Long Beach de-fencing party

A big thanks to all of the volunteers who came out to help take down the fencing at Long Beach yesterday! Extra hands really make the work a lot easier. We would love to have anyone who can come help out at Sandy/Morse Points in West Haven on August 20th at 10:00AM and Bluff Point on August 29th at 10:00AM join us then. You can find more information in this blog post.

Here are some photos from the Long Beach operation...

Our thanks again to everyone and we will see you in the field soon!

Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, Audubon Connecticut and the Connecticut Audubon Society partnering to improve conditions for coastal waterbirds in Connecticut.

AAfCW 2013 Volunteer Update #20

This is the twentieth weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2013 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern and Common Tern from August 5 through 4:00 p.m. on August 12 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff spanning that period.

Informational updates:

We have received three string fencing removal dates from CT DEEP, and AAfCW would appreciate any volunteers who could help us out at these locations:

Thursday, August 15th at 10:00AM - Long Beach in Stratford
Tuesday, August 20th at 10:00AM - Sandy/Morse Points in West Haven
Thursday, August 29th at 10:00AM - Bluff Point in Groton

Those dates are rain or shine, but any thunderstorms will postpone them. Assisting not only helps AAfCW but it also greatly aids those at CT DEEP who have extremely limited time, and it limits the stress on the birds. Please remember that taking down fencing in August can be physically demanding because of the heat and humidity, and those who join us should remember a few things:
-wear sunscreen
-drink plenty of water or sports drink
-do not attempt to carry too many stakes, there are enough volunteers so that no one should overexert themselves
-anyone who needs to limit physical exertion should stick to winding up string rolls
-take as many breaks as needed

Please email us if you can join us on any or all days, thank you!

Additionally, due to tomorrow’s forecast of rain and possible thunderstorms, we are re-scheduling the Shorebird Workshop for Municipal Officials to the rain date of Friday, August 16th. See more information here in our blog: http://ctwaterbirds.blogspot.com/2013/08/sharing-our-shores-managing-municipal.html

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover
1 adult, 2 hatchlings at Long Beach on 8/4
1 adult, 2 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/5
2 adults, 1 fledgling, 6 juveniles at Milford Point on 8/5
1 adult, 2 hatchlings, 3 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/5
1 juvenile at Griswold Point on 8/5
1 juvenile at Milford Point on 8/5
10 adults at Hatch Rock Guilford on 8/6
1 adult, 2 fledglings at Long Beach on 8/6
5 juveniles at Milford Point on 8/6
1 adult, 2 fledglings at Milford Point on 8/6
2 hatchlings, 1 juvenile at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/7
3 juveniles at Milford Point on 8/7
2 adults, 2 hatchlings, 3 fledglings, 2 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/7
8 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/7
2 juveniles at Long Beach on 8/11
4 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/12
4 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/12

American Oystercatcher
1 pair, 1 juvenile at Salt Island on 8/5
5 pairs, 1 juvenile at Menunketesuck Island on 8/5
1 pair, 1 fledgling at Duck Island on 8/5
3 pairs, 6 adults, 3 juveniles at Milford Point on 8/5
1 pair at Griswold Point on 8/5
1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/6
1 pair at Hatch Rock Guilford on 8/6
2 pairs, 2 juveniles at Milford Point on 8/6
3 pairs, 2 juveniles at Milford Point on 8/6
4 pairs, 2 fledglings at Cockenoe Island on 8/6
1 pair at Chimon Island on 8/6
1 adult at Betts Island on 8/6
1 pair at Long Beach Island on 8/6
3 adults at Sheffield/Shea Island on 8/6
1 pair at Goose Island on 8/6
2 adults at Griswold Point on 8/7
2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/7
2 pairs, 2 juveniles at Milford Point on 8/7
3 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/7
4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/7
1 pair at Branford Harbor on 8/7
1 pair, 1 juvenile at Umbrella Island on 8/7
1 pair at Kelsey Island on 8/7
1 pair, 1 juvenile at Green Island Branford on 8/7
2 pairs, 2 juveniles at Milford Point on 8/7
3 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/7
1 pair, 1 juvenile at Salt Island on 8/8
3 pairs, 2 hatchlings, 1 juvenile at Menunketesuck Island on 8/8
1 pair, 1 fledgling at Duck Island on 8/8
1 pair at Lobster Rock Guilford on 8/8
4 adults at Cops Island on 8/8
1 pair, 3 juveniles at Governor Island Thimble Islands on 8/9
2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/12
1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/12

Least Tern
7 adults, 1 juvenile at Long Beach on 8/4
3 juveniles at Griswold Pt on 8/5
3 pairs, 4 adults, 4 hatchlings at Milford Point on 8/5
1 pair, 10 adults, 1 juvenile at Milford Point on 8/5
2 adults, 1 juvenile at Long Beach on 8/6
3 adults, 2 juveniles at Long Beach on 8/6
3 pairs, 10 adults, 2 hatchlings, 2 fledglings, 4 juveniles at Milford Point on 8/6
4 pairs, 10 adults, 5 hatchlings, 7 fledglings, 1 juvenile at Milford Point on 8/6
4 pairs, 8 adults, 2 hatchlings, 2 fledglings, 3 juveniles at Milford Point on 8/7
2 adults at Silver Sands on 8/7
1 adult at Griswold Point on 8/10
3 adults at Long Beach on 8/11

Common Tern
1 adult, 1 juvenile at Long Beach on 8/4
1 adult at Silver Sands State Park on 8/5
4 adults at Pleasure Beach on 8/6
7 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/7
7 adults at Milford Point on 8/7
1 adult at Sherwood Island State Park on 8/7
5 adults, 2 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/7
1 adult at Silver Sands State Park on 8/7
5 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/7
95 adults, 30 juveniles at Menunketesuck Island on 8/8

This concludes update #20 through 8/12/13 as of 4:00 p.m.


Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, Audubon Connecticut and the Connecticut Audubon Society partnering to improve conditions for coastal waterbirds in Connecticut.

Upcoming Sandy/Morse Points cleanup

AAfCW will host a beach cleanup at Sandy/Morse Points Important Bird Area in West Haven on Saturday, August 17, from 2-5PM. The cleanup will help prevent predators, attracted by trash, from visiting Sandy/Morse Points, one of the most important sites for Piping Plovers and other beach nesting bird species in the state of CT. We are looking for volunteers to help with the clean-up and also to keep an eye on the birds. Latex and leather work gloves will be provided and ice water will be available. Please bring sunscreen and a water bottle. Park in the Sandy Point parking lot on Beach St. Come for all or part of the time. Contact: Corrie Folsom-O’Keefe, 203-233-0535, cfolsom-okeefe@audubon.org if you would like to participate.


Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, Audubon Connecticut and the Connecticut Audubon Society partnering to improve conditions for coastal waterbirds in Connecticut.

Sharing our Shores: Managing Municipal Coastal Resources for Birds and People

Edited update:

RE-SCHEDULED - AUGUST 16TH!

Sharing our Shores:  Managing Municipal Coastal Resources for Birds and People

Due to tomorrow’s forecast of rain and possible thunderstorms, we are re-scheduling the Shorebird Workshop for Municipal Officials to the rain date of Friday, August 16th.  A revised invitation follows. It is not too late to sign up! We look forward to seeing you Friday in Milford.

=============

The Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, in cooperation with Connecticut DEEP Wildlife Division, is pleased to offer a free half day workshop for municipal officials and interested board and commission members facing the challenge of managing coastal resources for birds and people. The workshop is designed to increase understanding and expertise regarding beach nesting birds such as the Piping Plover and other coastal species; explain local responsibilities for protecting these birds; share strategies and best management practices with shoreline colleagues; and finish the day with a guided tour of beautiful Milford Point, an area that provides habitat for several species of protected shorebirds and numerous other species.

The workshop is free and includes a morning classroom session followed by lunch (provided) and an afternoon guided beach walk at Milford Point. We hope that you will join us to learn more about our coastal waterbirds and how your community can help them thrive.

WHAT: Shorebird Workshop for Municipal Officials
WHEN:  Friday August 16th 11:00 – 3:00 PM
WHERE: Margaret Eagan Center, 35 Matthew Street, Milford, CT 06460 Milford, CT & Guided walk at Milford Point

RSVP and questions, please contact: Sandy Breslin at sbreslin@audubon.org or (203) 264-5098 x306.

The Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds is a joint project of Audubon Connecticut and the Connecticut Audubon Society in cooperation with CT DEEP and USFWS. Learn more about our partnership and activities at: http://ctwaterbirds.blogspot.com/

This workshop is made possible through the generous support of the Long Island Sound Study and Toyota TogetherGreen.

Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, Audubon Connecticut and the Connecticut Audubon Society partnering to improve conditions for coastal waterbirds in Connecticut.

AAfCW 2013 Volunteer Update #19

This is the nineteenth weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2013 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern and Common Tern from July 29 through 4:00 p.m. on August 5 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff spanning that period.

Informational updates:

As we enter migration season please keep an eye out for any banded or flagged birds! Piping Plover and American Oystercatcher are color banded and flagged in our area. Least, Common, and Roseate Terns are also frequently seen with bands in Connecticut. You can find more information on some recent Piping Plover banding projects here in our blog and what to do if you see one: http://ctwaterbirds.blogspot.com/2013/07/watch-for-flagged-piping-plovers.html

Please remember all of our beaches may have higher numbers of birds passing through, including species not seen yet this year, because of migration. Let's see how many we can tally in the next month along with our breeding birds! All of this is important data and we thank you for the continual efforts.

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover
1 adult at Harkness Memorial State Park on 7/29
9 juveniles at Griswold Point on 7/29
1 pair, 1 adult, 2 hatchlings, 3 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/29
5 juveniles at Griswold Point on 7/30
2 adults, 5 fledglings, 2 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/30
1 pair, 1 adult, 4 fledglings, 1 juvenile at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/30
1 adult at Long Beach on 7/30
1 adult, 1 fledgling, 1 juvenile at Long Beach on 7/31
4 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/31
8 juveniles at Griswold Point on 8/1
2 adults, 7 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/1
1 hatchling, 10 juveniles at Milford Point on 8/1
5 adults, 2 fledglings, 1 juvenile at Milford Point on 8/1
1 adult, 2 hatchlings at Long Beach on 8/1
10 adults, 3 juveniles at Griswold Point on 8/2
3 fledglings at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/2
2 adults, 8 juveniles at Milford Point on 8/3
5 juveniles at Griswold Point on 8/3
2 hatchlings, 3 fledglings at Milford Point on 8/4
8 juveniles at Griswold Point on 8/4

American Oystercatcher
1 adult at Griswold Point on 7/29
1 adult at Shore Rock on 7/29
2 adults at Griswold Point on 7/29
1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/29
1 adult at Griswold Point on 7/30
1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/30
1 pair, 3 juveniles at Governor Island Thimble Islands on 7/30
1 adult at Red Point Rocks Thimble Islands on 7/30
1 pair at Thimble Island on 7/30
1 pair, 1 juvenile at Salt Island on 7/30
5 pairs, 1 juvenile at Menunketesuck Island on 7/30
4 pairs, 2 fledglings at Cockenoe Island on 7/31
1 pair, 1 fledgling at Chimon Island on 7/31
1 adult at Betts Island on 7/31
1 pair, 1 fledgling at Long Beach Island on 7/31
3 adults at Sheffield/Shea Island on 7/31
1 adult at Calf Pasture Island on 7/31
1 pair at Goose Island on 7/31
1 pair, 1 juvenile at Milford Point on 7/31
1 adult at Griswold Point on 7/31
1 pair, 1 adult, 1 juvenile at Duck Island on 7/31
1 pair at Branford Harbor on 7/31
1 pair at Kelsey Island on 7/31
1 pair, 1 juvenile at Umbrella Island on 7/31
2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/31
2 pairs, 2 juveniles at Milford Point on 8/1
1 pair, 3 juveniles at Governor Island Thimble Islands on 8/1
2 pairs, 2 juveniles at Milford Point on 8/1
1 adult at Jordan Cove on 8/1
1 adult at Inner White Top Guilford on 8/2
4 pairs, 1 adult at Menunketesuck Island on 8/2
3 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/2
13 adults at Milford Point on 8/3
2 adults at Griswold Point on 8/3
4 adults, 1 juvenile at Milford Point on 8/4

Least Tern
24 adults, 2 juveniles at Griswold Point on 7/29
5 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/29
12 adults, 6 fledglings, 2 juveniles, 2 nests at Harkness Memorial State Park on 7/29
36 adults, 2 juveniles at Griswold Point on 7/30
3 adults, 3 juveniles at Long Beach on 7/30
6 adults, 1 fledgling at Long Beach on 7/31
2 pairs, 8 adults, 2 hatchlings, 4 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/31
2 adults, 2 juveniles at Long Beach on 7/31
1 adult at Silver Sands State Park on 7/31
26 adults at Griswold Point on 7/31
6 adults, 2 fledglings at Bluff Point on 7/31
1 adult at Silver Sands State Park on 8/1
4 pairs, 6 adults, 2 hatchlings, 2 fledglings at Milford Point on 8/1
12 adults, 10 hatchlings, 2 fledglings at Harkness Memorial State Park on 8/2
6 adults, 2 fledglings at Bluff Point on 8/2
12 adults at Griswold Point on 8/2
15 adults, 5 fledglings at Menunketesuck Island on 8/2
1 juvenile at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/2
3 adults at Long Beach on 8/3
20 adults, 3 juveniles at Griswold Point on 8/3
1 pair, 3 juveniles at Bluff Point on 8/4
1 pair, 14 adults, 8 fledglings at Griswold Point on 8/4
6 adults, 3 fledglings at Bluff Point on 8/4

Common Tern
85 adults, 25 juveniles at Griswold Point on 7/29
3 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/29
22 adults at Harkness Memorial State Park on 7/30
15 adults, 4 juveniles at Griswold Point on 7/30
2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/30
100 adults, 35 fledglings at Cockenoe Island on 7/31
1 adult at Long Beach on 7/31
62 adults, 12 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/31
1 adult Silver Sands State Park on 7/31
14 adults, 1 fledgling Griswold Point on 7/31
1 juvenile at Silver Sands State Park on 7/31
6 adults Silver Sands State Park on 8/1
18 adults, 2 juveniles Milford Point on 8/1
3 adults, 1 juvenile Griswold Point on 8/2
1 adult at Sherwood Island State Park on 8/2
30 adults, 4 fledglings at Menunketesuck Island on 8/2    
12 adults, 2 fledglings at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/2
1 adult at Long Beach on 8/3
3 adults at Griswold Point on 8/3
6 adults, 1 fledgling at Griswold Point on 8/4

This concludes update #19 through 8/5/13 as of 5:00 p.m.


Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, Audubon Connecticut and the Connecticut Audubon Society partnering to improve conditions for coastal waterbirds in Connecticut.