The End of the Nesting Season = Success and Sadness

The last few weeks we have been seeing less and less of our nesting birds. Last Friday the terns were all gone. There were still some American Oystercatchers and Black Skimmers with their fledglings but soon most of them will also head south. Our bird stewards have done an incredible job keeping the nesting area secure and sharing lots of information and close-ups of the chicks with the public. I'm still not sure who had more fun.... those of us showing the fuzzy chicks or the delighted beach walkers seeing a baby tern/ oystercatcher/skimmer for the first time. I think we all have a new appreciation for the emotions behind "empty nest syndrome"!

Here are a few pictures from our last several beach walks (August 9, 16, 23).  The weekly Audubon Bird Walks will continue at the southern end of the beach Friday mornings at 9 until mid-September.

Audubon Art Works presents…. Gyotaku in the Gazebo

Gyotaku is the traditional method of Japanese fish printing, dating from the   mid-1800s that is now practiced around the world. This form of printing was   used by Japanese fishermen as a means of keeping record of their catches.

Despite the threat of rain we had a creative group of all ages join us at the gazebo Thursday morning. We learned about the special habitat and food sources of wild birds living and nesting on Wrightsville Beach. Then using pinfish,  mullet, etc.,we got messy and imaginative as we made our own Gyotaku fish     print creations. 

Many thanks to local artist and teacher, Kristen Frey for this experience!!!!

Lindsay and Marlene made some pipe cleaner bird "footprints" for us to use....

Tara brought us some fish!

and with Kristen's help we created our masterpieces!