Common Tern Chicks Make an Appearance and Least Tern Chicks Find Shelter

A Least Tern family found refuge in one of the "condos".

The Least Terns are working hard to keep their eggs and chicks safe from the many predators on the beach. At least one chick was seen in a shelter and the parents were not only staying close by but were seen taking food into the shelter.

A predator with an appetite for eggs, the Ruddy Turnstone, continues to be seen in the colony.

photo by Renee Tevelow

Two Common Tern chicks were seen in the dunes Thursday (5/27) morning.  They were quite a distance away and surrounded by vegetation which made it difficult to see but were still too cute not to share.  

We are still waiting for the Black Skimmer chicks to hatch but over 200 adult Black Skimmers were seen recently at the water's edge.

And our American Oystercatcher family is making frequent trips to the beach with their two chicks.

In the middle of the week three American Oystercatchers were seen hanging out together.  With a closer look you can see the CT4 band on one of them. Since CT4 and mate were seen together on the oceanside of the nesting colony without chicks last week it appears that they have lost their chicks.

photo by Renee Tevelow

Other visitors...

Royal Terns are often seen visiting the colony.
(photo by Renee Tevelow)

Sanderlings can be seen running on the shoreline.
(photo by Renee Tevelow)

It's going to be a busy holiday weekend at the beach.  Enjoy yourselves and keep an eye out for chicks if you get to the beach!

(uncredited photos by Kathy Hannah)

An Afternoon With Our American Oystercatcher Family

American Oystercatcher chicks are PRECOCIAL which means they hatch with their eyes open, covered with down, and leave the nest within two days.  They trail after their parents and are shown food. Because of this beach visitors are able to watch these chicks at the water's edge during low tide.  

It is especially important to give the parents and chicks as much opportunity as possible to leave the safety of the dunes and come to the shoreline to feed and cool off.  When someone walks near them one parent quickly leads the chicks to a safe place. Sometimes that safe place is being tucked in under the parent as they wait.

MEANWHILE.....

The Least Terns continue nesting and protecting their new chicks from predators. The Common Terns, Black Skimmers, and Gull-billed Terns are incubating their eggs as we wait to see their chicks running around the beach soon.

photo by LeAnne Perry

photo by LeAnne Perry

photo by LeAnne Perry

photo by LeAnne Perry

photo by LeAnne Perry

photo by Tom Hanna

photo by Tom Hanna

photo by Tom Hanna

And we had a surprise visitor fly over the inlet! 

photo by LeAnne Perry

Perhaps a salute to the Memorial Day celebration next weekend.

American Oystercatcher Chicks and MORE

photos by Lindsay Addison

American Oystercatchers

Our NC Audubon biologist Lindsay Addison checked on the status of the Oystercatcher nests last night (5/19/21) and took these adorable pictures to share of CT4's new chicks. The other nest on the inlet side is still being incubated and the good news is there are still 3 eggs in that nest.

Least Terns

Incubation continues for the Least Terns and most of the day is spent protecting their chicks from predators. 

There are hundreds of Least Tern nests on the beach.

Some nests are in the vegetation but most are on the open beach.

 

As the days become hotter, you will see the parent birds continuing to protect their chicks from heat stress by shading them or standing close to the chicks as the chicks seek shelter/shade by a nearby plant.

Shelters have been placed on the beach to help the chicks
find refuge from predators and the intense sun.

Ruddy Turnstones, Ghost crabs, various gulls, and crows continue to seek out Least Tern eggs and chicks.  

Gull-billed Terns

A beachgoer, Liling Warren, took an outstanding photograph of a Gull-billed Tern returning from the marsh with a mud crab.

photo by Liling Warren

The Gull-billed Tern will look for mud crabs and lizards and various insects….but it appears that the Gull-Billed Terns are also seeking out the Least Tern chicks.   We were hoping that would not be the case on the south end because of the easy access to the marshes.   You may notice the Gull-billed Terns circling the colony with their bills aimed toward the ground looking for chicks.  In the event they swoop down, the Least Tern parents will mob the Gull-billed Tern.

Tom Hanna was able to catch the Gull-billed Terns in their
obvious hunting mode as they looked for Least Tern chicks.
(photos by Tom Hanna)

So although the Least Terns and Gull-billed Terns peacefully share a page in David Sidlbey's Sibley Birds East, they are not peacefully sharing the colony.

Black Skimmers

Courtship, mating, nesting and incubating are all continuing with the Black Skimmers

Black Skimmers exhibiting "mobbing" behavior

Skimmers can be seen nesting throughout the colony.

photo by Karen Lorenzo

Other observations...

If you haven't had an opportunity to get to the beach yet this season here are two very helpful signs to summarize what is happening.

And finally... last week I watched an interesting form of courtship between two Least Terns as they seem to perform a ritualistic head movement right before mating.  Today I saw it again and was able to film the event.  Perhaps this is part of their foreplay:)

First Least Tern Chick Makes An Appearance

Lindsay Addison, our NC Audubon Biologist, counted 259 Least Tern nests in the colony on Tuesday, 5/11.  And we have chicks! The chicks blend into their surroundings and spend a lot of time safely under a parent. But with some luck and patience you will see them.  And soon they will be running all over the beach.

There is lots of activity underway on the south end…including courtship, mating, nesting and incubating eggs! 

It is a challenge counting the Black Skimmers and Common Terns because of all of the vegetation but when the colony “flushes” we can easily see over 500 birds! 

 

Some of you may be wondering what causes the birds to all fly up.  First look for the obvious .... a person that is too close to the posting or a Gull or Crow(s).  Then look on the ground for a potential disturbance. We  have seen a Ruddy Turnstone walking around the colony and Ruddy Turnstones are known to predate eggs.  Tuesday morning some Wrightsville Beach Bird Stewards saw a beautiful Corn Snake at Beach Access 43 going into the dunes.  Often, especially in the early part of the breeding season, for no known reason, most or all of the terns will fly in silence low and fast over the colony or out to the water. This phenomenon is called a "dread flight".

 

Least Terns

Look closely at the Least Tern nests for evidence of hatching which is just beginning.  Parents sitting on nests will have their wings lightly extended to shade chicks as they hatch.  

 

Black Skimmers

Black Skimmers continue with fish presentations, scrape making and mating.  Nesting and incubating will begin shortly.

 

Gull-Billed Terns

The Gull-Billed Terns have a unique courtship behavior and several of us were able to witness what appears to be a little dance.  The couple lightly extend their wings and walk in a circle around each other before mating.

 

Other birds…Spring Migration is still underway and you may see other birds on the beach.  Look for other shorebirds including Red Knots and Semi-palmated Sandpipers who are in the area now. A group of Short-billed Dowitchers made an appearance today.  And a large group of Royal Terns gathered on the east side of the colony for awhile.

Short-billed Dowitchers

Royal Terns made a brief stop in the middle of the Least Tern nesting area and were quickly made to feel unwelcomed!

Activity in the colony is just starting to get busy!