Wrightsville Beach Bird Stewards: Skimmer School in Full Swing

Update from Thursday, July 23

BLACK SKIMMERS

Black Skimmer adult feeding juvenile
(photo by Kevin Giannini)

Juvenile Black Skimmer resting in the sand.
(photo by Kathy Hannah)

This is the time of the nesting season to truly appreciate the dedication of the Black Skimmer parents to train their young. The frequent heat index of >100 degrees makes it a critical time for the skimmer parents to get their chicks to the water, and the “chick parade” is being enjoyed by many stewards and beachgoers.

photo by Mary-Ann Walton

The Black Skimmer parents organize themselves to begin this process. Several adults stand at the water’s edge while other adults spread out in the sand area between the posting and the water… facing each other. The parents call the chicks and the chicks (as a group and in a row!) walk between the adults that were facing each other to the water. Up to 78 chicks were counted in the first parade…and this often continues throughout the day. Last Sunday, there were 122 chicks/fledglings at the water!

Video on YouTube
Black Skimmers on Wrightsville Beach

Some of the fledglings have been flying with a parent and watching the parent model skimming the surface of the water… SKIMMER SCHOOL is happening. A couple of fledglings have been seen over the water as they fly back to the group over calmer water and SKIM!

Juvenile Black Skimmer landing after a successful flight!
(photo by Kevin Giannini)

Adult Black Skimmer demonstrating "skimming".
(photo by John Sutton)

Juvenile Black Skimmer practicing "skimming"
(photo by Kathy Hannah)

A couple of Black Skimmer chicks have been trying to use the “beach condos”. One skimmer chick was seen completely in one of the structures, and another was only able to get his head in! The adult stands by the condo with the chick.

LEAST TERNS

We have a variety of sizes of chicks of the Least Terns because of re-nesting. All of the nests that had been being monitored have hatched so there are no new nests to report.

photo by Kevin Giannini

photo by Mary-Ann Walton

photo by Michelle Frazier

Chicks have been spending the days finding shade wherever they can….by plants, squeezing in the condos, and in the shade of the signs on the posting. A couple of chicks were digging scrapes in the condos to make more room for other chicks! As many as 4-5 chicks have been seen in a single condo!