We have a great deal more activity at the nesting area now.
Black Skimmers
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Over 260 Black Skimmers were recently counted in the posting! Skimmers are coupling up! |
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| Watching their aerial acrobatics is reason enough to come out to the colony. |
Common Terns
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| The Common Terns can be seen swooping noisily overhead... |
... trying to hide in the dunes (look carefully in these photos to see a pair of common terns in the dunes who appear to be starting a nest)
...and common terns have also been see near the front of the colony with the skimmers
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| Can you see the common tern hiding in the vegetation? |
A recent Star News article discussed a plan to upgrade the Common Tern from "special concern" to "endangered". This may cause us to be more patient and loving with our favorite dive-bomber when it gets its new status!
http://www.starnewsonline.com/news/20170426/nc-looks-to-tweak-protected-species-list
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| From StarNews article |
Least Terns
Fish presentations are happening in the posting and on the beach. But although the Least Terns are in the area but we haven’t seen as many as in past years… yet.
We have a very reduced number of Least Terns so far this year....only about 10 pairs. It could be because they remember the Great Black Back Gull predation from last year. The north end has a larger number. The Least Terns may be late nesting at the south end if their nests fail on the north end from predation.
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| The Least Terns almost blend into their surroundings! |
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| This Least Tern seems to be have decorated her nest with shells. |
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| photo from John King |
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| We have observed 2 Least Tern pairs who appeared to be sitting on nests. |
Video of Least Tern behavior on the beach....
American Oystercatchers
On Thursday (4/27) our Audubon biologist Lindsay saw 4 American Oystercatcher "nests" ....which means that each scape has eggs! We cannot see them from outside the posting as they are on top of dunes behind the first row of dunes visible from the beach.
We have observed FIVE pairs of American Oystercatchers in the posting. They are frequently seen in the front of the posting area and by the water's edge. If you look closely you can see leg bands on some.
We have observed FIVE pairs of American Oystercatchers in the posting. They are frequently seen in the front of the posting area and by the water's edge. If you look closely you can see leg bands on some.
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| photo from John King |
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| photo from John King |
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Other Visitors...
Sandwich and Royal Terns have been seem hanging out in the colony.
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| The Royal Tern (front) has an orange bill while the Sandwich Tern (rear, left) has a yellow-tipped black bill. |
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| The Royal Terns did seem to be having fun:) |
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| Willet on posting sign photo from John King |
An occasional Black Bellied Plover has been sighted.
And Willets are not only very visible but are usually the first ones we see with new chicks.
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| Black-Bellied Plover photo from Sandi Fisher Other News |
Many of you have seen the instrument that was placed in the area surrounded by Least Tern decoys. A graduate student at UNCW is doing research in our nesting colony regarding Least Tern behavior and the impact of the sand temperature.
We encourage any visitors to keep their eyes open for fishing line. This can cause serious problems for our birds when it gets entangled around their legs.
Our first Bird Walk for 2017 scheduled for Monday, April 24 was rained out. But we are going to try again this Monday, May 1st! We have FREE bird walks for the general public and the Town of Wrightsville Beach every Monday at 9 AM at Beach Access 43 from now through mid-August. We just meet by the Gazebo…. Invite your friends and family to join us!
And finally...
SAVE THE DATE….
- Fundraiser at CHIPOTLE (Mayfair) for Audubon NC
- June 6, 2017
Invite all of your friends and families to join us for dinner to learn about our nesting colony and Chipotle will provide 50% of your meal expense as a gift to Audubon NC. The more people we can get there, the better!!
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