It’s that time! The American Oystercatchers are returning to the Northeast, and today in Connecticut we had our first bird in Westbrook. This is three or four weeks later than the first Oystercatcher sighting occurs in some years, with the historic cold keeping migrants at bay until now. Other species are also arriving more slowly than expected. Now it is all systems go for the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds as the threatened shorebird species is one of our focal birds. If you are going to be in Connecticut this spring and summer please email ctwaterbirds@gmail.com to sign up as a volunteer to help these birds in many of the same areas Roger Tory Peterson worked for many years of his life. If you bird in Connecticut you can also share eBird checklists with any shorebirds, terns and long-legged waders from within the state with us at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com. Thank you!