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.