More Chicks, More Nests, More Excitement

Our Bird Walks every Monday morning continue to be well attended. 

photo by Laura Scullin

And each week our guests have more to see....

AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS

As previously reported, the American Oystercatchers have four nests on the south end.  Lindsay (NC Audubon Staff member) did her nest check Friday (5/29) morning and discovered that three of those nests have hatched and the fourth nest was in the process of hatching. One chick had already hatched and two eggs showed signs of hatching soon.  Many visitors have been watching the pair on the SE corner of the posting shading their one chick for the past week and capturing wonderful pictures! 

photo by Don Ellson

photo by Laura Scullin

photo by Laura Scullin

The pair closest to the front dune by the “highway” of the nesting colony has 3 chicks.  Our stewards are also getting great pictures of these adorable chicks!  Look for the chicks shading themselves under plants growing on the front large dune on the sound side of the posting.  

photo by Don Ellson

photo by Kathy Hannah

photo by Sherry Lane

photo by Bonnie-Jeanne Berg

photo by Bonnie-Jeanne Berg

BLACK SKIMMERS

We have over 200 Black Skimmers scraping, laying eggs and now incubating eggs. 

Skimmers with "catch of the day"
photo by Laura Scullin

Skimmers nesting by the dunes
photo by Laura Scullin 

photo by Laura Scullin

photo by Kathy Hannah

    COMMON TERNS

During Friday’s nest check, two more Common Tern nests were discovered.  We now have a total of 12 nests… and two of the nests have hatched.  We expect to see Common Tern chicks in the front of the dunes within the posting soon.  The chicks will stay close to the plants to shade themselves with a parent close by, so if you see an adult Common Tern standing in front of the dunes, look for chicks under the plants!

Common Terns often stand guard on the posts
and will dive at you if they feel threatened.
photo by Laura Scullin

LEAST TERNS

The Least Terns have nested and are incubating eggs.  We expect to have chicks hatching within the next 2 weeks.   They are nesting in all the open sand areas of the south end including the point by the inlet and behind and in front of the ocean front dunes. 

So many least tern nests promise lots of chicks!
photo by Laura Scullin

The next 6 weeks are the most critical for the colony as the parents attempt to keep eggs from crows and other predators and to protect chicks from injury from heat stress. It is so very important to keep dogs off the beach and to always keep a distance from the posting. The reward will be lots of baby chicks running around the beach.

American Crow with an egg being chased by least terns.
photo by John Sutton

COMMING ATTRACTIONS

Here are some pictures from previous years as a reminder of what's to come!

Least tern chicks (2011)
photo by Kathy Hannah

Least Tern chick (2011)
photo by Kathy Hannah

"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." - John Muir

Nature has been providing some incredible "aha moments" at the southern end of Wrightsville Beach and we have some amazing photographers out there capturing it all to share with us!

“To photograph is to hold one’s breath, when all faculties converge to capture fleeting reality. It’s at that precise moment that mastering an image becomes a great physical and intellectual joy.” ~Henri Cartier-Bresson

This week I'll let the pictures do the "talking".

(photo by Kathy Hannah)

This Willet was making its presence known by calling and diving at anyone nearby.  If you see any of the birds upset please respect them and walk a bit farther from the postings.

This particular Willet was concerned because the chicks were nearby.

Willet Family
 (photo by Michelle Frazier)

Willets at the water's edge
(photo by Michelle Frazier)

These Willet chicks were seen a bit TOO close to the water last week. When a wave seemed to be taking one chick out into the sound one of our Bird Stewards went into the water to rescue it. That is Bird Stewarding at its BEST.


The big news this week is the arrival of our Amerian Oystercatcher chicks. 

(photo by Sharna Tolfree, NC Audubon Staff)

(photo by Sharna Tolfree, NC Audubon Staff)

One of the chicks has been seen coming out of the dunes and staying close to a parent to keep cool under a hot sun.

(photo by Laura Scullin)

American Oystercatcher Family Portrait
(photo by Bonnie-Jeane Berg)

This is NOT a four legged Oystercatcher. Just a chick seeking shelter.
(photo by Kathy Hannah)

Another American Oystercatcher family has three chicks.

Can you spot the third chick?
(photo by Michelle Frazier)

Meanwhile the Common Terns, Least Terns, and Black Skimmers are busy courting, mating, and defending their nests. 

Least Tern brining a fish to a nesting mate.
(photo by Don Ellison)

Common Tern attacking a marauding crow.
(photo by John Sutton)

Black Skimmer not happy with crows in the nesting area.
(photo by John Sutton)

Least Tern chasing a Common Tern.
Common Terns seem to enjoying taking the path of "least" resistance
and try to take a fish from a Least Tern rather than catching their own.
(photo by Mary-Ann Walton)

The sky is filled with birds!
(photo by Mary-Ann Walton)

The choreography of the Black Skimmers is a marvel to behold!
(photo by Bonnie-Jeanne Berg)

Least Tern with the catch of the day.
(photo by Bonnie-Jeanne Berg)

Common Tern on a marked nest.
(photo by Kathy Hannah)

While we are all eagerly awaiting the arrival of new chicks, our amazing team of Bird Stewards is constantly maintaining the postings at the nesting area. 

(photo by Bonnie-Jeanne Berg)

So if you haven't had a chance to get out to the southern end of Wrightsville Beach yet... GO! 

We Have Chicks! , 5/21

It seems I can't write this blog fast enough for the action on the beach. This update arrived just hours after I finished the previous entry.....

Get those cameras ready!!!  

Willet chicks were seen Thursday morning.  Below is a picture that a NC Audubon staff member took when they were in the nest.  Notice that they were new enough that the parents had not removed the egg shells yet, but their feathers were dry.....probably 1 day old. (A reminder that ONLY NC Staff members may go into the postings!)

Here are the WIllet chicks. A third was just out of the nest so it's not pictured.
(photo by Lindsay Addison)

The first oystercatcher nest has hatched as well, but those chicks are usuallly well hidden. However they were on the beach Thursday morning, so you just might get a chance to see them this weekend!

 Black Skimmers are still just beginning to lay. As of Thursday there were three nests. 

The Least Terns are coming along. They lost some nests in the rainstorm. Most had one egg and they probably weren't incubating yet, so they may not have sat on them (they don't incubate in earnest until they complete their clutch), or perhaps they got flushed off for some reason and the eggs were rained on. However, there are many new nests that are doing well. Ideally the colony will be well established and the birds will be very into sitting on their nests by the weekend.

A note about the posting. On the southeast corner, just before you get to the front, a small group of terns has started nesting. They are close to the edge of the posting and we can't expand it any farther. They should be fine but photographers or birdwatchers who may be on the correct side of the string can still cause the birds to flush or walk off the nests. Staying back from the string 10 or 15 feet will make a big difference, and we can still birdwatch or take photos from very close. If you watch the birds and notice that they are not settling down and doing the behaviors they were doing before you or someone else came close to the string,  step back. 

See you on the beach!!!

Lots of Action on the Beach, 5/19

The 4 American Oystercatcher nests are still doing very well with some “starring” (Tiny star-shaped fractures appear at large end of egg 2–3 days before hatching.) starting on some of the eggs.  The little cracks on the egg shells by the chick are evidence that we will have chicks very soon!

We have over 200 Black Skimmers busy with courtship activities, scraping and hanging out at the south end.  One nest has been located so far but we anticipate more this week!

Black Simmers resting on the beach.
At times they appear to be asleep (or dead) as they relax.
(photo by Laura Scullin)

An example of "mobbing" behavior exhibited
when the birds are protecting their eggs and/or chicks.

These Willets paraded through the Black Skimmer colony.

The Common Terns are incubating eggs.  Eight nests have been found each of which have 1-3 eggs. One Common Tern nest is visible on the sound side and the Common Terns are often seen perched on the postings warning beach-goers to keep their distance.

The Least Terns are busy with courtship activities and many have nested and are incubating eggs again following Tropical Storm Ana.  Over 100 Least Terns have been seen recently at the south end.  They are nesting in the highway area, along the side dunes and at the point. The nests on the side dunes are easy to see from outside the posting with or without optics!

During courting, the male will offer the female food
in hopes of gaining her choice as a mate.

Some of the females appear to be quite picky!

The courtship continues!

I'm hoping this is a nest! 

Only 5 Least Terns here, but there are hundreds on the beach.