We Have Least Tern Chicks!

NEST CHECK UPDATE – Our Audubon biologist did a nest check early Sunday, May 19 morning…

LEAST TERNS – We have 19 nesting on the south end and at least four of the nests already have chicks, with more hatching every day.  Look closely at the pairs in the shells on the inlet side, and up by the Black Skimmer nest marked by a tongue depressor BS17 in the shells…also inlet side.

These pictures of the new Least Tern chicks are reason enough for everyone to head for the beach!

The chicks are well camouflaged in the shells and sand.
photo by Michelle Frazier

New chicks are occasionally left on their own for short periods of time while the parents look for food.
photo by Michelle Frazier

photo by Michelle Frazier

photo by Michelle Frazier

Can you see the chick on the right tucked under the parent's wing?
photo by Michelle Frazier

Look VERY CLOSELY to the left of the parent and you will see a chick peeking out!
 photo by Michelle Frazier

photo by Michelle Frazier

Feeding Time
photo by Michelle Frazier

A family portrait
photo by Michelle Frazier

photo by Michelle Frazier

OYSTERCATCHERS – The oystercatchers have three nests (eggs) and continue to incubate them.   You will see two banded Oystercatchers CKX and CT4.  CKX had a chick last year at the south end and a picture of this particular bird with last year’s mate and chick is on the Wrightsville Beach Bird Steward shirts this year! 

You will commonly see a lone oystercatcher cooling by the water (hanging out with the Skimmers!) while the other oystercatcher is on the nest.

BLACK SKIMMERS – We have the largest colony of Black Skimmers in the State of North Carolina this year on the south end.  The high count yesterday was 368 Black Skimmers!

It was  confirmed on Sunday (5/19) that the Skimmers are in the process of laying eggs and the nests observed had 1 or 2 egg clutches.

COMMON TERNS – We have 8 pairs of Common Terns close to the dunes among the Black Skimmers.  One pair of Common Terns chose to nest on the ocean side of the posting.  This pair was consistently up off the nest, dive bombing people and while they were doing that Laughing Gulls would come in and attempt to take an egg.  The poor Common Tern was trying to protect her nest from people and gulls at the same time!

(About 33 Black Skimmers are seen apparently nesting on the ocean side of the posting close to this Common Tern pair along the dune and in the vegetation.)

WILLETS – It is very likely that we have Willet chicks now since the behavior of the Willets has become more protective as you attempt to leave through access 44.  The only time we have seen Willet chicks is in the very early morning walking along the water towards the Coast Guard Station.