HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014 Tern and Plover Mid Season ReportGroup for the East End
Shorebird Nesting: Mid-Late-Season Active Site Summary
July 2014
In total, there were 14 piping plover nest attempts, six hatched, and two are still being incubated.
Five nests were predated, one was abandoned.
Little Creek, Cutchogue: In early-mid May, two piping plovers had been observed foraging on a few
occasions. They were seen along the shore on both the north and south sides of Little Creek. No signs of
nesting. Site was not pre-fenced as in years past.
Gull Pond, Greenport: Three pairs of piping plovers nested at this site, with four total attempts. The first nest
attempt was found on 4/29/14 but zero eggs were in the nest on the following site visit. The second nest was
discovered on 5/9/14 with four eggs. This piping plover pair is still incubating in the exact location 66 days
later, now with 3 eggs as seen on 7/14/14. It is unsure whether or not they have made multiple nest attempts in
the exact location. The second complete plover nest was found on 5/12/14 and exclosed the same day. Three of
the four eggs hatched on 7/15/14 but no young were spotted. Both adults remained in area. Approximately 35
least terns have been observed with 12 nests and five young. Common terns have been seen loafing on shore.
Haywaters Road/Fishermans Beach Road, Cutchogue: On 5/21/14, a piping plover pair was observed
making scrapes in the upper beach. They were observed copulating and eventually on 5/27/14, one egg was laid
and the area was fenced off. The nest was complete on 6/2/14 and exclosed. Beginning 6/24/14, only one
piping plover adult was seen from then on. The nest hatched 6/27/14 and all chicks were seen with the one
adult. On 7/3/14, two chicks were with the parent, but this was the last time they’d been observed. A
homeowner reported kids being in the fenced off area (eggs had hatched already) and a fox in the area. The fox
may be the cause for the loss of the adult, as well as the missing chicks.
Goldsmith’s Inlet (McCabe’s & Kenney’s Beaches), Southold: Three piping plover pairs nested on the
private upper beach between McCabe’s and Kenney’s beach. The first nest (1A) was complete and exclosed on
5/15/14. The second piping plover pair’s complete three egg nest (2B) was discovered on 5/14/14. The third
and final piping plover pair nested close (approximately 75 ft east) to the second pair with a four egg nest (3A)
and was complete on 5/24/14. All 11 eggs hatched, yet 7 chicks were lost. This loss is most likely due to the
large numbers of American crows on this beach. Nest 1A fledged 2 young and nest 2B fledged one young.
Nest 3A is on its way to being fledged any day now. The string fencing around piping plover nests 2B and 3A
was bumped out on the western portion because of the 10 least tern nests. There have been multiple encounters
with homeowners based on their concern with the symbolic string fencing taking up their beach space.
Breakwater Beach at Mattituck Inlet, Mattituck: Two piping plover pairs nested at Breakwater Beach and
were successful in raising young. The first piping plover nest (1A) was discovered and exclosed on 5/16/14.
The second complete nest (2A) was found and exclosed on 5/23/14. Nest 1A only had two eggs hatch and the
one remaining plover chick has fledged. Nest 2A has two young that will likely fledge this week.
Approximately 12 least tern nests have been located on this site but no known young. A fox has been seen in the
western string fencing area. Heavy ATV use at this site on the private beach side. On 7/5/14, one of the piping
plover exclosures had a large pile of rocks thrown on top of the mesh.
Port Of Egypt, Greenport: This is a major great black-backed gull nesting site. About 50 nests were located
on site with about 65 young. One pair of American oystercatchers nested and successfully raised three young.
Approximately 15 least terns nested and to date there are six chicks. A common tern pair nested and two young
hatched.
Corey Creek West (South Harbor Beach), Southold: A piping plover pair was observed on each visit starting
in early May. There were a total of four nest attempts most likely by two separate pairs, unfortunately all failed.
The first nest was found on 5/9/14 and was predated shortly after. A second nest was found on 5/12/14 with
one egg, and exclosed on 5/13/14. When this nest was exclosed it only had two eggs, but this was a
preventative measure against predation. The pair laid four eggs over the next few days but abandoned most
likely due to predators (e.g. raccoon, cat, crow) in area. On 5/30/14, one egg was discovered in the upper beach
and the area was immediately string fenced (southwest of previous nests). By 6/2/14, there were zero eggs and
raccoon scat was found directly next to where nest had been. The fourth and final attempt of three eggs was
laid on 6/4/14, approximately 30 ft east of the third attempt. As previously stated, this attempt failed like the
others.
Cutchogue Harbor (Meadow Beach), Cutchogue: Least terns have been observed loafing but no signs of
nesting. The beach was string fenced. Great black-backed gulls were seen on a few visits to the site.
Downs Creek, Cutchogue: A single piping plover has been observed foraging here and tracks were seen within
the string fencing, but no signs of nesting. Approximately 5 least terns nested at one point in early June,
however they were most likely washed out by the rising tides.