2025 field update! Shorebird nesting activity has greatly increased over the past two weeks. Several of the first piping plover and American oystercatcher nests that appeared across the state will begin hatching in the upcoming weeks. For other piping plovers and American oystercatchers who had a failed or predated nest early in the season, many are now starting their second nesting attempts. As primary nesting locations (places like Long Beach, Milford Point, and Sandy Point) fill up, some birds will likely move to beaches that have less nesting activity. Please keep a close eye on beaches that did not previously have high bird activity. That could change very quickly!

As a reminder, there are now several other species of shorebird popping up along the shoreline! Many of these birds will continue moving northward to their arctic and subarctic breeding grounds. Check out CT DEEP's guide to common shorebirds of Connecticut HERE. 

There are some shorebird species that are commonly confused with piping plovers. For a comparison between piping plovers, semipalmated plovers, and killdeer, please click on the graphic below:

Additionally, both least terns and common terns have made their way back to the Connecticut shoreline! Colonies have started forming on offshore islands across the state. Remember that least terns and common terns may initially look similar, but there are several key differences that you can use to tell the two species apart from one another:

Thank you all for your continued participation and support of this project. As always, if you have any comments, questions, or concerns please contact ctwaterbirds@gmail.com. 

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Here is a summary of all volunteer-collected data submitted between April 28th and May 12th, 2025.

• Number of volunteer reports submitted: 87
• Total volunteer monitoring hours: 138
• Number of beachgoers engaged in conversations about birds/conservation: 147

Piping Plover. Photo: Katherine Sayn Wittgenstein/Audubon Photography Awards

Piping Plover Data Summaries:

**Please note: Each graph displays the range of the number of birds observed by volunteers at major monitoring sites across the state. These ranges are based on the minimum and maximum number of birds reported at each site in our online data submission form. Click on each graph to view a higher resolution image.

Unpaired (Individual Adult) Piping Plover Observations

There were individual adult piping plover observed at Compo Beach, Pleasure Beach, Long Beach, Milford Point, Sandy Point, Hammonasset, Griswold Point, and Bluff Point between April 28th and May 12th

Piping Plover Pair Observations

There were piping plover pairs observed at Long Beach, Milford Point, Sandy Point, Griswold Point, and Bluff Point between April 28th and May 12th. 

Sites with piping plover nests:

Site	Piping Plover Nests
Compo Beach - Westport	0
Sherwood Island - Westport	0
Pleasure Beach - Bridgeport	0
Long Beach - Stratford	10
Russian Beach - Stratford	0
Short Beach - Stratford	0
Milford Point - Milford	14
Silver Sands State Park - Milford	0
Sandy Point Bird Sanctuary - West Haven	7
Hammonasset - Madison	0
Griswold Point - Old Lyme	1
Waterford Town Beach - Waterford	0
Bluff Point - Groton	3

American Oystercatcher. Photo: Walker Golder

American Oystercatcher Data Summaries:

Unpaired (Individual Adult) American Oystercatcher Observations

There were individual adult American oystercatcher observed at Long Beach, Short Beach, Milford Point, Sandy Point, Griswold Point, Waterford Town Beach, and Bluff Point between April 28th and May 12th.

American Oystercatcher Pair Observations

There were American oystercatcher pairs observed at Compo Beach, Pleasure Beach, Long Beach, Milford Point, Silver Sands State Park, Sandy Point, Hammonasset, Griswold Point, and Bluff Point between April 28th and May 12th.

Sites with American oystercatcher nests:

Site	American Oystercatcher Nests
Compo Beach - Westport	1
Sherwood Island - Westport	0
Pleasure Beach - Bridgeport	0
Long Beach - Stratford	2
Russian Beach - Stratford	0
Short Beach - Stratford	0
Milford Point - Milford	3
Silver Sands State Park - Milford	0
Sandy Point Bird Sanctuary - West Haven	1
Hammonasset - Madison	0
Griswold Point - Old Lyme	0
Waterford Town Beach - Waterford	0
Bluff Point - Groton	0

Common Tern. Photo: Nick Palmieri/Audubon Photography Awards

Common Tern Data Summary:

Common terns very rarely nest on mainland beaches in Connecticut, but it is possible! Although there are not nests present on mainland beaches yet, please do keep a close eye out for potential nesting activity.

Adult Common Tern Observations

There were adult common terns observed at Sherwood Island, Russian Beach, Short Beach, Milford Point, Sandy Point, Hammonasset, and Waterford Town Beach between April 28th and May 12th.

Least Tern. Photo: William Dix/Audubon Photography Awards

Least Tern Data Summary:

Least terns do often nest in colonies on Connecticut's larger beaches. Although there are not any nests on mainland beaches yet, some will likely begin to pop up over the next few weeks.

Adult Least Tern Observations

There were adult least terns observed at Long Beach, Milford Point, Sandy Point, Griswold Point, Waterford Town Beach, and Bluff Point between April 28th and May 12th.

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One final note:

As the weather warms up, human disturbance along the shoreline also inevitably increases. Memorial Day weekend is traditionally the first busy beach weekend of the year, and it typically coincides with the first hatching of piping plover and American oystercatcher chicks. Please be on the lookout next week for an email from ctwaterbirds@gmail.com containing important information about Memorial Day Weekend monitoring.

Thank you again for all of your hard work!

Marissa

Audubon CT Volunteer Coordinator