Let's Do It Again

Much as I love seeing the azaleas blooming, the nuthatches and bluebirds raising a new generation in my birdhouses, and feeling the excitement of all that spring brings..... the best part for me is starting a new season for the Wrightsville Beach Bird Stewards.  

This will be the fifth year that the Wrightsville Beach Bird Stewards "officially" welcome least terns, common terns, black skimmers, oystercatchers, willets and other nesting shore birds. The birds have been nesting at the south end of Wrightsville Beach for nine years!

The 2017 season began on April 1 with a training and orientation session for old and new WBBS (Wrightsville Beach Bird Stewards).

Lindsay Addison shared the history of the Wrightsville Beach nesting colony and recapped the nesting colony's successes and challenges last year.

The next day (4/2) the nesting area was officially posted.

And as if the birds knew it was now safe, bird migration is underway and birds are arriving on the South End.

We had four pairs of American Oystercatchers staking out territory at the south end almost immediately.  They are feeding during low tide (because bi-valves are exposed!) so if you are on the beach at that time, you may not see them, but they roost in the posting during mid & high tide.  We keep waiting for nesting behaviors.

Early Monday morning (4/10 ) lots of action was observed by one of our WBBS. Willets, three juvenile white ibis, twelve black skimmers, more than thirty least terns, two royal terns, three plovers, and four oystercatchers were seen!  

On Tuesday (4/11) Lindsay counted sixty least terns and four pairs of oystercatchers.  

Sixteen least tern decoys were put out hoping to attract a nice colony again this year.

FIRST BIRD WALK FOR THE 2017 SEASON... Monday, April 24 at 9 AM

Our first official Audubon Bird Walk for the Town of Wrightsville Beach is scheduled for Monday, April 24 at 9 AM.  We always meet at the gazebo at beach access 43.  Invite your family and friends!