AAfCW 2026 Field Update #1

The 2026 season is off to a great start thanks to all of our amazing volunteers! 

This post contains a summary of all volunteer events and the monitoring data collected by volunteers throughout the month of April. There are already lots of nests popping up across the state, and things are only just getting started. Before we get to the fun stuff, here are a few friendly reminders:

1. Please remember to sign up for monitoring shifts on Bloomerang before you visit a site! This allows us to see where and when folks are monitoring the birds, and it helps us to understand where there might be gaps in coverage that need to be filled. If you have not yet created a Bloomerang account, or if you need a refresher on how to navigate the Bloomerang website, please check the resources under the "Important Documents" tab on the right side of this page.

2. If you find a new nest, please report it ASAP by emailing laura.saucier@ct.gov, rsuzf@hotmail.com, and ctwaterbirds@gmail.com. In your email, provide details to help field staff locate the nest. Providing landmarks is extremely helpful (ex: large log, wrack line, fencing section, etc.). Do NOT place any man-made objects near the nest or attempt to mark the nest in any way. Also please remember that there is never any reason to enter the string fencing areas.

3. Bird safety is paramount. If any birds are visibly distressed by your presence (exhibiting behaviors like rapid, frantic calls) you are too close! Please remember to walk below the high tide line while monitoring in order to limit our disturbance to the birds. Also please email ctwaterbirds@gmail.com to cancel your monitoring session if temperatures are below 50°F or above 90°F.

4. Report issues like downed fencing, damaged signage, or major incidents involving members of the public by emailing laura.saucier@ct.gov, rsuzf@hotmail.com, and ctwaterbirds@gmail.com. Save the CT DEEP dispatch phone number (860-424-3333) and familiarize yourself with the local animal control phone numbers provided in the volunteer monitoring packet. Remember that our goal is to educate beachgoers with kindness. If somebody is agitated or uninterested in productive conversation, it is best to wish them a good day and move on.

5. Complete the online data submission form after every site visit, even if you did not observe any birds! Site information including your hours, local weather, public engagement attempts, and disturbance reports are all vital insights into the things that are happening on CT's shoreline. It is most helpful to us if these reports are submitted within 24 hours of when you complete your monitoring. Bloomerang will automatically send you a reminder the day after each of your shifts end. You can also access the data submission form by clicking on the link to "2026 Online Data Submission Form" under the "Important Documents" tab on the right side of this page.

6. There have been a few tern sightings across the state this week! Keep an eye out as they begin to arrive at the beaches and report all sightings through the data submission form.

April Events Recap:

April was an absolute whirlwind! Over the course of just a few weeks, Audubon Alliance staff and volunteers prepared miles of Connecticut's shoreline for the beach-nesting bird season by participating in beach clean-ups and installing string fencing at priority nesting sites. We also partnered with researchers at Great Gull Island to construct nearly 250 nest shelters for the federally endangered Roseate Tern!

Roseate Tern nest box building workshop in Greenwich

AAfCW staff and volunteers preparing to install fencing at Griswold Point in Old Lyme

Coastal Waterbird Technician, Tayler, installing fencing at Silver Sands State Park in Milford

Roseate Tern Nest Box Workshop at the Eli Whitney Museum in Hamden

Volunteers removing trash during the Sandy Point beach clean-up in West Haven

Here is the total pile of trash that was removed from Sandy Point in just a few hours!

Volunteers installing fencing at Bluff Point in Groton

Volunteer Monitoring Data:

Here is a summary of all volunteer-collected data submitted during the month of April.

• Number of volunteer reports submitted: 97
• Total volunteer monitoring hours: 151
• Number of beachgoers engaged in conversations about birds/conservation: 108

Piping Plover. Photo: Melissa Groo/Audubon Photography Awards

Piping Plover Data Summary

Piping Plover Individual Adult Observations

In April, there were individual adult Piping Plovers observed at Sherwood Island, Long Beach, Milford Point, Silver Sands, Sandy point, Griswold Point, and Bluff Point.

Piping Plover Adult Pair Observations

In April, there were Piping Plover pairs observed at Long Beach, Milford Point, Silver Sands, Sandy Point, Griswold Point, and Bluff Point.

Additionally, the following sites currently have active Piping Plover nests (nest counts will be included in the next blog post in two weeks!):

• Long Beach
• Milford Point
• Sandy Point
• Bluff Point

American Oystercatcher. Photo: Robert Blanchard/Audubon Photography Awards

American Oystercatcher Data Summary

American Oystercatcher Individual Adult Observations

In April, there were individual American Oystercatcher adults observed at Compo Beach, Sherwood Island, Long Beach, Milford Point, Silver Sands, Sandy Point, Griswold Point, and Bluff Point.

American Oystercatcher Pair Observations

In April, there were American Oystercatcher pairs observed at Greenwich Point Park, Pleasure Beach, Long Beach, Milford Point, Silver Sands, Sandy Point, Hammonasset, Griswold Point, and Bluff Point.

Additionally, the following sites currently have active American Oystercatcher nests (nest counts will be included in the next blog post in two weeks!):

• Long Beach
• Milford Point
• Sandy Point
• Bluff Point

As a reminder, this is only the beginning of the nesting season! If you visited your site in April and didn't see any birds, don't panic! Many birds are still getting settled, and the terns are only just beginning to arrive. As always, please reach out to me at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com if you have any questions or concerns.

Thank you for volunteering with us this year!

Marissa

Audubon CT Volunteer Coordinator