It Just Keeps Getting Better!

Black Skimmers –

We have the largest colony of Black Skimmers in the State of NC this year with 184 nests and lots of chicks to show people!

Chicks are hatching, feeding, running around and being shaded by parents throughout the day.  

Bold chicks are leaving the posting and heading to the water on their own. If you see a chick heading for the water on its own, allow it to get to the water to cool off and get a drink.  It would only make that move if it is critical.  Watch for the chicks and enjoy! 

CHICKS ARE OUTSIDE OF THE POSTING!!!

IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE AWARE THAT CHICKS ARE OUTSIDE OF THE FENCED AREA AND WE ALL NEED TO WATCH OUR STEP.  THE CHICKS HIDE IN FOOTPRINTS AND THE TIRE TRACKS. 

These pictures were taken on the beach this week.  All of these chicks are very much alive.  They freeze when they are scared and then can't be seen.  If you see this just carefully go up to the chick and gently touch it.  That should cause the chicks to run back into the posting.

Least Terns –We have various stages of nesting….birds incubating eggs, newly hatched adorable Least Tern chicks, and we counted 18 fledgling Least Tern chicks including some that are learning to fly!  The Least Tern parents are busy incubating eggs, fishing & feeding chicks and encouraging their older chicks to try new flying skills!   

Look how the Least Tern chicks are camouflaged in the sand. 
AND notice how chicks from the same parent can have different coloring! 

We still have 61 nests!  Nests are located on the ocean front, inlet side and the area in front of the Black Skimmers closer to the Coast Guard Station. 

American Oystercatchers – We have a total of three Oystercatcher pairs and have one chick currently on the beach.  The third pair with one banded CT4 made a brief appearance with a new chick on Thursday early morning (6/20) but we have not seen it since. 

photo by Tom Hanna

photo by Tom Hanna

As you know, CKX & mate loss their chicks on June 3. This pair has left the south end.

The un-banded pair with their one chick have been bringing the chick to the water regularly and feeding at low tide.  We watched this chick get fed by both parents over 8 times the other day during falling and low tide.  This chick is now 4 weeks old as of Sunday, 6/23.  The parents generally spend time by the plants close to the dune, at the water’s edge and they accompany their chick behind the dunes.  

Common Terns – Common Terns were hatching and chicks have been spotted by stewards.  Common Tern chicks are good size now and the parents have been extremely intent on protecting their chicks and have been rather aggressive with beachgoers that they perceive as being too close!

We have 13 Common Tern nests with several still incubating eggs and several raising some sizeable chicks!

Our free weekly Monday morning Bird Walks have been well attended.  There is so much to see and we love sharing the action with everyone who can attend!