This is the second weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2015 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover and American Oystercatcher from April 6 through 4:00 p.m. on April 13 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff spanning that period.
Informational updates:
A huge thank you to all of the volunteers who have assisted us with fencing thus far at Long Beach, Sandy/Morse Points, and Griswold Point. Please remember we have one more main fencing operation:
April 16th, 11:00 Bluff Point, Groton
Meet in the parking area and CT DEEP will shuttle people out to the beach.
Remember that any and all volunteers are welcome including those who are not monitors. The date is rain or shine, and the weather looks to be lovely. Volunteers should bring: work gloves, water, a snack, appropriate footwear, sunscreen, sunglasses, hats and whatever else you may need avoid too much sun. It 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. Please email us at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com if you can make it.
If you could not make it to yesterday's field training or have not already matched up with a master monitor and still would like help on the beach, please email us. These more temperate and typical weather conditions should make for perfect monitoring this week. Please enjoy your monitoring and remember to report all the breeding information and details you can about Piping Plovers and American Oystercatchers from their behavior to any human disturbances, if they are paired off or defending territory, potential predators or whatever else you feel is relevant. The more information we have the better.
Please also keep in mind that both Least and Common Terns will return right at May 1. If you have any questions on any topic feel free to email us anytime. Thank you, and good luck!
Survey and monitoring updates:
Piping Plover
1 pair, 2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/6
1 adult at Long Beach on 4/8
1 pair, 1 adult at Long Beach on 4/8
3 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/8
5 pairs at Milford Point on 4/9
1 pair at Shell Avenue Milford on 4/9
4 pairs, 2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/10
1 adult at Long Beach on 4/10
3 pairs, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/12
1 pair at Short Beach on 4/12
1 pair at Shell Avenue Milford on 4/12
1 pair at Shell Beach Milford on 4/12
1 pair at Long Beach on 4/12
2 pairs at Bluff Point on 4/12
2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/13
American Oystercatcher
1 pair, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/6
1 adult at Stratford Point on 4/6
1 adult at Stratford Point on 4/7
1 pair at Long Beach on 4/8
2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/8
3 pairs at Milford Point on 4/9
2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/10
2 pairs, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/12
1 pair at Long Beach on 4/12
1 pair, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/13
This concludes update #2 through 4/13/15 as of 5:00 p.m.
PIPL
Monday, April 13, 2015
Slow Piping Plovers
This year has been rather cold – talk about news you did not need to know, huh? Even though temperatures have been much closer to average in recent days there is still not a lot of action on the breeding birds front, with these distant looks at Piping Plovers feeding in the middle of a marsh on a chilly, windy morning yesterday showing they are not nesting yet.
Nights with lows near freezing will keep eggs at bay for the moment, but we at the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds continue to be extremely busy putting up fencing and signage, reporting migrants, recording pairs and breeding behaviors, and educating the public at beaches across Connecticut.
Nights with lows near freezing will keep eggs at bay for the moment, but we at the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds continue to be extremely busy putting up fencing and signage, reporting migrants, recording pairs and breeding behaviors, and educating the public at beaches across Connecticut.
Thursday, April 9, 2015
Field Training & Fencing
On Sunday, April 12 CT DEEP and AAfCW will hold a beach/field training
session geared for new volunteers on how to monitor and collect data for
Piping Plovers and Least Terns from 10AM until 12PM at Sandy/Morse
Points in West Haven. The group will meet at the parking lot before
venturing out to the beach. Follow this link for driving directions and
additional information on the site: http://www.lisrc.uconn.
Everyone should dress for walking the beach and remember appropriate footwear, sunscreen, sunglasses, hats, a jacket and whatever else you may need avoid too much sun and stay warm on what can be a windy and chilly beach in April. You should also bring a snack, water, binoculars and a spotting scope if you have one.
Please volunteer to help us at the following string fencing and signage dates!
April 10th, 11:00 Sandy Point, West Haven
Meet in the parking lot.
April 13th, 9:30 Griswold Point, Old Lyme
We recommend carpooling if possible which can be done at the park and ride commuter lot off exit 70 of Interstate 95 on Neck Road. The nearby businesses also have the only available restrooms. The group will meet up at the end of the private Griswold Point Lane for a 9:30AM start.
April 16th, 11:00 Bluff Point, Groton
Meet in the parking area and CT DEEP will shuttle people out to the beach.
Everyone should dress for walking the beach and remember appropriate footwear, sunscreen, sunglasses, hats, a jacket and whatever else you may need avoid too much sun and stay warm on what can be a windy and chilly beach in April. You should also bring a snack, water, binoculars and a spotting scope if you have one.
Please volunteer to help us at the following string fencing and signage dates!
April 10th, 11:00 Sandy Point, West Haven
Meet in the parking lot.
April 13th, 9:30 Griswold Point, Old Lyme
We recommend carpooling if possible which can be done at the park and ride commuter lot off exit 70 of Interstate 95 on Neck Road. The nearby businesses also have the only available restrooms. The group will meet up at the end of the private Griswold Point Lane for a 9:30AM start.
April 16th, 11:00 Bluff Point, Groton
Meet in the parking area and CT DEEP will shuttle people out to the beach.
Thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday at Long Beach where we also saw 1 pair of American Oystercatcher, 1 pair and 1 adult Piping Plover. Please email us at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com if you will be joining us for fencing if you have not already.
Monday, April 6, 2015
AAfCW 2015 Volunteer Update #1
This is the first weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2015 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover and American Oystercatcher from March 17 through 4:00 p.m. on April 6 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff spanning that period.
Informational updates:
On Sunday, April 12 CT DEEP and AAfCW will hold a beach/field training session geared for new volunteers on how to monitor and collect data for Piping Plovers and Least Terns from 10AM until 12PM at Sandy/Morse Points in West Haven. The group will meet at the parking lot before venturing out to the beach. Follow this link for driving directions and additional information on the site: http://www.lisrc.uconn.edu/coastalaccess/site.asp?siteid=383
Everyone should dress for walking the beach and remember appropriate footwear, sunscreen, sunglasses, hats, a jacket and whatever else you may need avoid too much sun and stay warm on what can be a windy and chilly beach in April. You should also bring a snack, water, binoculars and a spotting scope if you have one.
Please volunteer to help us at the following string fencing and signage dates!
April 8th, 11:00 Long Beach, Stratford
Meet at the far west parking area.
April 10th, 11:00 Sandy Point, West Haven
Meet in the parking lot.
April 13th, 9:30 Griswold Point, Old Lyme
We recommend carpooling if possible which can be done at the park and ride commuter lot off exit 70 of Interstate 95 on Neck Road. The nearby businesses also have the only available restrooms. The group will meet up at the end of the private Griswold Point Lane for a 9:30AM start.
April 16th, 11:00 Bluff Point, Groton
Meet in the parking area and CT DEEP will shuttle people out to the beach.
April 20th, Cockenoe Island, Westport. Only a few volunteers can be taken. Please email USFWS Wildlife Biologist Kristina Vagos at kristina_vagos@fws.gov for more details and to sign up.
Remember that any and all volunteers are welcome including those who are not monitors. These dates are rain or shine, but snow or thunderstorms will postpone them. 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. Please email us at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com if you can make it to any of those first four dates.
Lastly, please schedule your monitoring now if you have not already. Thank you, and good luck on the beaches!
Survey and monitoring updates:
Piping Plover
1 adult at Milford Point on 3/17
4 adults at Milford Point on 3/19
9 adults at Milford Point on 3/22
2 adults at Griswold Point on 3/22
2 pairs, 9 adults at Milford Point on 3/27
2 adults at Bluff Point on 3/27
4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 3/28
2 adults at Bluff Point on 3/29
1 pair, 10 adults at Milford Point on 3/29
12 adults at Griswold Point on 3/29
1 adult at Bluff Point on 3/29
3 pairs at Milford Point on 3/31
3 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/2
6 pairs, 1 adult at Milford Point on 4/2
1 pair, 4 adults at Bluff Point on 4/2
2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/4
4 adults at Long Beach on 4/4
2 adults at Long Beach on 4/4
1 pair at Milford Point on 4/4
1 pair at Long Beach on 4/5
2 pairs, 5 adults at Milford Point on 4/5
American Oystercatcher
1 pair at Milford Point on 3/22
1 pair at Milford Point on 3/27
2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 3/28
1 adult at Bluff Point on 3/29
1 pair at Bluff Point on 3/29
2 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 3/30
4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 3/30
2 pairs at Milford Point on 3/31
1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/2
2 pairs at Milford Point on 4/2
1 pair at Trumbull Avenue Beach on 4/2
2 adults at Bluff Point on 4/2
1 pair, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/4
2 pairs at Long Beach on 4/4
2 pairs at Milford Point on 4/4
2 pairs at Milford Point on 4/5
This concludes update #1 through 4/6/15 as of 5:00 p.m.
Informational updates:
On Sunday, April 12 CT DEEP and AAfCW will hold a beach/field training session geared for new volunteers on how to monitor and collect data for Piping Plovers and Least Terns from 10AM until 12PM at Sandy/Morse Points in West Haven. The group will meet at the parking lot before venturing out to the beach. Follow this link for driving directions and additional information on the site: http://www.lisrc.uconn.edu/coastalaccess/site.asp?siteid=383
Everyone should dress for walking the beach and remember appropriate footwear, sunscreen, sunglasses, hats, a jacket and whatever else you may need avoid too much sun and stay warm on what can be a windy and chilly beach in April. You should also bring a snack, water, binoculars and a spotting scope if you have one.
Please volunteer to help us at the following string fencing and signage dates!
April 8th, 11:00 Long Beach, Stratford
Meet at the far west parking area.
April 10th, 11:00 Sandy Point, West Haven
Meet in the parking lot.
April 13th, 9:30 Griswold Point, Old Lyme
We recommend carpooling if possible which can be done at the park and ride commuter lot off exit 70 of Interstate 95 on Neck Road. The nearby businesses also have the only available restrooms. The group will meet up at the end of the private Griswold Point Lane for a 9:30AM start.
April 16th, 11:00 Bluff Point, Groton
Meet in the parking area and CT DEEP will shuttle people out to the beach.
April 20th, Cockenoe Island, Westport. Only a few volunteers can be taken. Please email USFWS Wildlife Biologist Kristina Vagos at kristina_vagos@fws.gov for more details and to sign up.
Remember that any and all volunteers are welcome including those who are not monitors. These dates are rain or shine, but snow or thunderstorms will postpone them. 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. Please email us at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com if you can make it to any of those first four dates.
Lastly, please schedule your monitoring now if you have not already. Thank you, and good luck on the beaches!
Survey and monitoring updates:
Piping Plover
1 adult at Milford Point on 3/17
4 adults at Milford Point on 3/19
9 adults at Milford Point on 3/22
2 adults at Griswold Point on 3/22
2 pairs, 9 adults at Milford Point on 3/27
2 adults at Bluff Point on 3/27
4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 3/28
2 adults at Bluff Point on 3/29
1 pair, 10 adults at Milford Point on 3/29
12 adults at Griswold Point on 3/29
1 adult at Bluff Point on 3/29
3 pairs at Milford Point on 3/31
3 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/2
6 pairs, 1 adult at Milford Point on 4/2
1 pair, 4 adults at Bluff Point on 4/2
2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/4
4 adults at Long Beach on 4/4
2 adults at Long Beach on 4/4
1 pair at Milford Point on 4/4
1 pair at Long Beach on 4/5
2 pairs, 5 adults at Milford Point on 4/5
American Oystercatcher
1 pair at Milford Point on 3/22
1 pair at Milford Point on 3/27
2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 3/28
1 adult at Bluff Point on 3/29
1 pair at Bluff Point on 3/29
2 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 3/30
4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 3/30
2 pairs at Milford Point on 3/31
1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/2
2 pairs at Milford Point on 4/2
1 pair at Trumbull Avenue Beach on 4/2
2 adults at Bluff Point on 4/2
1 pair, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/4
2 pairs at Long Beach on 4/4
2 pairs at Milford Point on 4/4
2 pairs at Milford Point on 4/5
This concludes update #1 through 4/6/15 as of 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Fencing Dates & Monitoring Begins!
String fencing and signage erection dates for Connecticut beaches in spring 2015 are as follows and we need all the volunteers we can get!
April 13th, 9:30 Griswold Point, Old Lyme
Remember that any and all volunteers are welcome including those who are not monitors. These dates are rain or shine, but snow or thunderstorms will postpone them.
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. Please email us at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com if you can make it to any of those first four dates.
Thank you all very much and enjoy the beginning of field season which kicks off today. Thanks again to those of you who have submitted your schedule for this spring and summer, and if you have not already please send it to ctwaterbirds@gmail.com as soon as you can. We plan to hold a field training session that will be especially helpful for new monitors, and it will likely be on April 11 or 12 at Sandy/Morse Points in West Haven. Final details will follow in the next few days. A few monitors have been hitting the beaches already, reporting occasional pairs of American Oystercatchers and a slowing growing population of Piping Plovers. The cold weather and snow is delaying them so far this year, but territories are being created at locations like Milford Point with pairs being seen. We will send out the first report of data and observations next Monday.
April 8th, 11:00 Long Beach, Stratford
Meet at the far west parking area.
April 10th, 11:00 Sandy Point, West Haven
Meet in the parking lot.
April 13th, 9:30 Griswold Point, Old Lyme
We recommend carpooling if possible which can be done at the park and
ride commuter lot off exit 70 of Interstate 95 on Neck Road. The nearby
businesses also have the only available restrooms. The group will meet
up at the end of the private Griswold Point Lane for a 9:30AM start.
April 16th, 11:00 Bluff Point, Groton
Meet in the parking area and CT DEEP will shuttle people out to the beach.
April 20th, Cockenoe Island. Only a few volunteers can be taken. Please email USFWS Wildlife Biologist Kristina Vagos at kristina_vagos@fws.gov for more details and to sign up.
April 20th, Cockenoe Island. Only a few volunteers can be taken. Please email USFWS Wildlife Biologist Kristina Vagos at kristina_vagos@fws.gov for more details and to sign up.
Remember that any and all volunteers are welcome including those who are not monitors. These dates are rain or shine, but snow or thunderstorms will postpone them.
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. Please email us at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com if you can make it to any of those first four dates.
Thank you all very much and enjoy the beginning of field season which kicks off today. Thanks again to those of you who have submitted your schedule for this spring and summer, and if you have not already please send it to ctwaterbirds@gmail.com as soon as you can. We plan to hold a field training session that will be especially helpful for new monitors, and it will likely be on April 11 or 12 at Sandy/Morse Points in West Haven. Final details will follow in the next few days. A few monitors have been hitting the beaches already, reporting occasional pairs of American Oystercatchers and a slowing growing population of Piping Plovers. The cold weather and snow is delaying them so far this year, but territories are being created at locations like Milford Point with pairs being seen. We will send out the first report of data and observations next Monday.
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