Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017 Mid Season Report Town of Southold’s Beach-nesting Bird Program: Mid-season Active Site Summary July 2017 Per the 2017-18 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). Of these sites, 9 were observed as active (mating, nesting, hatching, fledging). The 11 inactive sites will be addressed in the 2017 Final Season Report. In total, there were 17 PIPL nest attempts. Ten nests hatched, four were predated, one was washed out (flooded), and one was abandoned. It is unknown whether the remaining nest hatched or was predated prior to hatching. Little Creek, Cutchogue: This site was fenced in early April. Towards the end of the month, two PIPL had been observed foraging and on 5/1 one egg was found on the southern portion of the beach within the string fence. On 5/8, the clutch was complete and exclosed (nest 1A). Also on 5/8, a second 1-egg PIPL nest was located on the northern end of the beach, near the playground. This nest was complete with three eggs on 5/12 and exclosed (nest 2B). The 4 eggs from 1A hatched in early June and successfully fledged 3 chicks. Pair 2B only hatched 1 egg on 6/10 and were seen foraging with the chick at the mouth of the creek for about 2 ½ weeks. During this time, there was a proposed firework show slated for 7/4 along the beach adjacent to the creek. Our shorebird stewards worked closely with the NYSDEC, the homeowner, and the firework company to make sure there would be no risk for a “taking” of the PIPL chick. Unfortunately, on 6/28 when the chick was roughly 18 days old, there was no sign of this young bird. While there were ATV tracks in the area, it is likely that the bird was predated. Fortunately, pair 1A and the LETE chicks remained on the southern portion of beach, opposite from the firework display. This is the second year PIPL nested here. In 2017, the LETE colony doubled with nearly 20 nests featuring 26 young. All nested in the southern section. This beach continues to be used heavily by dog walkers. “No Dogs Allowed” signs are posted at the entrance but there is police presence here on a regular basis (early spring- when birds begin courting/nesting) for enforcement. There have been reports of dogs running through the string fence, dogs off leashes and even instances of dogs chasing shorebirds. Goose Creek, Southold: Due to LETE activity in 2016, this site was pre-fenced and posted in early April. At the end of May, four LETE nests were found and additional string fence was installed. In total, there were about 10 nests documented. Currently, 15 LETE chicks and fledglings are onsite. In addition to the tern nests, there was a PIPL pair that nested. This is of special interest because one bird from this pair was banded with a pink tag labeled #47 (banded in 2015 in the Bahamas). This pair originally nested in Greenport in May of this year, but failed at 1 egg (predation). Three weeks later, the pair arrived at Goose Creek to forage and rest. They were seen mating and scraping in the upper beach. On 6/10, one PIPL egg was laid within the tern colony. This pair completed their nest at 4 eggs on 6/15. The nest was not exclosed because it was close to an uneven sand shelf, which would have made for difficult digging. This nest was monitored very closely as it was not exclosed. It was due to hatch starting 7/10, but when visited on 7/9, the eggs were gone and there was a rock in the nest. No PIPL were found along the entire beach. This is very peculiar and we are unsure if the nest actually hatched or was vandalized. The birds were incubating their nest on 7/8 and if the nest hatched on 7/9 the chicks would have been predated almost immediately. We are not 100% certain of the outcome. This is another beach that is heavily visited by beachgoers, especially teenagers. Goose Creek typically has a lot of litter and we were told the lifeguards are responsible for cleaning up most of the garbage. Gull Pond, Greenport: Two PIPL pairs nested at this site with three total attempts. Pair 1A was the pink banded bird #47 (see Goose Creek). This pair made their first nest attempt on 5/1 with 1 egg. When re-visited the following day the egg was gone due to predation. Pair 2A’s nest was also found on 5/1 with 1 egg. This nest was complete at 4 eggs and exclosed, however it was washed out with the new moon tide at the end of May. This pair re-nested further up the beach and the 4-egg nest was exclosed. Unfortunately, this pair abandoned their nest a couple of weeks later. The pair continues to forage along the beach. This is a big loss for this site since in 2016 PIPL were successful in fledging 7 total young. The LETE colony shrunk tremendously. In 2016, there were 45 nests and this season there were only 10. The homeowner closest to the jetty still refuses to participate in the program, thereby prohibiting string fence on his property. Luckily, the LETE are just beyond the border of his property, which typically floods twice per month. Meadow Beach (TNC Preserve), Cutchogue: This site was fenced on 4/12 in accordance with The Nature Conservancy. On 5/3, an American oystercatcher pair was observed sitting on 1 egg. Unfortunately, the nest was predated. The oystercatchers did remain on site, and no other birds attempted to nest in 2017. Goldsmith’s Inlet (West), Southold: There has been a lack of shorebird activity at this site in the past few years, but this season a PIPL pair nested. The 4-egg nest was laid in the dredge material near the parking lot. The nest was exclosed and three of the four eggs hatched on 6/17. The following day, the birds moved far west down the beach to a location undisturbed by beachgoers and fisherman. This pair fledged 2 young on 7/15. Goldsmith’s Inlet (McCabe’s & Kenney’s Beaches), Southold: A single PIPL pair nested on the private upper beach (Kenney’s) roughly 1,500 yards east of the Town’s public beach. The nest was discovered on 5/8 with 2 eggs. The property owner was contacted that afternoon and agreed to have string fence installed around the nest, albeit in a reduced (12x12) layout. A subsequent meeting with the property owner and his wife occurred the following day to provide background information at the site and to help alleviate any anxiety the nesting could cause. On May 10 the nest still featured two eggs, but the following day a third egg was noted. On May 12, the nest was noted as complete with 4 eggs and exclosed. It hatched on June 8 – a total incubation of 27 days. Unfortunately, on May 13 only three of the four chicks were noted and the following day only two chicks. On May 15, two adult PIPL were seen but no chicks. On three separate occasions two PIPL pairs were noted at the site. However, no additional nesting at this site has been noted to date. It is quite possible that one PIPL pair flew west to Goldsmith’s Inlet (West) – see above site review – and nested successfully. Breakwater Beach at Mattituck Inlet, Mattituck: In total, there were five PIPL pairs nesting at this site (4 public side, 1 private side). The first nest was located on 5/10 on the Rivera’s property. The area was fenced and the nest exclosed. All four eggs hatched and three chicks fledged. The second 4-egg nest was found in the eastern quadrant (next to jetty) on 5/11. Once the four eggs hatched, the pair moved west down the beach (in front of Rivera’s property). Three of the chicks fledged. The third nest was discovered in the large quadrant (public) on 5/23 with 1 egg. The female from this pair is banded with a green flag #30 and a yellow band on the opposite leg. In 2013, she was banded as an adult at Cupsogue Beach, Westhampton by Virginia Tech biologists. This nest was complete at 4 eggs and exclosed. On 5/28 the exclosure was vandalized with rocks thrown on top of the netting. This is the same behavior that has occurred in the last two years. A camera was installed, but the vandalism fortunately stopped. This nest hatched on 6/24 and the 3 chicks will likely fledge the week of 7/17. This pair moved west towards the bluffs to keep a distance from human disturbance. The fourth PIPL nest was found on 5/28 with 2 eggs and in the middle of the large LETE colony in the eastern quadrant. It remained at 2 eggs and hatched on 6/28. The pair currently has 1 chick that is nearly ready to fledge. The fifth nest went undetected until it hatched on 7/15. Three chicks were found with the adults closest to the Town’s public beach entrance. This pair currently has two chicks. The LETE colony here has exploded with approximately 100 nests on the public side and 5 on the private section. An estimated 130 chicks/fledglings are currently onsite. A majority of the birds nested in the eastern quadrant, but they have nested as far west as 600 Soundbeach Drive. We continue to post video surveillance signs at both the park district and town beach entrances. Major issues and disturbances that exist include: vandalism (rocks on exclosure, writing “F*ck the plovers, gimme back my beach” on the yellow interpretive sign at the park district entrance), unleashed dogs, children running through string fence, garbage from parties/bonfires, ATV use (Rivera’s property, Thomas at #700 Soundbeach Dr.) and via the Town’s public entrance). In an effort to educate beachgoers about the beach-nesting birds and to encourage them to share the beach, our shorebird stewards held a tabling event on the July 4th weekend. Most people were receptive and took the “Be A Good Egg” pledge, which is an agreement to never enter the fenced areas, follow the “take in, take out” rule, and to respect local [dog] leash laws. On 7/8, we organized a beach cleanup and collected over 60 pounds of garbage. Port Of Egypt, Greenport: This site continues to be a major Great Black-backed Gull breeding colony. About 50 nests were documented and about 45 young observed. One pair of American Oystercatchers nested and successfully raised two young. The LETE colony seems to be lost with 0 birds nesting. Last year, this site hosted 35 LETE nests. One Common Tern pair nested at the eastern end of the island and two young have been seen foraging. Corey Creek West (South Harbor Beach), Southold: A PIPL pair was observed regularly starting in early May. This pair was seen mating and making nest scrapes on the beachside property of #650 Old Wood Path. A nest was found at 2 eggs on 5/9 and was complete at 4 eggs soon after. The area was fenced and the nest was exclosed. All four eggs hatched on 6/10, but the crows were so abundant that the three chicks were picked off within a couple of days. The last chick was last seen on 6/18. For more information or points of clarification, please contact Aaron Virgin acvirgin@eastendenvironment.org or Christine Tylee ctylee@eastendenvironment.org.