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.