Below is an update from this past Monday on our work in the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds which you can find each week in the AAfCW blog or via our email list if you are a monitor or volunteer – check out the blog here! http://ctwaterbirds.blogspot.com/
This is the first weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2016 season. Today’s update includes reports of Piping Plover and American Oystercatcher through 1:00 p.m. on March 28 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff.
Informational updates:
Monitoring for the 2016 officially begins this Friday, April 1. In this first regular Monday update you will find pertinent information and reminders plus data from a few of our volunteers and staff members that have already hit the beach this year.
String fencing and signage erection dates for Connecticut beaches in spring 2016 are as follows and we need all the volunteers we can get!
Wednesday, April 6th, 10:30 – Long Beach, Stratford
Meet at the far west parking area.
Monday, April 11th, 10:00 – Sandy/Morse Points, West Haven
Meet in the parking lot.
Friday, April 15th, 10:00 – Bluff Point, Groton
Meet in the parking area and CT DEEP will shuttle people out to the beach.
Remember that any and all volunteers are welcome including those who are not monitors. These dates are rain or shine, but snow or thunderstorms will postpone them.
Volunteers should bring: work gloves, water, a snack, appropriate footwear, sunscreen, sunglasses, hats and whatever else you may need avoid too much sun. These locations can either be quite cool or very warm depending on the day so dress for any weather. A pocket knife or multi-tool can be handy and a sledge hammer or mallet can be helpful to bring. Plan for heavy lifting and toting, but be mindful of your safety. Please email us at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com if you can make it to any or all of these dates. Thank you!
The Nature Conservancy will be conducting its spring set up at Griswold Point on Wednesday, April 13. Low tide is about 10:30, so pedestrian access should be fine throughout the morning. They’ll have a few staff and some invited members joining the work party, but any extra hands are appreciated. They will have a 9:00 AM meeting at the I-95 exit 70 park and ride in Old Lyme, and a 9:15 meeting down at the Point itself. Please email dgumbart@tnc.org and us at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com if you will be at Griswold on the 13th, thank you!
Our new monitors should remember that new volunteer monitor beach training with CT DEEP is available to you on Sunday, April 17 at Sandy/Morse Points in West Haven: http://ctwaterbirds.blogspot.com/2016/03/new-volunteer-monitor-beach-training.html
Finally, please keep sending in schedule information, and let us know about what you find at the beaches as we begin our regular monitoring. Thank you all, and good birding!
Survey and monitoring updates:
Piping Plover
1 adult at Long Beach on 3/10
2 adults at Milford Point on 3/11
4 adults at Milford Point on 3/15
7 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 3/16
7 adults at Milford Point on 3/18
4 adults at Milford Point on 3/21
2 pairs, 3 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 3/22
10 adults at Milford Point on 3/23
9 adults at Milford Point on 3/23
13 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 3/23
4 adults at Hammonasset on 3/23
2 adults at Griswold Point on 3/24
1 pair, 4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 3/25
4 pairs, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 3/26
American Oystercatcher
3 adults at Milford Point on 3/15
1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 3/16
1 pair at Milford Point on 3/22
2 pairs at Milford Point on 3/23
2 pairs at Milford Point on 3/23
1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 3/23
1 pair at Hammonasset on 3/23
2 adults at Hammonasset on 3/24
2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 3/25
This concludes update #1 through 3/28/16 as of 2:30 p.m.
