Menunketesuck Island fencing and more

Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds field staff has been extremely busy seven days a week with both assisting CT DEEP in exclosing four egg Piping Plover nests and continuing to add fencing and signage to locations with terns moving in, American Oystercatcher nests, and so forth. Yesterday our staff visited the critical Menunketesuck Island in Westbrook to continue this effort.

Elizabeth Amendola and Luis Martin completed this work and Elizabeth snapped a couple of shots before they left the island.

 

Looking good! Our staff being so busy does mean that there are many waterbirds nesting in Connecticut and we will do our best to ensure the maximum number of young fledge and head south in the coming months.

AAfCW 2014 Volunteer Update #8

This is the eighth weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2014 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern and Common Tern from May 19 through 4:00 p.m. on May 27 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff spanning that period.

Informational updates:

Thank you to all of the monitors who spent extra time out on the beach last weekend! We educated and spoke to hundreds of beachgoers in the beautiful weather. We also had the first Piping Plover hatchlings of 2014 at Griswold Point and then Milford Point and Sandy/Morse Points. This will pick up very rapidly now with many young emerging in the next couple of weeks as our terns begin to nest as well. Please monitor as much as you can in this critical time!

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover
1 pair, 7 adults, 1 nest at Griswold Point on 5/19
1 pair, 1 nest at Harkness Memorial State Park on 5/19
2 adults at Bluff Point on 5/19
1 adult, 1 nest at Shell Avenue Milford on 5/19
2 adults at Milford Point on 5/20
2 pairs, 6 adults, 8 nests at Milford Point on 5/20
4 pairs, 3 nests at Long Beach on 5/20
1 pair, 1 nest at Pleasure Beach on 5/20
9 adults, 4 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/20
1 pair, 2 adults, 3 nests at Long Beach on 5/20
3 pairs, 12 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/20
2 adults at Sandy Point Stonington on 5/20
3 pairs, 2 adults, 5 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/21
1 nest at Peck Ave. Beach, West Haven on 5/21
4 adults, 8 nests at Milford Point on 5/21
1 adult at Short Beach on 5/21
2 pairs, 5 adults, 4 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/21
2 pairs, 4 adults, 4 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/21
2 pairs, 4 adults, 2 nests at Long Beach on 5/21
1 adult at Short Beach on 5/22
14 adults, 8 nests at Milford Point on 5/23
2 pairs, 6 adults, 8 nests at Milford Point on 5/23
1 pair, 1 nest at East Broadway Milford on 5/23
3 pairs at Bluff Point on 5/23
12 adults, 3 hatchlings, 4 nests at Griswold Point on 5/24
1 pair, 1 nest at Shell Avenue Milford on 5/24
4 pairs, 2 adults, 5 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/24
1 nest at Peck Ave. Beach, West Haven on 5/24
6 pairs, 2 adults, 8 nests at Milford Point on 5/24
4 pairs, 1 adult, 4 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/24
8 pairs, 8 nests at Milford Point on 5/25
1 pair, 1 nest at Shell Avenue Milford on 5/25
8 pairs, 8 nests at Milford Point on 5/25
1 pair, 1 nest at Short Beach on 5/25
8 pairs, 4 hatchlings, 7 nests at Griswold Point on 5/25
4 pairs, 1 adult, 3 nests at Bluff Point on 5/25
2 pairs, 4 adults at Long Beach on 5/25
2 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/25
6 pairs, 3 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/26
4 pairs, 3 nests at Long Beach on 5/26
1 pair, 1 nest at Pleasure Beach on 5/26
8 pairs, 4 hatchlings, 7 nests at Milford Point on 5/26
1 adult at Milford Point on 5/26
3 pairs, 5 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/26
3 pairs, 1 adult, 3 nests at Long Beach on 5/27
15 adults, 2 hatchlings, 4 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/27

American Oystercatcher
1 pair at Griswold Point on 5/19
1 pair at Bluff Point on 5/19
4 pairs at Cockenoe Island on 5/19
1 pair at Chimon Island on 5/19
2 pairs at Long Beach Island on 5/19
1 pair, 1 nest at Rocky Island on 5/19
1 pair at Fish Islands on 5/20
3 pairs, 1 adult, 1 nest at Menunketesuck Island on 5/20
1 pair, 1 adult, 1 nest at Duck Island on 5/20
1 pair at Salt Island on 5/20
3 adults, 2 nests at Milford Point on 5/20
1 adult at Tuxis Island on 5/20
4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/20
1 pair, 1 nest at Milford Point on 5/20
1 adult at Long Beach on 5/20
2 adults at Penfield Reef on 5/20
2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/20
9 pairs, 9 nests at Sandy Point Stonington on 5/20
2 pairs, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/21
4 adults at Milford Point on 5/21
2 adults at Short Beach on 5/21
2 pairs, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/21
3 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/21
1 adult at Sixpenny Island on 5/21
1 adult at Ram Island on 5/21
2 adults at Long Beach on 5/21
1 adult at Quinnipeag Rocks on 5/22
2 pairs, 1 adult at Milford Point on 5/23
2 pairs, 1 nest at Milford Point on 5/23
1 adult at Bluff Point on 5/23
1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/24
2 pairs, 2 nests at Milford Point on 5/24
2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/24
2 adults at Milford Point on 5/25
2 pairs, 1 adult, 2 nests at Milford Point on 5/25
1 pair, 4 adults at Bluff Point on 5/25
2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/26
2 pairs, 2 nests at Milford Point on 5/26
4 adults at Milford Point on 5/26
3 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/26
1 pair at Long Beach on 5/27
2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/27

Least Tern
4 adults at Griswold Point on 5/19
1 adult at Harkness Memorial State Park on 5/19
1 adult at Bluff Point on 5/19
38 adults at Shell Avenue Milford on 5/19
4 adults at Norwalk Island Area on 5/19
18 adults at Milford Point on 5/20
12 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/20
17 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/20
3 pairs, 19 adults at Milford Point on 5/20
5 pairs, 30 adults at Long Beach on 5/20
10 adults at Long Beach on 5/20
27 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/20
3 adults at Barn Island on 5/20
7 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/21
20 adults at Milford Point on 5/21
5 adults at Short Beach on 5/21
2 pairs, 14 adults at Long Beach on 5/21
50 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/21
20 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/21
2 pairs, 5 adults at Long Beach on 5/21
1 pair, 1 adult at Short Beach on 5/22
20 adults at Milford Point on 5/23
10 adults at Bluff Point on 5/23
9 adults at Sasco Hill Beach on 5/24
35 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/24
150 adults at Milford Point on 5/25
15 adults at Milford Point on 5/26
1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/26
24 adults at Long Beach on 5/27
10 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/27

Common Tern
5 adults at Shell Avenue Milford on 5/19
5 pairs at Cockenoe Sand Spit on 5/19
1 pair at Westbrook Beach on 5/20
1 adult at Silver Sands State Park on 5/20
4 adults at Milford Point on 5/20
25 adults at Long Beach on 5/20
2 adults at Pleasure Beach on 5/20
3 adults at Penfield Reef on 5/20
4 adults at Long Beach on 5/20
2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/20
1 pair at Tuxis Island on 5/21
1 pair at Grass Island on 5/21
1 pair, 2 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/21
10 adults at Milford Point on 5/21
5 adults at Short Beach on 5/21
1 pair, 15 adults at Long Beach on 5/21
2 pairs, 11 adults at Sandy/Morse Point on 5/21
4 adults at Long Beach on 5/21
6 adults at Milford Point on 5/23
14 adults at Sandy/Morse Point on 5/24
15 adults at Peck Ave. Beach, West Haven on 5/24
2 adults at Milford Point on 5/24
12 adults at Sasco Hill Beach on 5/24
1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/24
4 pairs, 15 adults at Long Beach on 5/25
12 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/25
6 adults at Sandy/Morse Point on 5/26
3 adults at Long Beach on 5/26
12 adults at Milford Point on 5/26
2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/26
6 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/27

This concludes update #8 through 5/27/14 as of 5:00 p.m.

Share the shore this weekend!

Please see the "TIP SHEET: Sharing Our Shores with Shorebirds" below or open the original PDF version by clicking here. Spread the word!

Talking about waterbirds

This past Wednesday, May 21, President & Executive Director of the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History Dr. Twan Leenders spoke at RTPI on various topics that included the initiatives we are participating in to engage more people in environmental outreach and stewardship efforts. RTPI became an official partner in the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds this season to bolster the already impressive efforts across Connecticut and spread the word of our mission even further.

Twan explained to our audience how AAfCW functions with our volunteer monitors being deployed across the state working with our seasonal staff as well as CT DEEP and USFWS.

 

Twan also spoke on the species involved like the Piping Plover.

 

With tomorrow being Memorial Day weekend we hope you will be speaking to as many people as you can on the beach - or anywhere - about our waterbirds and why sharing the beach is important. Let's get everyone we can to be amazed at what our "backyard" has to offer and energized to get to know our natural "neighbors" a little better!

AAfCW 2014 Volunteer Update #7

This is the seventh weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2014 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern and Common Tern from May 12 through 4:00 p.m. on May 19 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff spanning that period.

Informational updates:

All is running smoothly with our waterbirds for the most part thus far this season. After a slow start we have many nests of Piping Plover and American Oystercatcher across our beaches with at least sightings of birds nearly everywhere. Least Terns and Common Terns will be starting to pair off to nest in the coming weeks.

Please remember that next weekend is Memorial Day. The holiday will mean busier beaches with a lot more traffic, especially if the weather is cooperative. Many of these visitors will not know about our birds or why they're important and need to be educated on what is happening on the beach. If you have any extra time to monitor outside of your usual shifts please try to visit any of our beaches next Saturday, Sunday and Monday during this critical nesting time at the unofficial beginning of summer. Thank you in advance!

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover
6 pairs, 6 nests at Milford Point on 5/12
1 adult at Russian Beach on 5/12
2 pairs, 1 adult, 2 nests at Long Beach on 5/12
1 pair at Pleasure Beach on 5/12

3 pairs, 8 adults, 5 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/12

2 adults at Harkness Memorial State Park on 5/13
1 pair at Silver Sands State Park on 5/13
2 pairs, 1 adult, 2 nests at Long Beach on 5/13
3 pairs, 3 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/13

2 pairs at Long Beach on 5/13

2 pairs, 8 adults, 4 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/13

1 adult, 1 nest at Peck Ave. Beach, West Haven on 5/13

4 pairs, 1 adult, 4 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/14
1 pair, 1 nest at Peck Ave. Beach, West Haven on 5/14
3 pairs, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 5/14
8 pairs, 6 nests at Griswold Point on 5/14
1 pair at East Broadway Milford on 5/14
8 adults, 4 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/14

5 pairs, 3 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/14

1 pair at Sandy Point Stonington on 5/14

6 pairs, 1 adult, 7 nests at Milford Point on 5/15
4 pairs, 4 nests at Milford Point on 5/15
2 adults, 2 nests at Long Beach on 5/15

2 pairs at Griswold Point on 5/15
1 pair, 4 adults, 4 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/15

1 pair, 1 nest at Shell Avenue Milford on 5/16

2 pairs, 1 adult, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 5/16

3 pairs, 3 nests at Long Beach on 5/17

4 pairs at Long Beach on 5/17

1 pair, 2 adults, 2 nests at Long Beach on 5/18

2 pairs, 2 adults, 2 nests at Long Beach on 5/18

1 pair, 6 adults, 4 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/18

3 adults, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/19

American Oystercatcher
1 pair at Salt Island on 5/12
3 pairs, 1 adult, 1 nest at Menunketesuck Island on 5/12
1 pair, 1 nest at Duck Island on 5/12
2 pairs, 2 nests at Milford Point on 5/12

3 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/12

1 pair at Rocky Island on 5/12

2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/13
1 pair at Compo Beach on 5/13
1 pair at Long Beach on 5/13

1 pair at Long Beach on 5/13

2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/13

3 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/14
1 pair at Bluff Point on 5/14
1 pair, 1 nest at Griswold Point on 5/14
2 adults at Thimble Islands on 5/14
4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/14
1 pair, 1 nest at Milford Point on 5/15
4 adults at Milford Point on 5/15
4 adults at Long Beach on 5/15

9 pairs, 9 nests at Sandy Point Stonington on 5/15

1 adult at Dodges Island on 5/15
1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/15
2 adults at Pleasure Beach on 5/15

1 pair at Bluff Point on 5/16

4 adults at Long Beach on 5/17

1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/18

1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/19

Least Tern
4 adults at Menunketesuck Island on 5/12
5 pairs, 22 adults at Milford Point on 5/12
2 pairs at Long Beach on 5/12
3 adults at Pleasure Beach on 5/12
12 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/12

7 adults at Griswold Point on 5/13
2 adults at Harkness Memorial State Park on 5/13
10 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/13
2 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/13
15 adults at Long Beach on 5/13

6 adults at Long Beach on 5/13

12 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/13

10 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/14
5 adults at Bluff Point on 5/14
8 adults at Griswold Point on 5/14
8 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/14
2 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/14
10 adults at Milford Point on 5/15
30 adults at Milford Point on 5/15
18 adults at Long Beach on 5/15

1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/15

1 pair at Bluff Point on 5/16
10 adults at Long Beach on 5/17

3 adults at Pleasure Beach on 5/17

6 pairs at Long Beach on 5/18

1 pair, 2 adults at Pleasure Beach on 5/18

6 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/19

Common Tern
4 adults at Milford Point on 5/12
4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/12

1 pair at Compo Beach on 5/13
1 pair, 2 adults at Sandy/Morse Point on 5/14
1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/14
3 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/15
6 adults at Milford Point on 5/15
3 adults at Long Beach on 5/15

2 pairs at Sandy Point Stonington on 5/15

4 adults at Penfield Reef on 5/17

6 adults at Long Beach on 5/18

11 adults at Long Beach on 5/18

3 adults at Pleasure Beach on 5/18

7 adults at Sherwood Island on 5/18

This concludes update #7 through 5/19/14 as of 5:00 p.m.