Good afternoon everyone!
It has been an exceptionally poor weather period for monitoring our Piping Plovers and American Oystercatchers with more rain to come this week. You will want to stay home instead of visiting the beach during rain or temperatures under 50 degrees. New nests are appearing nearly every day despite it all, and our staff is working to keep an eye on things safely during the inclement conditions. Some nests will be lost due to higher tides, rainfall, and temperatures.
Remember that Piping Plover nests will be exclosed if they reach four eggs and the pair accepts the exclosure. We do not need egg counts from your monitoring visits - only the presence/absence of a nest, and a visual sighting from afar to confirm the adults are incubating.
If you have not picked up an official monitoring badge from CT DEEP for 2023, please be advised they have been restocked at Milford Point. We apologize for the break in supply. They are also available at the Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center in Old Lyme. All badges are currently in the field or in the hands of staff, so none can be mailed. However, if you are unable to visit Milford or Old Lyme, please let us know as Rebecca has kindly offered to make arrangements to meet you in person to hand off a badge to you.
Thank you all, and fingers crossed for some more sunny skies and warm air soon.
Best,
Scott Kruitbosch
AAfCW Volunteer Coordinator
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