AAfCW 2018 Volunteer Update #1

This is the first regular weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2018 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover and American Oystercatcher starting from April 23 through 12:00pm on April 30 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff spanning the period.

Informational updates:

If you provided data and information prior to April 23 please be aware that we did receive it, and it is simply not listed in this report. Please also note that negative data is not included below. This very slow season is now about to become much more active as the weather is turning for spring and birds are beginning to nest. Please continue to provide your data and information to us, including negative data, on Piping Plovers, American Oystercatchers, and once they return in the next week or so, Least and Common Terns. Please also report new nests directly to rsuzf@hotmail.com and Laura.Saucier@ct.gov.

String fencing and signage is just about complete and repaired now after damage from storms and high tides. We are nearly done with all schedules and please contact us if you are not. We will also be pairing up new monitors in need of training with our staff beginning this week so you will be all set in the field.

West Haven monitors should be aware that the City has informed us they printed the passes, and hopefully they will be received by you - and all of our staff - soon. We apologize for the delay and are waiting as well. Please remember monitoring should be done when the temperature is between 50 and 90 degrees, with no rain or thunderstorms, and not on very windy days. Thank you all for your efforts! We look forward to many more reports of active birds and nests soon.

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover
4 pairs, 1 adult at Milford Point on 4/23
1 pair at Long Beach on 4/24
10 pairs at Long Beach on 4/24
3 pairs, 4 adults at Bluff Point on 4/27
2 pairs, 2 adults, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/28
4 pairs at Bluff Point on 4/28
8 pairs at Long Beach on 4/28
11 adults at Milford Point on 4/28
4 pairs, 18 adults at Long Beach on 4/28
1 adult at Silver Sands State Park on 4/28
3 pairs, 1 adult at Milford Point on 4/29
8 adults at Milford Point on 4/29

American Oystercatcher
3 pairs at Milford Point on 4/23
3 pairs, 2 nests at Falkner Island on 4/23
1 pair, 1 adult at Grass Island on 4/23
2 pairs at Long Beach on 4/24
3 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/26
2 pairs at Hammonasset on 4/26
1 pair, 4 adults, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 4/27
1 pair at Long Beach on 4/28
3 pairs at Milford Point on 4/28
2 pairs, 1 adult, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/28
1 pair at Bluff Point on 4/28
4 adults at Long Beach on 4/28
3 pairs, 1 nest at Milford Point on 4/29
3 pairs at Milford Point on 4/29

This concludes update #1 through 4/30/18 as of 3:30 p.m.

American Oystercatchers Nesting

It has been a very slow start to the 2018 Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds season thanks to our unusually cold and wet weather pattern. While I write this we are expecting yet more rain tomorrow after a rainy yesterday. April started off with multiple days of snow, making life very difficult for returning shorebirds looking for a home on the beach. Piping Plovers are only now beginning to display some breeding activities, but we have yet to locate a nest (don't worry, they will come fast soon).

American Oystercatchers started a little faster and our staff has recently found nests at offshore islands. Here are some recent photos I took during one of our string fencing and signage dates...

Do you know what this pair was doing in the second photo? Apart from likely commenting on the continuously cruel Connecticut climate, they were eyeing a passing plane. Predators come in all shapes and sizes, so you can imagine what these birds think of loose dogs, drones, kites, parasailing, and many other human activities. Your dedicated stewardship efforts as monitors and volunteers make a tremendous difference in ensuring our focal species have a successful nesting season, and we thank you! Keep an eye on our blog and social media pages all spring and summer for more photos of our friends.

Scott Kruitbosch

AAfCW Volunteer Coordinator

RTPI Conservation & Outreach Coordinator

Fencing "Completed"

Thanks to everyone who assisted us with putting up string fencing and signage! This week's latest storm took down a considerable amount of fencing, and our staff is hard at work repairing damage at all beaches. The weather has continued to be a problem, and most of our birds have been seen only foraging and waiting for more acceptable conditions before nesting activities begin. Remember that we want to monitor when it is between 50 and 90 degrees, to avoid very windy days, and to stay home if it is raining.

When reporting observations we do want to hear about negative data as well if you did not see any of our four focal species: Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Terns and Common Terns. The terns will begin arriving in Connecticut slowly around May 1.

You can submit data via this form which is especially helpful in that it includes all we need.

Or email it to this address: ctwaterbirds@gmail.com

Or share it to this address via eBird, but please remember to include all the data and information we need.

Once we begin regular monitoring, which should be next week, we will post weekly data and information updates on all of our beaches. Thanks again!

Fencing continues

Our remaining spring string fencing dates are as follows - please join us!

Sandy/Morse Points, West Haven - April 17, 10:00am, rain date April 18
Bluff Point State Park, Groton - April 20, 10:00am, rain date April 23

Remember that any and all volunteers are welcome including those who are not monitors. Volunteers should bring: work gloves, water, a snack, appropriate footwear, sunscreen, sunglasses, hats and whatever else you may need avoid too much sun. These locations can either be quite cool or very warm depending on the day so dress for any weather. A pocket knife or multi-tool can be handy and a sledge hammer or mallet can be helpful to bring. Plan for heavy lifting and toting, but be mindful of your safety. Less intensive work needed includes stringing posts and putting up signs. Please email us at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com if you can make it to any or all of these dates, and thank you!

New Monitor Field Training 4/14

Good afternoon!

New monitor field training will take place this Saturday, April 14, from 10am-12pm at Long Beach in Stratford. Long Beach is located at the end of Oak Bluff Avenue. Once you drive in past the entrance booth head down to the western end where the group will assemble. There is ample parking and no permits or stickers are required as it is early in the season. This is the best chance for new monitors to learn the proper field techniques for monitoring our focal species from CT DEEP and AAfCW staff. Please make every effort to be there if you have just joined us in 2018, and it should be a beautiful day. Thank you!