Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Friday, August 21, 2015
Nesting Season Winding Down
Many of the Wrightsville Beach Bird Stewards are beginning to feel like empty nesters. The nesting season is winding down, but there are still lots of birds using the posting as they prepare for migration.
Least Terns
It appears that the Least Terns have begun migration, with only a very few remaining at the nesting colony. The Great Black Backed Gulls were feasting on some of our sweet chicks, so the parents may have determined that an early start on migration would be a good idea. We wish them a safe flight and look forward to seeing them again next year!
Great Black Backed Gull (photo by Laura Scullin) |
Black Skimmers
We still have lots of Black Skimmers at the colony with several new chicks! On Tuesday, August 11 ninety-nine (99) Black Skimmer fledglings and ninety-one (91) Black Skimmer adults were counted. A large number will continue to roost in the inlet area and the southern Wrightsville Beach posting until October. The Black Skimmers seem to be staging to get ready for migration and will join other groups that migrate to our area in the next couple of months.
Two of our Bird Stewards noticed several very young Black Skimmer chicks just this past week. The posting will remain in place to protect these little ones. The practice is to leave the posting up for 2 weeks past the last chick fledging….unless something happens to that little chick.
(photo by Laura Scullin) |
(photo by Laura Scullin) |
(photo by Laura Scullin) |
(photo by Laura Scullin) |
(photo by Laura Scullin) |
(photo by Laura Scullin) |
(photo by Laura Scullin) |
(photo by Laura Scullin) |
(photo by Don Ellson) |
(photo by John Sutton) |
Successful skimming by a juvenile Black Skimmer (photo by John Sutton) |
(photo by John Sutton) |
American Oystercatchers
A pair of Oystercatchers were seen roosting in the posting this past week. The two banded juveniles were spotted on Wednesday night (8/12) so they are still in the inlet area. Yay!
Terns
The Common Terns appear to have begun migration. We have had Royal Terns and Sandwich Terns roosting in the posting this week as well as one Gull Billed Tern. The Royal and Sandwich Terns nest on our river islands in the Cape Fear, so it is always a joy to see them up close on southern Wrightsville Beach!
Two Sandwich Terns hanging out with a Black Skimmer. (photo by Don Ellson) |
Sandwich Terns (photo by John Sutton) |
LAST BIRD WALK
The last official Bird Walk for the Town of Wrightsville Beach was led Monday, August 10. But the Wrightsville Beach Bird Stewards will continue to monitor the area until the postings come down. And as migration season brings birds traveling along the Atlantic Flyway there will be lots to see!
(photo by Laura Scullin) |
(photo by Laura Scullin) |
Thursday, August 6, 2015
Skimmer Final Exams, Ruddy Turnstones Visit, & Bird TV Stars
The Black Skimmer juveniles are almost ready to be one their own. Most have mastered flight and many are already "skimming".
Successful season for beach nesting birds at Wrightsville Beach
Click on the link below to see the video from WECT. It seems watching a 30 second advertisement is a prerequisite to viewing the clip:)
Successful season for beach nesting birds at Wrightsville Beach - WECT TV6-WECT.com:News, weather & sports Wilmington, NC
Successful season for beach nesting birds at Wrightsville Beach - WECT TV6-WECT.com:News, weather & sports Wilmington, NC
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
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!
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.
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!
photo by Kevin Giannini |
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!
Shade from condo (photo by Laura Scullin) |
Shade from plants (photo by Kathy Hannah) |
Shade from parent (photo by Kathy Hannah) |
Shade from postings (photo by Kathy Hannah) |
OYSTERCATCHERS
Our two Oystercatcher chicks CP2 and CP3 are doing very well and are continuing to grow. We might see them flying soon!
photo by Kathy Hannah |
Friday, July 17, 2015
Chicks Everywhere!
We are halfway through the Wrightsville Beach 2015 nesting season. Most of the chicks are already learning to fly and some are even finding their own food. Many Black Skimmer and Least Tern fledglings can now be seen along the shore lined up with their parents. They all put on a great show!
Black Skimmers and Their Fledglings (video)
Here are some photo highlights from my time on the beach last Wednesday, 12-3 p.m.
Here are some photo highlights from my time on the beach last Wednesday, 12-3 p.m.
Black Skimmers
Least Terns
Sunday, July 12, 2015
Colony (and Bird Stewards) Survive the Fourth of July
I was on the beach last Saturday (July 4th) from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. It was a busy day full of lots of entertainment inside and outside of the postings. The wind caused the colony to become the unintended target for several misguided beach/soccer balls as well as some LARGE beach flotation devices. But everyone worked together and we were able to not only keep the chicks safe but also had lots of opportunities to share our nesting birds and chicks with new people who were visiting for the holiday.
Here are some highlights from the last two weeks.....
As the chicks are growing they are eager to explore areas outside the postings and sometimes still need help getting back.
Least Terns
Common Terns
Black Skimmers
American Oystercatchers
The two banded American Oystercatcher chicks continue to be seen both in the postings and exploring the shoreline with a parent. In addition beachgoers are frequently "entertained" by the sight and sounds of large groups of American Oystercatchers flying overhead. The explanation for this behavior (from NC Audubon biologist, Lindsay Addison) is.....
" ... piping and flying around behavior is similar to territorial behavior seen early in the nesting season. These birds engaging in the piping flocks are probably birds that have failed for the season (lost nests or chicks) but still have some hormones pinging around in their systems that tell them to be territorial, do displays, and generally make a nuisance of themselves (or so might say the pairs still raising chicks). Hormone levels are generally controlled by photoperiod (day length), so as the days lengthen, the territorial behavior wanes, but it will be another month or so before they settle down for good into cordial winter flocks."
Two Surprise Visitors
On July 3rd a banded Black Skimmer was seen in the front of the posting. It was wearing a metal federal band. Thanks to Mike and Melody's scope and good light and good luck, the band number could be read from outside the posting. It was banded July 3, 2013 as a chick. Now this year, it has a mate and two downy chicks! Later in the afternoon, there was only one adult near the bush where the chicks had been hiding out and it was sitting down, so who knows if this is the banded bird or not, but it could be. One of the Common Terns with fledglings was fussing overhead.
Several migrating Black Terns have been stopping by the colony. This is a "life bird" for many of us!
Monday Bird Walks
Our Monday morning Bird Walks (leaving from Beach Access #43 every Monday morning at 9 a.m.) continue to be very successful. If you haven't had a chance to join us, you are in for a treat! If you've been on a walk before, come back because there is always something new to see.
Royal Tern Banding
A group of Bird Stewards had a great adventure last Thursday as they gathered along the Cape Fear River to band these Royal Terns.
Our thanks to Don Ellson who was able to document the experience with his photos and description of the process!
And a Thank You to...
1) The Lumina News for another great article about the colony
Black Skimmer Nests Reach Record High at Wrightsville Beach
2) Marlene Eader for representing the Wrightsville Beach Bird Stewards so eloquently at the National Audubon Society Convention in Washington, DC this weekend.
3) John Vorisek for capturing this beautiful photo of a rainbow over the colony!
Here are some highlights from the last two weeks.....
As the chicks are growing they are eager to explore areas outside the postings and sometimes still need help getting back.
Lindsay Addison taking a picture of a well camouflaged chick outside the postings. |
Flying Least Tern Fledglings (photos by Catherine Cloud) |
"Condos" continue to protect Least Tern chicks from the sun and heat. (photo by John Sutton) |
Ghost crab being "discouraged" from sharing the beach with the terns. (photo by John Sutton) |
Least tern chicks doing what they do best.... being adorable! (photos by Kathy Hannah) |
Enjoy the fluffy, small least tern chicks before they enter their "fledgling" stage. (photos by Kathy Hannah) |
Common Terns competing for a spot on the posting and a "soft landing" on the beach (photos by John Sutton) |
Fledgling (on the left) with Common Tern parent. These fledglings are HUGE! (photo by Kathy Hannah) |
Cute AND entertaining Black Skimmer chicks photos by Kathy Hannah) |
a few Black Skimmers were still sitting on eggs/ Skimmer chicks camouflaged in the sand and hiding in the grasses (photos by Kathy Hannah) |
The two banded American Oystercatcher chicks continue to be seen both in the postings and exploring the shoreline with a parent. In addition beachgoers are frequently "entertained" by the sight and sounds of large groups of American Oystercatchers flying overhead. The explanation for this behavior (from NC Audubon biologist, Lindsay Addison) is.....
" ... piping and flying around behavior is similar to territorial behavior seen early in the nesting season. These birds engaging in the piping flocks are probably birds that have failed for the season (lost nests or chicks) but still have some hormones pinging around in their systems that tell them to be territorial, do displays, and generally make a nuisance of themselves (or so might say the pairs still raising chicks). Hormone levels are generally controlled by photoperiod (day length), so as the days lengthen, the territorial behavior wanes, but it will be another month or so before they settle down for good into cordial winter flocks."
photo by Jen Johnson |
On July 3rd a banded Black Skimmer was seen in the front of the posting. It was wearing a metal federal band. Thanks to Mike and Melody's scope and good light and good luck, the band number could be read from outside the posting. It was banded July 3, 2013 as a chick. Now this year, it has a mate and two downy chicks! Later in the afternoon, there was only one adult near the bush where the chicks had been hiding out and it was sitting down, so who knows if this is the banded bird or not, but it could be. One of the Common Terns with fledglings was fussing overhead.
photo by Lindsay Addison |
photo by John Sutton |
Our Monday morning Bird Walks (leaving from Beach Access #43 every Monday morning at 9 a.m.) continue to be very successful. If you haven't had a chance to join us, you are in for a treat! If you've been on a walk before, come back because there is always something new to see.
Black Skimmer, Common Tern, Least Tern lined up on the beach (nice of them to cooperate and stay still for this photo) (photo by Kathy Hannah) |
A group of Bird Stewards had a great adventure last Thursday as they gathered along the Cape Fear River to band these Royal Terns.
Our thanks to Don Ellson who was able to document the experience with his photos and description of the process!
Clockwise from top left:
Gathering chicks on the beach/
One stubborn mother won't budge/
Arriving at the corral/
Driving down the beach |
Clockwise from top left:
Into the corral/
In the corral/
My baby must be hungry by now!/
Which one's my baby? |
Clockwise from top left:
Beginning the banding process/
Banding a baby/
Banding 101 session /
Crimping an older chick |
1) The Lumina News for another great article about the colony
Black Skimmer Nests Reach Record High at Wrightsville Beach
2) Marlene Eader for representing the Wrightsville Beach Bird Stewards so eloquently at the National Audubon Society Convention in Washington, DC this weekend.
photo by Lindsay Addison |