Wrightsville Beach Bird Stewards

Sunday, June 26, 2016

Least Tern Chicks Have Taken to the Air

photo by Laura Scullin

Many of the Least Tern chicks can been seen by the shoreline and are busy trying out their new feathers as they learn to fly and catch their own fish dinners.

photo by Laura Scullin

With the heat index reaching into the 100s this week, it has been a challenge for the chicks to find shade. They are very creative and can be seen in the vegetation, by the postings and decoys, and hiding under parents.

photo by Kathy Hannah

One Least Tern chick was apparently not only looking for some shade but decided I needed company on the beach. This chick kept coming out of the posting and stood between my legs and under by chair by my back pack. We shared some "special moments" before the chick finally tried out its new feathers and fluttered down to the shoreline

photo by Kathy Hannah

The Common Tern chicks are getting bigger than their parents and will be the next of our crew to take flight.

photo by Laura Scullin

photo by Marlene Eader

Meanwhile the Black Skimmer chicks are busy chasing their parents for fish and the parents are hard at work keeping them fed.

photo by Jackie and Eric White

photo by Krystyna Ochola

photo by Jackie and Eric White

There is still a lot to see in the nesting colony. Sometimes the Black Skimmers and Common Terns engage in a bit of "turf warfare".

photo by Jackie and Eric White

And other times the Common Terns decide that the decoys make good neighbors.

photo by Krystyna Ochola

All of the chicks and their parents will find their homes a popular destination this weekend as the Fourth of July crowds head for the beach. This will be a good time for all of us to remember to "share the beach".

Thursday, June 16, 2016

With Thanks to Our Amazing Photographers

A wedding in NJ and now a visit with my dad in OH have taken me away from the beach for two weeks of prime chick time. But four of our Bird Steward photographers have sent me pictures so that I feel like I'm on the beach!

These incredible photographs each tell a unique story. While scrolling through them try writing a caption that helps create a personal narrative for the adventures of our "bird friends" on the south end of Wrightsville Beach.

(photo by Michelle Frazier)

(photos by Jackie and Eric White)

(photos by Don Ellson)

(photos by Laura Scullin)

Thursday, June 9, 2016

Black Skimmer Chicks and other updates!

Tropical Storm….

Tropical Storm Colin dumped a lot of rain the other night and winds were strong, but the chicks seemed to weather the storm without any problem. Chicks were with parents and gathered by the few plants, “condos” and raised areas of the sand to get out of the wind. On Saturday night 17 chicks were all lined up in a row appearing to be shielding each other between the two larger plants at the front of the colony. Parents patiently continued to incubate eggs while getting sand blasted by the blowing sand.

The posting and signs withstood the winds and driving rain and no repair was needed. A very pleasant surprise!

Nesting update…

LEAST TERNS

We are enjoying showing the public the Least Tern chicks because they are so ADORABLE and they are RUNNING EVERYWHERE!!! Least Tern chicks are at various stages of development and the oldest ones which hatched on May 19 are busy growing flight feathers and one was seen already taking flight.

BLACK SKIMMERS

The results of the census is that we currently have 122 Black Skimmer nests at this time and the skimmers are incubating eggs. No chicks had hatched as of last Saturday, but Two Bird Stewards saw our first Black Skimmer chicks this morning..June 8th. These chicks were located in the front dune area right next to a Common Tern nest #6.

Here are phtots of our first Black Skimmer chicks (thanks Don Ellson!) .

New Skimmer chicks were spotted in a family right next door to a Common Tern family on a front dune! Quite a maternity ward out there.

A number of Black Skimmer nests had "avian predation” …eggs that had been pecked. Several of us have observed a Ruddy Turnstone walking among the Black Skimmers and think the turnstone may be the predator. Last year we had 175 nests.

COMMON TERNS

The Common Terns have been especially protective (aggressive) since a few of the 14 nests have hatched chicks. Some chicks were with a parent under plants in the front of the colony. Another chick was spotted under its parent in nest CT #6.

Common Terns have 14 nests in the front of the posting, among the Black Skimmers and on the side of the dunes.

AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS

We have 4 pairs of American Oystercatchers that have nested (eggs) as well as some immature Oystercatchers at the colony. It appears the eggs have hatched but we have not seen the chicks yet. A couple of pairs have been visible in the front of the colony without chicks and are displaying behaviors as if they have lost the chicks.

BIRD WALKS

We meet the public at Beach Access 43 for a Bird Walk every Monday morning beginning at 9 AM until the middle of August. We had 32 guests last Monday and 18 kids so we had a great time. Invite your family and friends to join us!

Sunday, June 5, 2016

It Just Keeps Getting Better Out There

Least Tern Chicks Entertain Beachgoers

It seems as though all 349 Least Tern nests have exploded. Everywhere you look the chicks are running around, hiding under parents, trying to swallow fish, taking refuge from the sun, or just posing for pictures.

photo by Laura Scullin

On hot days the chicks find very creative ways to take shelter and find shade on the beach.

photos by Laura Scullin

photos by Kathy Hannah

There seem to be least terns everywhere you look.

photo by Kathy Hannah

Sometimes you have to look very carefully to see the least tern chicks. They seem to blend into their surroundings.

photo by Krystyna Ochola

photos by Krystyna Ochola

photos by Don Ellson

In fact a chick may occasionally get "stuck" outside the postings in one of the tire tracks! This one was carefully returned and quickly ran off in search of a parent.