Wrightsville Beach Bird Stewards: It's That Time of Year Again!

Every year, a special group of birds including American Oystercatchers, Least Terns, Black Skimmers, Common Terns and last year Gull-Billed Terns migrate to beaches along the Atlantic Flyway to nest. Wrightsville Beach is one of those lucky beaches. The Wrightsville Beach nesting colony is right on the south end of the busy beach which provides the perfect opportunity to share with the public the wonder of one of the largest colonies of beach nesting birds in North Carolina.

Disturbance to nesting areas by people and dogs is dangerous to nesting birds! Suitable, undisturbed habitat is declining for beach-nesting birds due to coastal development and human recreational activity. Posts and signs help beach-goers be aware they are sharing the beach with nesting birds and at a safe distance. Wrightsville Beach School’s fifth-grade class make artwork for the signs every year as part of a unit of study about our coastal environment. Production of the signs is sponsored by the Harbor Island Garden Club, which also works with the students.

Beach-nesting birds are adapted to nest on open, sandy beaches. They usually prefer areas with sparse vegetation that allows them to see all around them and can’t hide a predator’s approach. Seven bird species nest on Wrightsville Beach, five of which are in the south end posting.

The Least Tern, Black Skimmer, Common Tern, and Gull-billed Tern are Colonial Nesters. Most of these species nest in large groups called colonies and use a group defense called mobbing in which they dive at, poop on, and harass predators (or people) until they leave the colony.

The American Oystercatcher, Wilson’s Plover, and Willet are Solitary (non-colonial) Nesters. They defend a territory and exclude other birds of the same species. They will attempt to distract a predator (or person) and some will try to lure the predator (or person) away from their eggs or chicks by pretending to be injured.

All species at the south end are excellent parents. In all of these species the male and female share incubation and chick-rearing duties, and both are attentive to their nests. (The lone difference is that Willet females tend to leave their broods and mates before the chicks have fledged.)

2020 Nesting Pairs at South Wrightsville Beach

Least Tern
226
Common Tern
10
Gull-billed Tern
8
Black Skimmer
134
American Oystercatcher
2
Willet
3
Wilson’s Plover
0

Least Tern

Least Terns are the most numerous species on Wrightsville Beach. We are already seeing large groups congregating in what could be called a "meet and greet" as they arrive from Central and South America

Their high-pitched calls fill the air. The males court the females by flying in circles carrying a fish. If she is impressed she will fly with him and then land, and the pair will mate. Their chicks leave the nest in 2-3 days of hatching, when they seek shade. The parents feed them whole fish and bring larger and larger fish as the chicks grow older. The parents and chicks recognize each other by call, and so the parents usually only feed their own offspring.

Black Skimmer

Everyone knows the Black Skimmers, which can be seen “skimming” the surface of the sound early in the morning and late in the day. Their specialized bill—the lower mandible is longer than the upper—is unique among birds. They catch baitfish and anything else on the water’s surface.

Recently over 150 Black Skimmers were seen hanging out on the South End of Wrightsville Beach. Their call is a doglike “bark” and they also lie flat on the ground like a dog—no, they’re not dead, they’re just resting. They are related to terns, and like them, Black Skimmer chicks leave the nest scrape to find shade and shelter after 2-3 days. The parents bring the chicks fish until they fledge.

Common Tern

Common Terns are extremely aggressive! While the other terns and skimmers will fly at intruders and poop, Common Terns will strike your head if you enter their territories. Common Tern courtship is impressive. Their "dance moves" almost seem to be choreographed. Their chicks are like the Least Tern’s: they leave the nest within 2-3 days of hatching and the parents feed them whole fish. Courtship is similar to the Least Terns.

photo by Tom Hanna

Gull-billed Tern

An unconventional tern, Gull-billed Terns feed not on baitfish but on crabs, lizards, and other terrestrial or marsh-based prey. They had not nested on a beach in the Cape Fear Region for at least 10 years until two pairs showed up at the south end in June in 2013. One of those pairs nested, but that nest failed. We were surprised to see 8 pairs of Gull-billed Terns successfully nest on the south end in 2020.

American Oystercatcher

American Oystercatchers court with loud piping displays, both while running on the ground and while flying. Their chicks are “precocial,” meaning they can walk the same day they hatch. They walk around, pecking the ground and probably eating small insects and other items from the wrack, but their main food is shellfish their parents bring them. After they fledge, they are still dependent on their parents for up to 60 more days because their bills are still developing and aren’t strong enough to open the shellfish they eat. They learn how to do this with a combination of instinct and watching their parents.

Willet

Willet are secretive nesters, and we do not monitor their nests. Their chicks are also precocial, and unlike the oystercatchers they feed themselves on insects and other invertebrates while the parents brood (shelter) them and herd them away from danger. The female usually leaves about two weeks after they hatch and the male finishes raising the chicks.

Wilson’s Plover

The Wilson’s Plover specializes in eating fiddler crabs, but they pick other invertebrates out of the wrack line. Their chicks are like the Willets’ in that they feed themselves from the day that they hatch while the parents herd and brood them as needed. They have not nested at the south end, but a few pairs try every year at the north end. In 2013 a pair briefly hung out at the south end, but it did not nest.

Lots to see....