Lots of Chicks... Lots of Nests!

(updated after a nest check on Wednesday 5/29)

Least Terns - The Least Tern chicks are the most adorable right now at just a few days old and some are one week old.  We are now up to 44 nests!  Look for nests in the shells on the ocean front, sound side and the area in front of the Black Skimmers closer to the Coast Guard Station.  Some chicks are starting to run around and hopping as they spread their little stubby wings!

Look for an adult Least Tern adult with wings puffed out...
chicks will be tucked in for protection. 

American Oystercatchers – We have a total of three Oystercatcher nests and four chicks so far.  Two families have made an appearance.  CKX with 3 chicks appeared on Sunday hanging out in the shade by the dunes.

An un-banded pair made an appearance on Monday morning, after the bird walk with their chick.  They seem to be a confident pair and are closest to the Coast Guard Station and have been bringing the chick to the water regularly.  They generally spend time shading the chick with their wings and bodies between the posting and the water so be watchful when you are out on the beach and give the Oystercatchers plenty of room. Please walk between the Oystercatchers and the posting…up by the string if they are at the water.

CT4 is still incubating her three eggs and during the nest check Wednesday morning, it appears to be another 2 weeks before her chicks hatch.

photos by Marlene Eader

photos by Sherry Lane

Black Skimmers – The Black Skimmers have not lost any nests since the last nest check so that is good.  Maybe the Ruddy Turnstones (who were seen eating some Skimmer eggs earlier last week) think it’s too hot up by the nests and decided to stay by the water!

Look back in the dunes in the bottom two photos for two Common Tern nests.

Common Terns – Common Terns were hatching Wednesday morning!  Our NC Audubon biologist was able to snap a picture for us of one of the newly hatched Common Tern chicks before the parents starting diving at her!

photo by Lindsay Addison

It appears that we have more than 8 Common Tern nests, but keep checking our blog for updates.