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.