AAfCW 2019 Volunteer Update #2

This is the second regular weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2019 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern and Common Tern from May 6 through 12:00pm on May 13 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff spanning the period.

Informational updates:

We continue to find nests regularly now that we have entered mid-May and our Piping Plovers and American Oystercatchers have started breeding. Please remember to also report these nests directly to Rebecca.Foster@ct.gov and Laura.Saucier@ct.gov as well as ctwaterbirds@gmail.com. However, rain continues on a frequent basis, and we have had numerous monitoring sessions by volunteers and staff canceled every week. Please remember to stay home on inclement weather days. This includes the recent unseasonable temperatures below 50 degrees.

Least and Common Terns have returned at their usual May date and are slowly trickling into the state. Expect to see a handful turn into larger groups soon. They will take some time to court before nesting, and it will be a couple weeks before we get to that point. Please report them in the same way you do our plovers and oystercatchers.

When monitoring please bear in mind we want to prioritize the safety of our birds over precise data, photographs, and so forth. Maintaining a comfortable distance from birds and string fencing at all times is definitely more important. Reporting monitoring observations using the online data entry form is still the best method to submit your information. Alternatively, you can use plain text emails or eBird checklists shared with us, but please be sure to include all details required. Please remember to email us directly at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com if you have any questions or run into any problems.

Lastly, monitors and staff have started to receive parking passes from West Haven. Please remember you must have this in your car at all times when in the parking lot while monitoring or you will be ticketed by the City. Thank you all for all your hard work!

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover
1 adult, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/6
3 pairs, 6 adults, 2 nests at Long Beach on 5/6
1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/6
1 pair, 8 adults, 4 nests at Long Beach on 5/7
11 adults at Milford Point on 5/7
3 adults, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/8
1 pair at Silver Sands on 5/8
1 pair, 6 adults, 6 nests at Long Beach on 5/9
5 adults, 1 nest at Milford Point on 5/9
1 pair at Silver Sands on 5/9
6 pairs, 1 adult, 3 nests at Bluff Point on 5/10
1 pair, 6 adults, 3 nests at Bluff Point on 5/10
1 pair at Silver Sands on 5/10
7 adults, 5 nests at Milford Point on 5/11

American Oystercatcher
1 pair, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/6
1 pair, 2 adults, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/6
1 pair at Long Beach on 5/7
10 adults at Milford Point on 5/7
4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/8
1 pair, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/9
3 pairs, 3 nests at Milford Point on 5/9
2 pairs, 1 adult, 2 nests at Bluff Point on 5/10
3 pairs, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 5/10
4 pairs, 1 nest at Milford Point on 5/11

Least Tern
13 adults at Long Beach on 5/6
8 adults at Long Beach on 5/7
1 adult at Milford Point on 5/7

Common Tern
2 adults at Stratford Point on 5/6
3 adults at Milford Point on 5/9
2 adults at Bluff Point on 5/10
1 pair at Bluff Point on 5/10

This concludes update #2 through 5/13/18 as of 6:00 p.m.