Some of our chicks are turning into "teenagers"

During my "bird steward" time on the beach yesterday morning I was surprised by how big some of the chicks are already. Many of our cute, fluffy chicks are almost as big as their parents and are trading that downy look for some real feathers. I also loved watching how the adult skimmers make their chicks chase them for a meal. Still some birds sitting on nests "waiting" and many eggs lying on the beach, seemingly unattended. So much action out there!

Happy Father's Day

Skimmer Chicks

Countless Least Tern Chicks

Abandoned (?) Egg

Oystercatcher Chicks Keep Growing

Sun and Sand

I was on the beach yesterday from 9-12 in the morning and back from 6-8 in the evening. I watched in awe how the birds dealt with the hot sun and later the blowing sand. I also saw the Wilson's Plovers put in an appearance in the morning and an appearance of a new osytercatcher chick in the evening.

 The oystercatcher chicks continue to hang out by the shoreline.

In the 90+ degree heat they found ways to avoid the heat 

using the narrow shadow from one of our signs 

and hiding under a parent

 Wilson's Plovers

wind gusts were over 20 mph in the evening so the chicks took cover, closed their eyes, or just endured

 another set of oystercatcher parents had a chick on the beach last night

A Night at the Beach with my Dad

Much as I love watching the chicks, enjoying the company of the other volunteers, sharing the excitement with those walking by, and seeing the sunset.... taking my 88 yr. old dad, who is visiting from Ohio, to the beach last night was a moment to remember!

Dad

a visiting sandwich tern

black skimmers (I'm still waiting to see a skimmer chick!)

least tern chicks

terns taking flight

sunset (June 8, 2013)