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.
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photo by LeAnne Perry
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| photo by LeAnne Perry |
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photo by LeAnne Perry
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photo by LeAnne Perry
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| photo by LeAnne Perry |
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photo by Tom Hanna
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| photo by Tom Hanna |
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| photo by Tom Hanna |
And we had a surprise visitor fly over the inlet!
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| photo by LeAnne Perry |
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| Perhaps a salute to the Memorial Day celebration next weekend. |
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