Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018 Mid Season Report 1 Town of Southold’s Beach-nesting Bird Program: Mid-season Active Site Summary July 2018 Per the 2018-19 contract with the Town of Southold, shorebird stewards and volunteers with Group for the East End have been monitoring 20 unique potential breeding sites for Piping Plover (PIPL) and Least Tern (LETE) since April 1, 2018. Of these sites, nine were observed as active for PIPL and/or LETE (mating, nesting, hatching, fledging), and will be discussed in more detail in the report below. One was active for Great black- backed Gull (GBBG), American Oystercatcher (AMOY), and Common Tern (COTE). The 12 inactive sites will be addressed in the 2018 Final Season Report, along with challenges encountered during the season and recommendations for next season. PIPL summary: There were 15 PIPL nest attempts, which is on par with last year (17 attempts). Thirteen nests were laid and successfully hatched, including two that were second attempts at nesting. Two nests were laid successfully but later abandoned. So far this season, 13 chicks from six nests have fledged, and 11 more chicks from three nests are still being monitored. As of July 23, all known PIPL nests have hatched. LETE summary: There were approximately 120 nest attempts, which is slightly lower than last year (approximately 140), with significant decreases at two sites (Goose Creek and Little Creek). So far this season, approximately 90 chicks have been seen. As of July 23, some LETE are still incubating their nests. 2 Active Site Reports 1) Breakwater Beach at Mattituck Inlet, Mattituck: As in previous years, this popular beach continues to be the most productive beach for both PIPL and LETE. ATV’s and disturbance of habitat on the private side of the beach continues to be a challenge for the safety of the birds. PIPL: Five pairs nested at this site again this year. Three were located on the public side and two on the private side. As of July 23, eight chicks have fledged and three remain with an estimated fledge date range of 7/27 - 8/2. LETE: In total, there were approximately 104 nests this year, which is on par with last year (100 nests). The majority of the birds nested on the public side of the beach on either side of the beach access walkway. Ten pairs nested on the private side. The first chicks were seen on 6/19 and chicks have continued to hatch through mid-late July. Approximately 63 chicks have been seen as of July 23. 2) Goldsmith’s Inlet (West), Southold: This site continues to provide good habitat for piping plovers. PIPL: Similar to 2018, one pair nested in almost the same location. Three chicks fledged in early July. LETE: Not present nesting this season and have not traditionally nested at this site. 3) Goldsmith’s Inlet (McCabe’s & Kenney’s Beaches), Southold: This relatively quiet beach continues to provide suitable habitat for PIPL and LETE, but has not supported successful nesting. PIPL: Similar to last year, one pair nested in a similar location on the private upper beach midway between Kenney’s and McCabe’s beaches. Unfortunately, after the nest was exclosed and fenced the pair abandoned the nest. The cause is unknown, as no human or animal disturbance was noted. LETE: Although LETE has nested here in the past, for the second year in a row the adult birds were seen at the beginning of the season but ultimately chose not to nest on the beach. 4) Gull Pond, Greenport: This relatively quiet beach (the birds nest on the less trafficked private side) continues to provide excellent habitat for both PIPL and LETE. PIPL: One pair nested successfully here this year, compared to two pairs last year. However, the pair is may be more productive than last year, with three chicks projected to fledge between 7/16 and 7/23. This success is exciting, as no chicks fledged here last year despite nesting attempts by the two pairs. LETE: The colony increased slightly with approximately 30 nests this season, up from 10 in 2017, but still short of the peak of 45 nests observed in 2016. Approximately 20 young have been seen, and some adults are still incubating nests. 5) Port of Egypt, Greenport: This small island just off the marina continues to be a major Great Black- backed Gull (GBBG) breeding colony, with increased numbers of gull chicks from last year. It also provides adequate habitat for American Oystercatchers (AMOY), but is becoming too crowded for piping plovers (PIPL), least terns (LETE), and common terns (COTE). 3 PIPL: None have attempted to nest at this site for several years now. LETE: The colony seems to be lost with no birds nesting for the second year in a row (35 nests in ’16) COTE: One pair nested again at the eastern end of the island, but young were not observed. It is unclear if the nest was abandoned; the young were lost after hatching or were simply not observed due to difficult site geography. GBBG: Approximately 50 nests were documented with 93 young, up from about 50 young in 2017. AMOY: Two pairs nested successfully raising five young, which is a two-fold increase from last year. 6) Goose Creek, Southold: This extremely popular and crowded beach continues to provide a small area of adequate habitat for PIPL and LETE, although the birds have difficulty foraging during the peak swimming and boating times. PIPL: One pair nested successfully, as they did last year. Three chicks are projected to fledge between 7/16 and 7/23. This success is exciting, as no chicks fledged here last year, despite nesting attempts. LETE: The colony decreased noticeably from last year with only two nests this season, down from 15 in 2017. More adult birds were seen at the beginning of the season, but only a handful attempted to nest, potentially due to the noise and close proximity of beachgoers. 7) Corey Creek East (South Harbor Beach and Takaposha Beach), Southold: This relatively quiet beach continues to provide a small area of adequate habitat for PIPL, but natural predators remain a problem as fledge rates are low at this site. PIPL: One pair nested, as they did last year. Unfortunately, similar to 2017, the chicks hatched but were predated almost immediately, and none were able to fledge. LETE: None attempted to nest here this season and do not normally nest at this site. 8) Richmond Creek, Southold: This relatively quiet beach continues to provide a small area of adequate habitat for PIPL, but natural predators and other unknown factors were a problem this season. PIPL: One pair nested successfully. Unfortunately, the chicks hatched but were all predated or were lost within the first two weeks after hatching. We are unsure if predators, tides, or other factors were the cause of the loss of chicks. LETE: No LETE nested here this season and do not normally nest at this site. 9) Little Creek, Cutchogue: This popular beach continues to provide a small area of adequate habitat for PIPL and LETE. PIPL: For the third year in a row, one pair nested successfully and two chicks fledged. Last year another pair attempted to nest but did not return this year. 4 LETE: The colony decreased noticeably from last year with only two nests this season, down from 20 in 2017. Five chicks hatched in total, compared with 15 in 2017. As at Goose Creek, more adult birds were seen at the beginning of the season, but only a handful attempted to nest, potentially due to the noise and close proximity of beachgoers. This beach has also had problems in the past with large numbers of unleashed dogs disturbing the birds during the initial nesting period. 10) Meadow Beach (TNC Preserve), Cutchogue: This quiet beach continues to provide ample habitat for PIPL, but natural predators were again a problem for nesting success at this site. PIPL: For the first time in three years, one pair nested here this year. Unfortunately, the pair abandoned the nest before the eggs hatched. We assume the presence of natural predators (raccoon and/or fox) caused the abandonment. LETE: None nested here this season. The last time a pair attempted to nest was in 2016, but that nest was predated before hatching as well. __________________________________________ Thank you for your time and we look forward to providing you with the end-of-season report. For any clarifications or more information, please feel free to contact Group for the East End by the phone number or email addresses listed below. Phone: (631) 765-6450 Email: Aaron Virgin, acvirgin@eastendenvironment.org Elsa Acerbo, eacerbo@eastendenvironment.org Christine Tylee, ctylee@eastendenvironment.org