American Oystercatchers on Reef Balls

Here are a couple of American Oystercatchers on the reef balls at Stratford Point earlier this summer. 

That boat going by them in the background is a good reminder of how much boating and offshore human recreation and related activities can impact this species in particular. While we have some oystercatchers nesting on our beaches, the majority of the Connecticut population makes itself home on our offshore islands. It is difficult to find and track all of them across the state, but our amazing field staff does just that annually! 2020 added in some complications, to be sure, and we will be continuing to track them over the next few months as they stage and begin to migrate, with additional individuals already coming into the state on their way south. Fall migration is upon us!