AAfCW Field Update #9

Second to last update of the season!

After today, there will only be one more field update for the 2025 season! Although our season does not officially end until August 31st, we are already starting to compile all of this year's nesting data. Please be sure to submit all monitoring reports as soon as possible. If you have older reports that you forgot to submit earlier in the season, that is okay! Please be sure to submit those reports to us as well. Any and all data is valuable to us!

If you are interested in assisting Audubon and CT DEEP staff with fencing removal, please see below for details about upcoming fencing removal events and RSVP by emailing ctwaterbirds@gmail.com

• Sandy Point, West Haven: Tues 8/26 @ 10am (due to parking restrictions, we can only accommodate volunteers who already monitor at Sandy Point or those who are West Haven residents)
• Griswold Point, Old Lyme: Tues 9/2 @ 11am

During fencing removal, volunteer tasks include pulling wooden stakes out of the ground, wrapping spools of string, and carrying signage off of the beach. If you would like to join us, please bring sunscreen, a hat, work gloves, a pocketknife/multitool and LOTS of water (remember that it can get very hot on the beach in the middle of the day!) Do not attempt to carry too many stakes as there will be enough staff and volunteers that no one should overexert themselves. Remember to take breaks when needed. As always, please reach out to ctwaterbirds@gmail.com if you have any questions!

Volunteer Spotlight:

I would like to introduce you all to the subject of this week's volunteer spotlight, Amy Traggianese!

Where do you conduct your shorebird monitoring? 

For the last four years I have monitored the shorebirds at Milford Point. During two of those years, I also monitored Sandy/Morse Points in West Haven.

How did you learn about the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds volunteer program? 

My husband saw information about the volunteer program online. I had just retired from teaching, and was always interested in birds, Piping Plovers in particular. I had never seen one close up!  COVID19 was still a big problem at that time, so it was a great activity for me to do outside.

What is your favorite part of volunteering as a shorebird monitor?

My favorite part of shorebird monitoring is that I am doing my small part to help these threatened birds. As a bonus, I have learned a lot about the four species and nature conservation in general. I also enjoy answering questions from the public about the birds and their habitat.

One of my favorite memories of monitoring was when I actually saw my first Piping Plover on Milford Point. I was SO excited, and that little bird became my spark bird! Ever since I have been birding in my yard and anywhere else I can. I consider myself a citizen scientist and report on eBird and iNaturalist. My husband and I bird around Connecticut and when we travel. In the last four years, we have birded up and down the East coast, in Iceland, and in many National Parks.

Another great monitoring day was the time I noticed a tiny Diamondback Terrapin at Milford Point. It was about the size of a quarter! At first, I wasn’t sure if it was dead or alive… until it blinked! I was happy to add that little creature to the data I submitted that day.

Diamondback Terrapin hatchling. Photo: Amy Traggianese

What do you do outside of your volunteer work?

As a retired art educator, I’m also an artist, so when I’m not monitoring or birding, I’m creating! The last few years I have focused on collage, crochet and weaving. Cooking and baking are also some of my favorite things to do. I’m also an avid reader and enjoy non-fiction books and biographies.

Latest Monitoring Data:

Here is a summary of all volunteer-collected data submitted between August 9th and August 22nd, 2025.

• Number of volunteer reports submitted: 47
• Total volunteer monitoring hours: 68
• Number of beachgoers engaged in conversations about birds/conservation: 58

Piping Plover. Photo: Camilla Cerea/Audubon

Piping Plover Data Summary

Piping Plover Individual Adult Observations

There were individual adult Piping Plover observed at Long Beach, Milford Point, Silver Sands, Sandy Point, and Bluff Point between August 9th and August 22nd.

American Oystercatchers. Photo: Emily Hampton/Audubon Photography Awards

American Oystercatcher Data Summary

American Oystercatcher Individual Adult Observations

There were individual adult American Oystercatchers observed at Long Beach, Milford Point, and Sandy Point between August 9th and August 22nd.

Common Tern. Photo: Luke Franke/Audubon

Common Tern Data Summary

Adult Common Tern Observations

There were Common Terns observed at Long Beach, Milford Point, Sandy Point, and Waterford Town Beach between August 9th and August 22nd.

Least Tern. Photo: Steve Dimock/Audubon Photography Awards

Least Tern Data Summary

Adult Least Tern Observations

There were Least Terns observed at Long Beach, Milford Point, Sandy Point, Griswold Point, Waterford Town Beach, and Bluff Point between August 9th and August 22nd.

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Thank you all for your time and dedication towards protecting our shorebirds! 

Marissa

Audubon CT Volunteer Coordinator

**All photos are licensed for use through the National Audubon Society. Audubon Connecticut is a state office of the National Audubon Society**

AAfCW Field Update #8

The final stretch!

We have officially entered the last month of the shorebird breeding season. Over the next several weeks, birds will leave our beaches, and we will continue our clean-up efforts to remove fencing and signage from all sites across the shoreline until the 2026 breeding season begins next spring. We kindly ask that volunteers continue monitoring through the official end date of August 31st to help us capture data on birds that are still present at our beaches.

If you are interested in assisting Audubon and CT DEEP staff with fencing removal, please see below for details about upcoming fencing removal events and RSVP by emailing ctwaterbirds@gmail.com

• Long Beach, Stratford (beaches 1&2 only): Thurs 8/21 @ 10 am
• Sandy Point, West Haven: Tues 8/26 @ 10 am
• Griswold Point, Old Lyme: Tues 9/2 @ 11 am

Volunteer tasks include pulling wooden stakes out of the ground, wrapping spools of string, and carrying signage off of the beach. If you would like to join us, please bring sunscreen, a hat, work gloves, and LOTS of water (remember that it can get very hot on the beach in the middle of the day!). Do not attempt to carry too many stakes as there will be enough staff and volunteers that no one should overexert themselves. Remember to take breaks when needed. As always, please reach out to ctwaterbirds@gmail.com if you have any questions!

Note: We have reached volunteer capacity for fencing removal at Bluff Point on Tuesday, August 12th. Staff are closely monitoring the weather, and we will postpone the event if it looks like it will be too hot for us to safely work. If you RSVPed to assist at Bluff Point, please keep an eye out for an email from me on Monday to confirm if the event will still take place. Thank you! 

Special event on August 16th: "Salt Marsh Day: Creature Feature" at Hammonasset Beach State Park (last of the season!)

Visit Meigs Point Nature Center at Hammonasset Beach State Park on Saturday, August 16th between 10am-4pm to learn about creatures of the salt marsh! Visit the marsh, join Meigs Point Nature Center staff on a guided trail walk, and watch The Making of Birds of America: Chapter 1 a filmmaker's account of their experience filming Saltmarsh Sparrows. Marisa Fajardo from The Maritime Aquarium will also be giving a guest lecture on salt marsh function in relation to climate change. Please see below for a full itinerary: 

Volunteer Spotlight: 

I would like to introduce you all to the subject of this week's volunteer spotlight, Patty Sbrega!

Patty monitoring at Milford Point

Where do you conduct your shorebird monitoring? 

I monitor at Milford Point on Tuesday mornings. I started volunteering with the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds in April 2022.

What is your favorite part of volunteering as a shorebird monitor?

Patty's mom's bird book. Photo: Patty Sbrega

I guess you could say that I started birding at a very young age.  I remember my mother and I would watch the songbirds at the feeders just outside our window.  She had a bird book that she would note the date and place she saw a bird for the first time. The oldest date in that book is from 1964, when I was only 8 years old.  I still have her book and it brings back great memories. Although my mom is gone, she left me with the love of bird watching. Now I watch the birds at my own feeders and I chart which ones I see.  

Then in April 2022 I saw Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds was looking for volunteers to monitor the endangered species.  The only shorebirds I knew were seagulls, and I thought all seagulls were the same.  So you might say, I thought it was time for me to spread my wings, but I had a lot to learn.  Thanks to the training webinars and the reference material that was provided I started my new adventure.  I also got a lot of advice from talking to other birders at the shore.  I learned a lot especially from Bill and Kathy, and Matt and Johann.  This is my third season monitoring and I still love seeing the birds and I especially get excited when I see the little chicks.  Just knowing that I’m doing my part to help save them is so rewarding. I monitor the birds to the end of the point every week. To avoid double counting, on my return I pick up the garbage that I see on the beach.  It’s kind of funny, I’ve been told that from afar many people recognize me with my garbage bag.

American Avocet. Photo: Patty Sbrega

My most exciting experience while monitoring was April 18, 2023.  Out on one of the sandbars I saw a bunch of dark colored birds and one white bird.  Looking through my binoculars I saw it wasn’t a seagull but a bird I never saw before. Unfortunately, I couldn’t see a lot of detail with my binoculars, but luck would have it that Bill and Kathy were close by, and they had a scope.  Looking through the scope we could see all the details and saw that it was an American Avocet right here on Milford Point amongst a flock of Brant.  Later that same year, August 29, I got to see the Roseate Spoonbill that made a stop at Milford Point.  Another rare sighting for this area.

 

What do you do outside of your volunteer work?

I have been retired from the Postal Service since 2020.  Since retiring, my husband and I have done a lot of traveling, volunteer with the CT Food Share Truck at St Mary’s Church in Derby, are very active with the Senior Centers especially Shelton Seniors, and my biggest passion along with monitoring the shorebirds is volunteering with Monarch Watch and Journey North monitoring and raising Monarch butterflies.  After learning how the monarch population has declined 90% over the past 50 years due to deforestation in Mexico, use of pesticides and herbicides, and climate change, and realizing how few I see these days compared to when I was young, I decided to do my part.  The only plant that the Monarchs will lay their eggs on is milkweed, so I started out by planting 3 types of milkweed plants in my yard and made a pollinator garden.  Over the years I became more involved and started to raise the Monarchs from the eggs they laid on my milkweed plants.  Then 2 years ago I got involved with Citizen Science and started to tag the generation that migrates to Mexico for the winter.  This is to help Monarch Watch to study their migration patterns. Last year was my best year. I released 227 Monarchs, said a prayer for them and named every single one. 

Monarch butterfly (with tag). Photo: Patty Sbrega

I feel my mission now is to spread the word about the declining Monarch population.  For the past two years I have given talks at different organizations to help people become more aware of the declining Monarch population and inform them how simple it is for them to help.  This year at my talks I handed out 120 seedling plants that I grew from my own seeds so people can plant them in their own yards. And fall is the best time to plant milkweed seeds, so I hand out seeds that I harvest from my own gardens with an information sheet of how to plant the seeds and why it is so important to save our pollinators.

Releasing a Monarch butterfly (featuring Rusty). Photo: Patty Sbrega

If you would like to nominate a fellow volunteer for an upcoming volunteer spotlight, email us at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com!

Latest Monitoring Data

Here is a summary of all volunteer-collected data submitted between July 24th and August 8th, 2025.

• Number of volunteer reports submitted: 57
• Total volunteer monitoring hours: 95
• Number of beachgoers engaged in conversations about birds/conservation: 94

Piping Plover. Photo: Scott Gilbert/Audubon Photography Awards

Piping Plover Data Summary

Piping Plover Pair Observations

There were Piping Plover pairs observed at Long Beach, Milford Point, and Sandy Point between July 24th and August 8th.

There are no more sites with Piping Plover nests. We will be sharing fledge reports in upcoming weeks once official numbers have been tallied. Thank you for your patience!

American Oystercatcher and Willet. Photo: Patricia Kappmeyer/Audubon Photography Awards

American Oystercatcher Data Summary

American Oystercatcher Pair Observations

There were American Oystercatcher pairs observed at Compo Beach, Pleasure Beach, Long Beach, Milford Point, Sandy Point, Griswold Point, and Bluff Point between July 24th and August 8th.

Common Tern. Photo: Justin Schmidt/Audubon Photography Awards

Common Tern Data Summary

Adult Common Tern Observations

There were Common Terns observed at Compo Beach, Pleasure Beach, Long Beach, Milford Point, Sandy Point, Griswold Point, and Waterford Town Beach between July 24th and August 8th.

Least Tern. Photo: Martin Culpepper/Audubon Photography Awards

Least Tern Data Summary

Adult Least Tern Observations

There were Least Terns observed at Pleasure Beach, Long Beach, Milford Point, Sandy Point, Griswold Point, Waterford Town Beach, and Bluff Point between July 24th and August 8th.

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Thank you all for your time and dedication towards protecting our shorebirds! 

Marissa

Audubon CT Volunteer Coordinator

**All photos are licensed for use through the National Audubon Society. Audubon Connecticut is a state office of the National Audubon Society**

AAfCW 2025 Field Update #7

Just a short and sweet update this week:

There are birds fledging all across the shoreline, and other shorebird species are on the move through Connecticut as they embark on their southbound migrations!

You may begin to see string fencing and signage removed from areas that did not have any shorebird nesting activity this season. Other times, fencing and signage will remain in place until the fall in order to allow birds to access shoreline habitat at certain vital locations. As a reminder, if you are currently monitoring at a beach that does not have any activity from our four focal species, you are welcome to continue monitoring there through the end of August, or you may switch to a beach that still has nesting activity. Please send an email to ctwaterbirds@gmail.com if you would like to switch to a different site for the remainder of the season. Additionally, we will have string fencing removal days in August at some of our major sites, and we will ask for volunteer assistance during those events once the dates and times are set. Keep an eye out for email updates from me over the next few weeks. 

Stay cool out there!

Latest Monitoring Data

Here is a summary of all volunteer-collected data submitted between July 12th and July 24th, 2025.

• Number of volunteer reports submitted: 62
• Total volunteer monitoring hours: 98
• Number of beachgoers engaged in conversations about birds/conservation: 79

Piping Plover. Photo: Angela Previte/Audubon Photography Awards

Piping Plover Data Summary

Piping Plover Pair Observations

There were Piping Plover pairs observed at Long Beach, Milford Point, Silver Sands, Sandy Point, Griswold Point, and Bluff Point between July 12th and July 24th.

Sites with Piping Plover nests:

Site	Piping Plover Nests
Sherwood Island - Westport	0
Long Beach - Stratford	1
Russian Beach - Stratford	0
Short Beach - Stratford	0
Milford Point - Milford	1
Silver Sands State Park - Milford	0
Sandy Point Bird Sanctuary - West Haven	0
Griswold Point - Old Lyme	0
Waterford Town Beach - Waterford	0
Bluff Point - Groton	0

American Oystercatcher. Photo: Wayne Atkinson/Audubon Photography Awards

American Oystercatcher Data Summary

American Oystercatcher Pair Observations

There were American Oystercatcher pairs observed at Long Beach, Milford Point, Silver Sands, Sandy Point, Griswold Point, and Bluff Point between July 12th and July 24th.

Sites with American Oystercatcher nests:

Site	American Oystercatcher Nests
Sherwood Island - Westport	0
Long Beach - Stratford	0
Russian Beach - Stratford	0
Short Beach - Stratford	0
Milford Point - Milford	2
Silver Sands State Park - Milford	0
Sandy Point Bird Sanctuary - West Haven	0
Griswold Point - Old Lyme	0
Waterford Town Beach - Waterford	0
Bluff Point - Groton	0

Common Tern. Photo: Luke Franke/Audubon

Common Tern Data Summary

Adult Common Tern Observations

There were Common Terns observed at Long Beach, Russian Beach, Short Beach, Milford Point, Silver Sands, Sandy Point, Griswold Point, and Waterford Town Beach between July 12th and July 24th.

Least Tern. Photo: Sean Medina/Audubon Photography Awards

Least Tern Data Summary

Adult Least Tern Observations

There were Least Terns observed at Sherwood Island, Long Beach, Russian Beach, Milford Point, Silver Sands, Sandy Point, Griswold Point, and Bluff Point between July 12th and July 24th.

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Thank you all for your time and dedication towards protecting our shorebirds! 

Marissa

Audubon CT Volunteer Coordinator

**All photos are licensed for use through the National Audubon Society. Audubon Connecticut is a state office of the National Audubon Society**

AAfCW 2025 Field Update #6

Summer Heat is Here!

Thank you to everybody who assisted us with shorebird monitoring over the 4th of July weekend! We are very happy to report that our work during the holiday was a huge success and there were no major human disturbances at shorebird nesting sites across the Connecticut shoreline. 

We are now approaching the hottest portion of summer, and we want to remind all volunteers to use extra caution while monitoring. Always bring extra water, dress appropriately, and wear sunscreen when you visit the beach. Please also remember that we do not want anybody to monitor if the temperature or the "feels like" temperature is above 90°F. 

Preparing for Shorebird Migration

At this point in the season, we expect nesting activity to begin slowing down. Some birds, especially Least Terns, are still incubating eggs and many will hatch over the next few weeks. If you are currently monitoring at a beach that does not have any activity from our four focal species, you are welcome to continue monitoring there through the end of August, or you may switch to a beach that still has nesting activity. Please send an email to ctwaterbirds@gmail.com if you would like to switch to a different site for the remainder of the season.

As shorebird nesting activity slows down, many birds will begin preparing for their southbound migration. Some beaches in Connecticut are well-known staging sites for both our local shorebirds and many other species that pass through Connecticut on their own journeys south. If you begin to see new bird species at your site, keep a close eye out for banded and flagged birds. These tag numbers can be reported directly to CT DEEP, and questions about identifying shorebird species can be directed to ctwaterbirds@gmail.com.

One additional note on Piping Plovers: In preparation for migration, adult Piping Plovers molt from their breeding plumage to their non-breeding plumage. This means that adults will begin to lose their signature black neck band and crown stripe. They will also lose the orange coloration at the base of their bill. These changes will make it so that adult Piping Plovers look very similar to fledglings, but there are some key differences between the two age classes. Most adult Piping Plovers retain some orange coloration on their bills while fledglings will always have black bills. On adults, you can often still see the remnants of a black neck band (sometimes a lighter grey neck band instead). The biggest difference between non-breeding adult and fledgling Piping Plovers is behavior; adults that are still on their breeding beaches will typically still be defensive (peeping, crouching, and acting agitated especially if their fledglings are nearby) while fledgling birds will act skittish and often run back into the dunes without alarm calling when you are close to them. See the CT DEEP Piping Plover aging guide HERE for a photo comparison between a non-breeding adult and a fledgling Piping Plover. As always, feel free to reach out to ctwaterbirds@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Special event on July 19th: "Geology of the Marsh" Day at Hammonasset Beach State Park

Visit Meigs Point Nature Center at Hammonasset Beach State Park Saturday, July 19th between 10am-4pm to learn about the geology of a salt marsh! Visit the marsh, join Meigs Point Nature Center staff on a guided trail walk, and watch a presentation on Long Island Sound Geology by UCONN researcher Ralph Lewis. Don't forget to stop by the AAfCW table to say hello!☺

A full itinerary for "Geology of the Marsh" Day can be found HERE

Volunteer Spotlight!

I would like to introduce you all to the subject of this week's volunteer spotlight, Frank Mantlik!

Where do you conduct your shorebird monitoring?

Mainly Long Beach, Stratford. In past years before my knee surgery I also covered Pleasure Beach, Bridgeport, as well as occasionally Short Beach, Stratford, Milford Point, and Sandy Point in West Haven.

When did you begin volunteering with the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds?

I began volunteering on day one with the Audubon Alliance. In fact, I was volunteering as a monitor even before the Alliance came to be, aiding CT Audubon, DEEP, and whoever conducted such protection and monitoring before. I'm guessing I've been volunteering as a Ping Plover/Tern monitor well over 20 years. 

Piping Plover. Photo: Frank Mantlik

What is your favorite part of volunteering as a shorebird monitor?

As an avid birdwatcher and conservationist, I just enjoy being afield, and particularly along the shore. And it is clear that the efforts of this volunteer project are beneficial to the nesting success of the Piping Plovers and hopefully Least and Common Terns, and American Oystercatchers. Plus it helps in educating the general public about these species. I typically also enter data (on eBird) about numbers of Diamondback Terrapins and Horseshoe Crabs I survey in the process. Plus, over the years, I have usually collected human litter from the beaches during my surveys.

Some of my favorite memories are discovering rare species while conducting surveys, such as Barn Owl, Caspian Tern, Whimbrel, Hudsonian Godwit, etc. One of the more memorable days was seeing a Piping Plover and a lingering Snowy Owl in the same binocular view at Long Beach several years ago. 

Snowy Owl. Photo: Frank Mantlik

What do you do outside of your volunteer work?

Being retired (postal letter carrier), I'm always birding. My other volunteer activities include leading bird walks for CT Audubon (CAS), New Haven Bird Club (NHBC), CT Ornithological Assoc.(COA), etc. I also give photo-illustrated talks to some. I serve as Chairman of the COA's Avian Records Committee of CT. I also head up the monitoring of the Purple Martin nest colony at Milford Point. I'm an avid fan of college (UConn) and pro basketball, love a variety of music, and love to cook.

Wilson's Phalarope. Photo: Frank Mantlik

If you would like to nominate a fellow volunteer for an upcoming volunteer spotlight, email us at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com!

Latest Monitoring Data

Here is a summary of all volunteer-collected data submitted between June 28th and July 11th, 2025.

• Number of volunteer reports submitted: 72
• Total volunteer monitoring hours: 119
• Number of beachgoers engaged in conversations about birds/conservation: 193

Piping Plover. Photo: Merri-Lee Metzger/Audubon Photography Awards

Piping Plover Data Summary

Piping Plover Pair Observations

There were Piping Plover Pairs observed at Sherwood Island, Long Beach, Milford Point, Silver Sands, Sandy Point, Griswold Point, and Bluff Point between June 28th and July 11th.

Sites with Piping Plover nests:

Site	Piping Plover Nests
Compo Beach - Westport	0
Sherwood Island - Westport	0
Long Beach - Stratford	4
Russian Beach - Stratford	0
Short Beach - Stratford	0
Milford Point - Milford	2
Silver Sands State Park - Milford	0
Sandy Point Bird Sanctuary - West Haven	0
Hammonasset - Madison	0
Griswold Point - Old Lyme	0
Waterford Town Beach - Waterford	0
Bluff Point - Groton	3

American Oystercatcher. Photo: Nicholas Wetzel/Audubon Photography Awards

American Oystercatcher Data Summary

American Oystercatcher Pair Observations

There were American Oystercatcher pairs observed at Compo Beach, Long Beach, Milford Point, Sandy Point, Griswold Point, and Bluff Point between June 28th and July 11th.

Sites with American Oystercatcher nests:

Site	American Oystercatcher Nests
Compo Beach - Westport	0
Sherwood Island - Westport	0
Long Beach - Stratford	1
Russian Beach - Stratford	0
Short Beach - Stratford	0
Milford Point - Milford	2
Silver Sands State Park - Milford	0
Sandy Point Bird Sanctuary - West Haven	0
Hammonasset - Madison	0
Griswold Point - Old Lyme	0
Waterford Town Beach - Waterford	0
Bluff Point - Groton	1

Common Tern. Photo: Claudio Bacinello/Audubon Photography Awards

Common Tern Data Summary

Adult Common Tern Observations

There were Common Terns observed at Compo Beach, Long Beach, Milford Point, Sandy Point, Hammonasset, Waterford Town Beach, and Bluff Point between June 28th and July 11th.

Least Tern. Photo: Rick Lewis/Audubon Photography Awards

Least Tern Data Summary

Adult Least Tern Observations

There were Least Terns observed at Long Beach, Milford Point, Sandy Point, Griswold Point, Waterford Town Beach, and Bluff Point between June 28th and July 11th.

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Thank you all for your time and dedication towards protecting our shorebirds! 

Marissa

Audubon CT Volunteer Coordinator

**All photos are licensed for use through the National Audubon Society. Audubon Connecticut is a state office of the National Audubon Society**