AAfCW 2021 Field Update #4

Good morning,

Once again, if you have not yet received an official DEEP ID card and/or lanyard, you will soon. No additional action is needed. The same goes for West Haven passes. Please do not go to West Haven until you receive a parking pass unless you are a resident with a parking sticker as they will ticket vehicles otherwise. 

CT DEEP and AAfCW staff are working seven days a week, dawn to dusk. Exclosing and/or additional fencing is continuing at all sites as fast as staff can complete it, and it is put up only when necessary. Piping Plover nest losses due to tides, predators, and otherwise are creating additional work each day. Destruction of fencing and/or signage due to tidal washouts and people, significant human or pet disturbances, or recreational activity within nesting areas also creates daily work across Connecticut. A handful of staff has to cover the Greenwich islands to the Rhode Island border while working only in safe land and boating weather conditions. Your observations are vital and enormously beneficial, even if they are not of birds.

Least and Common Terns are being seen more now as they form pairs and slowly build small colonies. Please review identification for these two species and report them as you do our shorebirds. The first Piping Plover and American Oystercatcher nests of 2021 have hatched in Connecticut. If you discover a new nest while monitoring please directly email: Laura.Saucier@ct.gov, rsuzf@hotmail.com, and ctwaterbirds@gmail.com. We need those direct contacts in addition to data entry for significant sightings and events like new nests. When entering data, if there are no nests, do not enter anything into the field. If you leave it untouched and blank it will be zero.

Hatchlings are extremely vulnerable to people, predators, weather, tides, and more. Please remember that we are a threat to the birds, too. Staying by the water, walking very slowly, observing all constantly and from afar with the aid of binoculars and spotting scopes - these steps help reduce our potential impact on the birds. Prioritize safety over precise data, and never enter fenced areas or approach exclosures.

The hatchlings will be seen all over the beach, foraging and freezing in place at times when frightened. It can be exceptionally difficult for experts to spot them even in good conditions. You do not need to discover and report all of the birds. Their parents will be keeping a close eye on them, and please remember to safely leave any area where you see distraction displays occurring or hear loud alarm calls. We also have warm, sunny beach weather, with more people heading to the shore. Please keep in mind we want to be positive, educate, and interact with kindness at all times.

Below are observations on our beaches as submitted from May 4 through 12:00pm yesterday, May 20. Please be aware partial surveys and negative data are received but not included in these updates.

Piping Plover:

4 pairs, 3 nests at Long Beach on 5/4

10 adults, 3 nests at Milford Point on 5/4

2 pairs, 2 adults, 3 nests at Milford Point on 5/4

2 pairs, 7 adults, 3 nests at Long Beach on 5/4

2 pairs, 2 adults at Bluff Point on 5/4

2 pairs, 3 adults, 3 nests at Long Beach on 5/4

26 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/5

1 adult at Griswold Point on 5/6

2 pairs, 10 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/6

2 pairs, 13 adults, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 5/6

2 pairs, 7 adults, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/7

2 pairs, 6 adults, 2 nests at Bluff Point on 5/7

3 pairs, 10 adults, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/7

2 pairs, 3 adults, 5 nests at Milford Point on 5/8

3 adults, 3 nests at Long Beach on 5/8

3 adults, 3 nests at Long Beach on 5/9

4 adults, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 5/9

2 pairs, 6 adults, 5 nests at Milford Point on 5/10

2 adults, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 5/10

1 pair, 1 nest at Griswold Point on 5/10

3 pairs, 3 adult, 3 nests at Long Beach on 5/11

4 pairs, 3 nests at Long Beach on 5/11

1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/11

3 pairs, 5 adults, 6 nests at Milford Point on 5/11

8 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/12

3 pairs, 3 adults, 3 nests at Long Beach on 5/12

1 pair, 8 adults, 8 nests at Milford Point on 5/12

14 adults, 6 nests at Milford Point on 5/12

4 pairs, 6 adults, 4 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/12

1 pair, 3 adults at Bluff Point on 5/12

1 pair, 11 adults, 3 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/12

8 pairs, 5 adults, 8 nests at Milford Point on 5/13

4 pairs, 6 adults, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 5/13

6 pairs, 4 nests at Long Beach on 5/13

4 adults, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 5/14

2 pairs, 2 adults, 4 nests at Long Beach on 5/14

1 pair, 4 adults, 4 nests at Long Beach on 5/16

5 adults, 3 nests at Milford Point on 5/17

7 adults, 6 nests at Milford Point on 5/17

1 pair at Griswold Point on 5/17

3 adults at Milford Point on 5/17

14 adults, 5 nests, 6 hatchlings at Milford Point on 5/18

2 adults, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/18

2 pairs, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/18

2 pairs, 10 adults, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/18

5 pairs, 2 nests at Long Beach on 5/18

1 pair, 3 adults, 2 nests at Bluff Point on 5/18

8 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/19

5 adults, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/19

American Oystercatcher:

1 pair, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/4

1 pair at Griswold Point on 5/4

8 adults, 2 nests at Milford Point on 5/4

2 pairs, 1 adult at Milford Point on 5/4

1 pair at Long Beach on 5/4

2 pairs, 2 nests at Bluff Point on 5/4

1 pair, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/4

3 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/5

1 pair at Griswold Point on 5/6

1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/6

1 pair, 2 adults, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 5/6

2 pairs, 1 adult, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/7

4 adults, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 5/7

1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/7

3 pairs, 2 nests at Milford Point on 5/8

1 pair, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/8

1 pair at Long Beach on 5/9

2 adults at Bluff Point on 5/9

1 adult at Bluff Point on 5/10

1 adult at Griswold Point on 5/10

1 pair, 1 adult at Long Beach on 5/11

1 pair, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/11

3 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/11

2 pairs, 1 adult at Milford Point on 5/11

4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/12

1 pair at Long Beach on 5/12

6 adults at Milford Point on 5/12

2 pairs at Bluff Point on 5/12

1 pair, 2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/12

3 pairs, 6 adults, 1 nest at Milford Point on 5/13

1 pair, 1 nest at Griswold Point on 5/13

3 pairs, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 5/13

2 pairs at Long Beach on 5/13

1 pair at Bluff Point on 5/14

1 pair at Long Beach on 5/14

6 adults, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/16

4 adults at Milford Point on 5/17

1 pair at Griswold Point on 5/17

1 adult at Milford Point on 5/17

4 adults, 1 nest at Milford Point on 5/18

1 pair, 2 adults, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/18

3 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/18

1 pair, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/18

2 pairs at Bluff Point on 5/18

3 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/19

1 adult at Long Beach on 5/19

Least Tern:

3 adults at Long Beach on 5/9

12 adults at Long Beach on 5/11

6 adults at Long Beach on 5/11

1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/11

13 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/12

24 adults at Milford Point on 5/12

6 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/12

20 adults at Milford Point on 5/13

1 pair at Griswold Point on 5/13

2 pairs, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 5/13

8 adults at Long Beach on 5/13

2 pairs, 3 adults at Bluff Point on 5/14

15 adults at Long Beach on 5/16

2 pairs at Griswold Point on 5/17

9 adults at Milford Point on 5/18

16 pairs, 40 adults, 8 nests at Long Beach on 5/18

6 adults at Long Beach on 5/18

20 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/18

3 pairs, 12 adults, 4 nests at Long Beach on 5/18

3 adults at Bluff Point on 5/18

31 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/19

7 adults at Long Beach on 5/19

Common Tern:

2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/5

30 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/12

5 adults at Milford Point on 5/13

1 pair at Long Beach on 5/13

1 pair at Bluff Point on 5/14

1 pair, 5 adults at Milford Point on 5/17

4 adults at Milford Point on 5/17

6 adults at Milford Point on 5/18

4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/18

14 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/19

Thanks again!

Trashing the Trash

Here is a recent photo of trash from West Haven. Apart from illegal littering, these piles are often left after illegal activities such as drinking, starting a fire, pets on the beach, or fireworks. One of the easiest and most helpful actions you can take to protect our habitats and wildlife is to always carry in, carry out while obeying local laws. Taking an active role in ensuring you remove all waste that you bring to a park, beach or any natural area is tremendously beneficial to staff and property owners as well. Any non-profit, municipal, state, or federal employee time can be spent in far better ways than cleaning up garbage. You will also help maintain a better natural appearance and encourage others who may not be as environmentally-minded to clean up after themselves so as to not detract from the aesthetic appeal. It will decidedly reduce dangerous human and wildlife interactions.

When it comes to AAfCW, removal of all trash greatly reduces the presence and threat of predators on our beaches and islands. Gulls, crows, foxes, raccoons, coyotes, skunks, bears, and more all congregate near trash, checking these food sources frequently, then venturing into bird nesting areas. They become a distraction and a direct threat to endangered species, forcing our birds into constant energy-expending vigilance at best and losing young, eggs and adults at worst. Many towns, counties, and even states do not provide waste receptacles because they become filled rapidly, with people contributing outside trash and creating a mess, attracting the aforementioned predators, and requiring cleaning by staff. I hope it is not too much to expect folks to clean up after themselves, leave waste at home, or carry out what you carry in when visiting a natural area.

Scott Kruitbosch
AAfCW Volunteer Coordinator

Killdeer Hatchling

I was driving through a parking lot earlier today when I noticed a familiar face pulling alongside me. This is a Killdeer hatchling, and mom and dad were nearby, rushing up to my vehicle with distraction displays to protect the little one. They called loudly, flew around, and one pretended to have a broken wing.

I do not know if they had more chicks or not, and it was a tough area to raise a family. Killdeers are often mistaken for Piping Plovers, though their habitats - gravel, open grass, dirt and stony lots for the former vs. sandy beaches and dunes for the latter - can be sufficient to identify them. When comparing the species, adult Killdeer are heavier, taller, brown rather than gray, have red eye rings, less vibrant legs, longer black bills, and two large black breast bands as opposed to one, with very different calls. Some of the same characteristics hold true for young birds. Be mindful in parking areas in May as you never know who might be running around.

2021 Field Training Completed

A huge thanks to all of our new Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds volunteers who came out for 2021 field training last weekend, led by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Wildlife Division. Here you can see Laura Saucier speaking to the group before heading to the beach and Rebecca Foster leading the walk as we looked for Piping Plovers and American Oystercatchers.

We discussed biology to disturbances, data reporting to field techniques and tactics. We saw both of our focal species and any day now we will be able to see Least Terns and Common Terns back on our beaches. It was great to be able to get into the field safely with volunteers after missing all in-person training in 2020. We continue to work every single day, dawn to dusk, to help survey and steward our endangered nesting waterbirds.

AAfCW 2021 Field Update #3

If you have not yet received an official DEEP ID card and/or lanyard, you will soon. No additional action is needed. The same goes for West Haven passes. Please do not go to West Haven until you receive a parking pass unless you are a resident with a parking sticker as they will ticket vehicles otherwise. Fencing is continuing at all sites as fast as staff can complete it, and it is put up only when necessary. Piping Plover nests are being exclosed as soon as possible once they have completed the four-egg nest. A very small staff has to cover the entire state and complete this work in only bird-safe weather conditions. 

If you do not see any of our target species (Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern and Common Tern) please submit a trip report regardless. Least and Common Terns will be found more throughout the month, initially foraging, then courting, and beginning to pair off before hopefully forming larger colonies. Common Terns have been seen for about a week at more remote locations in the Long Island Sound, and a few Least Terns have popped up, too.

If you discover a new nest while monitoring please directly email: Laura.Saucier@ct.gov, rsuzf@hotmail.com, and ctwaterbirds@gmail.com. We need those direct contacts in addition to data entry for significant sightings and events like new nests. Please keep in mind birds often crouch in the sand or otherwise can appear to be on a "nest" when they are actually only trying to use camouflage or rest. Nests will very likely be in the high sand, above wrack lines, just below the dune.

Below are observations on our beaches as submitted from April 20 through 9:00am today, Tuesday, May 4. Please be aware negative data is received but not included in these updates.

Piping Plover:

2 adults, 1 nest at Milford Point on 4/20

4 adults, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 4/20

4 pairs at Long Beach on 4/20

6 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/20

2 pairs, 3 adults, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/20

3 adults, 2 nests at Milford Point on 4/24

1 pair at Bluff Point on 4/24

4 pairs, 7 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/24

3 pairs at Bluff Point on 4/24

1 adult at Milford Point on 4/25

2 adults at Bluff Point on 4/26

1 pair, 1 nest at Griswold Point on 4/26

1 pair, 3 adults, 2 nests at Milford Point on 4/27

5 adults, 2 nests at Milford Point on 4/27

1 adult at Bluff Point on 4/27

2 adults, 1 nest at Long Beach on 4/27

1 pair, 1 adult at Milford Point on 4/27

2 pairs, 5 adults, 2 nests at Long Beach on 4/28

2 pairs, 5 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/28

6 adults at Long Beach on 4/28

14 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/28

1 adult, 1 nest at Long Beach on 4/28

2 pairs, 11 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/28

4 pairs at Long Beach on 4/28

8 pairs, 2 adults, 2 nests at Milford Point on 4/29

1 adult at Bluff Point on 4/30

4 adults at Bluff Point on 5/1

1 pair at Long Beach on 5/2

1 pair, 4 adults, 3 nests at Long Beach on 5/2

5 pairs, 3 nests at Milford Point on 5/3

1 pair, 3 adults at Bluff Point on 5/3

American Oystercatcher:

7 adults, 2 nests at Milford Point on 4/20

3 pairs, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/20

2 pairs, 1 adult at Milford Point on 4/24

2 pairs at Bluff Point on 4/24

1 pair, 1 adult, 1 nest at Milford Point on 4/25

3 adults at Bluff Point on 4/26

2 adults, 2 nests at Milford Point on 4/27

7 adults, 2 nests at Milford Point on 4/27

3 adults, 1 nest at Milford Point on 4/27

1 pair at Griswold Point on 4/28

1 pair at Long Beach on 4/28

3 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/28

1 pair, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/28

1 pair at Long Beach on 4/28

3 pairs, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/28

1 pair at Long Beach on 4/28

6 pairs, 1 adult, 2 nests at Milford Point on 4/29

1 adult at Bluff Point on 4/30

1 pair at Bluff Point on 5/1

1 pair at Griswold Point on 5/2

2 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/2

1 pair at Griswold Point on 5/2

1 pair, 6 adults, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/2

1 pair at Long Beach on 5/2

2 pairs, 2 adults at Bluff Point on 5/3

Thanks again!