Connecticut volunteers needed: fencing and signage removal
We now have three fencing removal dates set by CT DEEP to take down signage, stakes and string fencing placed on Connecticut beaches for the protection of of nesting coastal waterbirds and education of the public during the spring and summer. Breeding season is winding down and our Piping Plovers, Least Terns, American Oystercatchers and Common Terns have nearly all fledged and started to head south. We at the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds would appreciate any volunteers who could help us out at these locations and times: Monday, August 18th at 10:30AM – Long Beach in...
Read MoreEggs from the archives
There are dozens of pairs of Piping Plovers and American Oystercatchers currently with nests or young hatchlings across the Connecticut coast. We are working seven days a week as a partner in the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds to provide stewardship and survey efforts for these birds with seasonal staff members, Audubon Connecticut staff and our tremendous volunteers, numbering well over 100 dedicated people. Least and Common Terns are also beginning to nest, a bit later than usual this year likely because of low prey populations (and maybe cooler water because of the extremely cold...
Read MoreA naturalist in a new setting
I recently moved from the coastline of Connecticut to an inland location. I had moved in a little bit too late in the evening to explore my new surroundings but was eager to poke around the next day. My first night as I was trying to sleep I started hearing Gray Treefrogs (Hyla versicolor) calling. This was a pleasant surprise after spending the last two years listening to American Oystercatchers (Haematopus palliatus) and other migrating shorebirds flying over. The next morning I set out to find one of the aforementioned calling frogs. It didn’t take long till I saw ideal real estate for...
Read MoreAmerican Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) by Scott Kruitbosch
The American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) is the most vibrant and unmistakable shorebird along the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts. Their loud and almost rattling “wheep” calls are filling the air of beaches and offshore islands as territories are established. Many people say they resemble clowns – what do you think?
Read MoreBeach birds and volunteer monitoring
Yesterday I was a part of beach training for the new volunteer monitors of the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW). This session, to help those entering the AAfCW program with how to safely monitor and survey Piping Plovers and Least Terns, was conducted by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection with staff from Audubon Connecticut and myself from RTPI on hand. AAfCW and our collective staff act as a bridge to aid the State of Connecticut and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, regulatory agencies for these state and, in the case of the Piping Plover,...
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