Chicks are hatching, growing, fledging and running on the beach!

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Photo by Cathy Cummins

The Terns have spread out in the posting on the east side (facing the jetty) and all along the beach as you walk towards the point.  We counted 10 beautiful Least Tern fledglings practicing flight on Sunday and saw a Common Tern fledgling in the posting this morning.

Black Skimmers are hatching and have chicks in the east side (jetty/ocean) posting and at the west side (sound/inlet).  They are downy and adorable right now!  Several stewards observed a Skimmer family…3 chicks with both parent Black Skimmers this morning (7/8). See photo above  

We have a rare Common Tern in the colony that has a metal band and wearing an orange flag on its left leg… identifying it as a Common Tern from Argentina!!  We know it is a male because we saw it courting and mating on Monday (6/30)…and now nesting in front of the Skimmers and incubating eggs with its mate!! We hope to read the numbers on its metal band.  Reading the last 2 numbers has been a huge challenge.  We are hopeful that anyone with a scope or camera would be up for the challenge!!  Give it a try and we can learn even more about this Tern!  The band is easiest to see when this Tern is standing on a post!

High tide was at 10am today so the Oystercatchers were present during our Monday morning bird walk. 

Chicks are on the beach!

The chicks on the beach give us a great opportunity to stop and take a look at the cuteness!  Key points… 

·         Birds have been nesting and incubating their eggs in the sand for 3 weeks

·         Chicks can die from overheating (thermal regulation is critical). The sand is HOT!

·         Parent birds will take the risk of people and gull/crab predators to get their hot chicks to wet sand and a drink at the water.

·         Parent birds get very protective and dive and poop on people when the person is close to their chicks.  This behavior alerts the Gulls that chicks are out.  

·         Black Skimmers may also use a “broken wing display” to draw people away from the chick.

·         Laughing Gulls and the Great Black-Backed Gulls stalk and eat chicks.

·         Protecting and feeding chicks is extremely energy intensive for the parent birds

One Common Tern pair had two adorable brown and downy chicks on the beach for several days over the 4^th of July holiday.  We had two stewards on the beach inviting people walking toward the chicks from both directions to take a look at the chicks and describe the protective diving, striking and pooping behavior of the parent birds.  Stewards suggested if they needed to walk by the chicks, to walk in the water or next to the water.  It was extremely challenging for the parent birds because of the number of people and Laughing Gulls.  

We did not see the parent birds on the beach yesterday, so perhaps they took their chicks back into the posting.

We thank everyone who visits and helps us keep the sanctuary safe by keeping your respectable distance from the birds as they struggle to keep their eggs and chicks safe. 

We hope to see you at one of our weekly FREE bird walks every Monday from 9 to 11 AM. Meet at the gazebo at Access 43 on Wrightsville Beach.

Least Tern fledgling
Photo by Cathy Cummings 

Photo by Cathy Cummings 

Photo by Stan Washlesky 

Photo by Stan Washlesky

Lots of Action in the Colony

Common Tern with new chick
Photo by Hongjin Bian

Black Skimmers 

A number of Black Skimmers have nested in the posting on the sound side and mates were observed switching places between the nest on the hot sand and the water’s edge.  We love to watch this and with the nests visible you can easily observe this behavior.

We could see 162 Black Skimmers either in that posted area and on the water’s edge yesterday.  We counted about 51 Black Skimmers incubating and we expect the first hatching in the next week.  Watch for birds coming in with fish!

The oceanfront Black Skimmer chick is getting to be a good size now and we saw the black tips on several feathers (6/22).  We hope to band that one soon.

On a recent Saturday afternoon while watching 3 Black Skimmer chicks at the water’s edge we noticed one of the Skimmer chicks is much smaller than the other two … which is to be expected. Later that day we received a call from the WB Police about a beachgoer wanting to take that chick to a rehabber. 

PLEASE NOTE:  Even if it appears that a Black Skimmer chick is a “runt” or having difficulty, we do not take it to any rehabber.  It stays either by the water or in the posting and it may or may not be by a parent bird.  If you see it alone on the hot sand without a parent present, you may wet your hands, pick it up and place it into the posting in the shade of a plant.

Photos by Hongjin Bian

Photo by Camille Daniels

Photo by Camille Daniels

Watch this Black Skimmer chick flipping the sand out so he can get under the parent. And then going over to the grasses to get some cover from the sun. So many stories in this video by Laila Mandour.

Oystercatchers 

We are sorry to report that EMY & unbanded’s beautiful chick was found dead on June 17 in the intertidal area of the beach by one of the WB turtle volunteers. 

We had watched the very attentive parents with the healthy chick at the water all afternoon on Saturday (6/15). The parents were keeping their chick in the posting and hidden from danger.  One of the parent birds would be on the beach and the other with the chick at the tallest dune and all appeared fine.

CT4 & CFO have not re-nested and are seen roosting at the point during high tide.

Least Terns

The Least Terns have chicks and larger chicks are being seen outside the posting by the water.  Look for other chicks in the posting with a parent close by and in the shade of the plants.  We have Least Tern pairs incubating eggs, several roosting and courtship continues with a few pairs.  

The Least Terns have all phases of nesting behaviors happening this week. We have Least Tern pairs incubating eggs, several roosting and courtship continues, chicks and larger chicks outside the posting and 10 fledglings… several were practicing flight on a windy Saturday (6/23).  We were excited to observe chicks hatching this week (6/20)! 

Let’s talk more about chicks leaving the posting…

If you notice Least Terns diving at you when you are not close to the posting, stop and look at your feet.  A chick may be close by …hiding in a footprint or tire track!  Once chicks start leaving the posting the birds are very protective!

Photos by Camille Daniels (6/14)

Photos by Camille Daniels (6/14)

Photos by Camille Daniels (6/14)

Photos by Camille Daniels (6/21)

Common Terns 

The Common Tens are nesting and 5 pairs were seen this week.  Two Common Tern chicks have been spotted but are being keep well hidden!

Photos by Hongjin Bian

We thank everyone who visits and helps us keep the sanctuary safe by keeping your respectable distance from the birds as they struggle to keep their eggs and chicks safe. 

We hope to see you at one of our weekly FREE bird walks every Monday from 9 to 11 AM. Meet at the gazebo at Access 43 on Wrightsville Beach.

We are Seeing Chicks!

 

Photo by Camille Daniels

Black Skimmers – On Friday (6/7) one of our WBBS (Wrightsville Beach Bird Stewards) was taking photos and as she zoomed in on her camera we were surprised to discover a Black Skimmer chick in the photo!  On Saturday evening (6/10) another WBBS observed 3 Black Skimmer chicks.

A number of Black Skimmers have decided to roost and nest outside the posting on the point this week. A slight adjustment to the posting was made to ensure their area was inside the string.

A  banded pair of Black Skimmers (M8 & 92) were recently seen mating. They had been banded as chicks on the south end!

Photo by Camille Daniels

Photo by Camille Daniels

Photo by Camille Daniels

The Least Terns have at least nine chicks.  Look for the chicks with a parent by the plants.  We have nine Least Tern pairs incubating eggs, several roosting and courtship continues with a few pairs.  

Photo by Camille Daniels

Photo by Camille Daniels

Photo by Camille Daniels

Photos by Garold Carlisle 

Photos by Garold Carlisle

Common Terns are nesting and 5 pairs were seen by this week.  Two Common Tern chicks have been spotted.

Oystercatchers – EMY & unbanded are very attentive parents and keep their chick in the posting and hidden from danger.  One of the parent birds returns with oysters to feed the chick and this has been observed all week generally 2 hours each side of Low Tide.  EMY is the parent going across the inlet to the marsh and unbanded stays with the chick.  After feeding the chick, unbanded (the female) will come out to the water.CT4 & CFO have not re-nested and are seen roosting at the point during high tide.

Photo by Camille Daniels

Photo by Garold Carlisle

We thank everyone who visits and helps us keep the sanctuary safe by keeping your respectable distance from the birds as they struggle to keep their eggs and chicks safe. 

We hope to see you at one of our weekly FREE bird walks every Monday from 9 to 11 AM. Meet at the gazebo at Access 43 on Wrightsville Beach.

Right On Time!

photo by Garold Carlisle

In the 10+ years that this blog has been sharing events at the south end of Wrightsville Beach the Least Terns have unfailingly given us a Memorial Day weekend gift of new chicks.  This year was no exception.

photo by Garold Carlisle

photo by Cathy Cummins

photo by Cathy Cummins

There was a lot of courting behavior and several sightings of eggs being carefully tended before this.

Photo by Steve Haley

It is always exciting to see the beginning of a new season of shore birds choosing to nest on our beach.  Already looking forward to Black Skimmer, Common Tern, and American Oystercatcher families running around the beach in the weeks to come.

Photo by Garold Carlisle 

We thank everyone who visits and helps us keep this sanctuary safe by keeping a respectable distance from the birds as they struggle to keep their eggs and chicks safe.

We hope to see you at one of our weekly FREE bird walks every Monday from 9-11 a.m.  Meet at the gazebo at  Access 43 on Wrightsville Beach  

They’re Back!

Photo by Tom Hanna 

Birds are starting to arrive at the south end!   Decoys of Least Terns and Black Skimmers were posted in the area by the gazebo on Saturday, 4/13.  Decoys are used to attract the birds to the best nesting spot within the posted area after a dredge project.  Black Skimmers, Least Terns, Common Terns and Oystercatchers have been seen on the south end as well as Royal Terns and Sandwich Terns.  The Oystercatcher (banded EMY) who successfully nested and fledged a chick in 2021 is back with an unbanded mate.

Lindsay Addison, the Audubon NC Coastal Biologist, checked for Oystercatcher scrapes this week and found two…one for each pair of Oystercatchers!  Remember… beach-nesting birds may practice making scrapes in the sand during courtship, but scrapes are only considered “nests” once they have eggs in them! Lindsay’s nest checks provide us with specific numbers and nesting updates to report.

AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS – We are seeing two pairs of Oystercatchers… presently claiming territory and beginning nesting activity.

Both pairs nested on the south end last year.  The Oystercatcher with green band EMY and “unbanded” mate. 

The second pair of Oystercatchers are both wearing green leg bands… CT4 and mate CF0. 

Oystercatchers eat a low tide when oysters and other bi-valves (clams, mussels) are exposed.  You will generally see them 2 hours each side of high tide on the south end.

BLACK SKIMMERS – Black Skimmers have been arriving in large groups and have been seen by the decoys and at the water’s edge. 

Video by Melody Wilson

Photo by Tom Hanna

LEAST TERNS - Least Terns are flying overhead, fishing and landing by the decoys.  Courtship activities have begun and fish presentations have been observed and photographed!

Photo by Tom Hanna

Photo by Laila Mandour

COMMON TERNS - Common Terns can be seen guarding the colony from the top of the posting signs and are beginning to court. 

Photo by Cathy Cummings

Photo by Cathy Cummings 

April 29 –Public Bird Walks begin.   Free bird walks to the south end nesting area for the public (and Bird Stewards) every Monday at 9 AM until mid-August.  Join us!  Invite your friends & family!!  We will meet at the gazebo at Beach Access 43.

Photo by Marlene Eader

Photographing the Nesting Colony

 We have some important reminders for our folks who enjoy photography at the south end of Wrightsville Beach…

Black Skimmers at the shoreline with their fledglings. 
Photo taken at a safe distance to minimize disturbance.

As you know, the 2023 nesting season has been extremely difficult for the birds due to stormy weather around Memorial Day that struck while the first nests were incubating. In addition to the weather, the Town’s concerns about leaving enough space for vehicles to drive on the beach meant that the posting is much more narrow than it should be, leaving no buffer between the nesting birds and beachgoers. It’s typical for the posting to be narrow on the west side of the site, but this year the east (ocean) side is extremely narrow as well. While the Least Terns lost most of their nests to the weather, Black Skimmers and Common Terns, which were closest to the string fencing, lost theirs to predation, mostly by Ruddy Turnstones which peck open the eggs whenever they are unattended.

After the failure of the first wave of nesting, the Least Terns, Black Skimmers, and Common Terns began nesting again and were incubating eggs and hatching chicks throughout July.The habitat was best for them on the east (ocean) side of the posting. July and August incubation has been critically challenging because of the excessive heat and the continued disturbance of photographers and beachgoers. We expanded the posting as much as we could and we removed signs to prevent causal visitors from walking up to read them. But, we still face challenges when people choose to approach the birds, including because they want to take pictures of them.

WHAT DO WE MEAN BY DISTURBANCE BY PHOTOGRAPHERS?

Least Terns and Black Skimmers with chicks are favorite subjects for photographers and photography groups. Photography is a great way to appreciate birds, but it can also be harmful, regardless of whether or not the photographer realizes it.

Disturbance is any activity that causes the birds to change their behavior. The feelings or intentions a person has towards birds has no bearing on whether or not the person’s actions have a negative impact. Approaching so closely that the birds respond because the person is upset at the birds for taking space on the beach or because the person likes them and wants to get a closer view has the same impact. Birds respond to disturbance by disrupting important survival behaviors like incubating, protecting eggs and chicks from predators and temperature stress, feeding chicks, foraging, and resting. Birds that are chronically disturbed are also stressed out, which is harmful to their well-being and ability to incubate and raise chicks. This is why it’s important to practice ethical, responsible photography practices and teach others to do the same.

HOW TO OBSERVE AND PHOTOGRAPH BIRDS RESPONSIBLY

As explained, the string is NOT a good guide for how close is too close. Instead, it’s essential to pay attention to the birds’ behaviors. Observe from a distance at first, then approach slowly. Stop before any birds change their behavior and watch or photograph them from that distance. Note that if they are approached, react, and then settle back down, that is still too close because chicks have probably fled from their preferred areas and not all adults may be able to settle back down on small chicks or eggs. Good cues that the birds are disturbed are that they start paying attention to you, they become fidgety, chicks start to move away and/or hide, adults start to vocalize, and they fly up and/or swoop at you.

While observing the nesting colony from an appropriate distance, the habitat is peaceful and the birds appear calm while caring for their chicks. By staying back from the posting, it’s possible to get better views of the birds’ natural behaviors, and you are allowing them to choose where they need to be to seek respite from the heat, avoid conflicts with other birds, and feed chicks. By stepping back and prioritizing the birds’ well-being you’re setting a positive example for others and creating the best conditions to capture images of their amazing behaviors!

Note: The beach is just one of many settings in which people enjoy photography. There are excellent online resources that explain the principals and actions of ethical wildlife photography. We especially like this one (Audubon’s Guide to Ethical Bird Photography and Videography), which covers all types of birds and situations, including of nesting birds and birds on the beach.

Thanks

Lindsay Addison, Audubon NC Coastal Biologist

Marlene Eader, volunteer coordinator

Tenacious Terns and Strong-Willed Skimmers Continue To Nest

Common Tern EGGS!

Several dozen Least Terns are continuing to nest at the corner on the oceanside. A Least Tern nest was found outside the string so please be careful when entering the colony from Access 43 (by the gazebo). At least one Common Tern pair is also nesting near the posting oceanside. And a large group of Black Skimmers can be seen near the dunes. Our shore birds seem determined to mate, nest, and raise chicks for us to watch this summer. 

On the inlet side there is another large group of Black Skimmers and at least two pairs of Common Terns that appear to be sitting on eggs

Common Tern nest

Black Skimmer colony

Least Terns on nests

Video shows Common Terns taking turns sitting on their nest. 

Look for eggs!

Video shows Common Tern adding wrack to nest.

With the Fourth of July holiday weekend approaching there will be a lot of people coming to the beach.  It is important to remember that our birds and beach visitors need to work together to coexist.