The challenges of nature continue as stewards have seen crows trying to steal eggs and watched ghost crabs in the nesting area. With this week's full moon we have also had to repost several areas that were washed away with the high tide.
In addition to the Skimmers, there are common terns with eggs in their nests and
lots of sightings of least terns courting in the area.
Don't forget to look for the Oystercatchers sitting on their nest at the top of the dune!
(Look closely to see her facing front and then turning her back :)
BIRD UPDATE
We have 4 pairs of Oystercatchers within the posting and 3 have nests with eggs. The first nest that we have been watching with our scope is due to hatch any day now so we will be watching it carefully for signs of the hatching!
Courtship and scraping continues with the Black Skimmers and we expect eggs on the ground this week.
Some Least Terns have returned and began nesting this week. We had several eggs on the ground this week, but there was no evidence of the nests on Saturday night… we believe that some were raided by some Ruddy Turnstones we observed in the posting, others abandoned by disturbances and/or covered by the blowing sands and high winds and another crushed by an individual who went into the posting one evening…
I would like to get involved as a volunteer to help at this breeding site. Who do I contact regarding this? I previously volunteered with Skywatch Wildbird Rescue.
ReplyDeleteHi Mary Ann. I am the Volunteer Coordinator for Audubon NC and we would love to have you help as a Wrightsville Beach bird steward! Just email me at marlene.eader@gmail.com and we can plan to meet up at the beach and talk about it! Let's get together soon!!!
ReplyDeleteHey Marlene - I'm not certain if you received an earlier reply, but I wanted to let you know Im very interested in meeting. I received an email from Nancy Fahey re: the problems at the North End. I'd like to help if I can. Email me @: waltonmaryann@gmail.com
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