HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019 Mid Season Report 1
Town of Southold’s Beach-nesting Bird Program:
Mid-season Report
July 2019
Per the 2019-20 contract with the Town of Southold, shorebird stewards and volunteers with Group for the East
End have been monitoring 22 unique potential breeding sites for Piping Plover (PIPL) and Least Tern (LETE).
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 and American
Oystercatcher, while Common Tern is also included. The 12 inactive sites will be addressed in the 2019 Final
Season Report, along with challenges encountered during the season and recommendations for the 2020 season.
PIPL summary: There were 23 PIPL nest attempts, which is slightly higher than last year (15 attempts). A total
of 13 nests successfully hatched, six nests were predated and four were flooded due to high tide. To date, 18
chicks from five nests have fledged, and five additional chicks from two nests are currently being monitored.
At this time, all known PIPL nests have hatched.
LETE summary: There were approximately 200 nest attempts, which is significantly higher than last year
(approximately 120), however with significant decreases at two sites (Goose Creek and Little Creek). To date,
approximately 90 chicks have hatched. At this time, some LETE are exhibiting incubating behavior.
Active site reports
1) Breakwater Beach at Mattituck Inlet, Mattituck: As in previous years, this popular beach continues
to be the most productive site 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 Mattituck Park District or
public side (Nests 1A, 3A, 4C) and two on the private side (Nests 2A, 5A). All nests have hatched but
only six chicks have fledged (a major decline from 2018 when 11 fledged).
LETE: In total, there were approximately 110 nests this year, which is almost exactly on par with last
year (104 nests). The majority of the birds nested on the public side of the beach on both sides of the
beach access walkway. An additional 10 pairs nested on the private side. The first chicks were seen on
6/20 and chicks continue to hatch. To date, 63 chicks have been seen this season.
2) Goldsmith’s Inlet (West), Peconic: This relatively quiet beach continues to provide good habitat for
shorebirds with PIPL nesting in the same area year after year.
PIPL: Two pairs nested here; one nest was found on 4/16 (first of the 2019 season), and another nest
found on 6/28. A combined six eggs were laid and six eggs hatched, but only a total of two young
fledged.
LETE: None nested here this season and have not traditionally nested at this site.
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3) Goldsmith’s Inlet (Kenney’s and McCabe’s Beaches), Southold: This relatively quiet beach
continues to provide suitable habitat for PIPL and LETE. For the first time in a couple of years, a pair of
PIPL were successful.
PIPL: One pair nested in almost the exact location as last year, which is on the private upper beach of
property #1125 North Sea Drive. The site was fenced and nest exclosed. Despite construction at the
residence, the pair successfully hatched four eggs and fledged three young.
LETE: Although LETE have nested here in the past, for the third year in a row the adult birds were
seen at the beginning of the season but ultimately did not stay to nest. This may be attributed to some
homeowner’s desire to deter the nesting birds.
4) Gull Pond, Greenport: Another quiet beach, this site continues to provide good habitat for both PIPL
and LETE. However, due to issues related to flooding and the presence of predators, this site did not
prove to be very successful this season.
PIPL: Two pair nested again this year with only one being successful. The two pairs made four nest
attempts; 2 were lost to high tides, 1 lost to a fox and 1 hatched. The successful pair fledged three
young on 7/25.
LETE: The presence of a fox and spring tides really hindered the success of LETE this year. Although
30 LETE were observed at one point, only 10 LETE nests were confirmed. Throughout the season, a
few nests were lost to flooding, but on 6/26 the entire colony was destroyed (fox tracks within string
fence). The birds did not attempt to nest again.
5) Port of Egypt, Southold: This small island just off the marina continues to be a major Great Black-
backed Gull (GBGU) breeding colony and showed an increase of gull chicks from last year. It also
provides adequate habitat for LETE, as well as American Oystercatcher (AMOY) and Common Tern.
However, it has become too crowded for PIPL.
PIPL: None have attempted to nest at this site for several years in a row.
LETE: The colony seems to be lost with no birds nesting for the second year in a row. In 2016 there
were 35 nests observed.
COTE: One pair returned to nest at the eastern end of the island, but young were not observed. We are
unsure if the nest was abandoned, the young were lost after hatching, or were simply not observed due to
difficult site geography.
GBGU: Approximately 50 nests were documented and 93 young observed, which is up from 50 young
seen in 2018.
AMOY: Two pairs nested successfully raising five young; an increase from one pair in 2018.
6) Goose Creek, Southold: This 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 season.
PIPL: One pair nested successfully again this year. Despite dog walkers, large gatherings of people,
and boats, four chicks fledged on 7/10, which is the same as 2018.
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LETE: The colony decreased noticeably from 15 nests in 2018 to only two nests this season. The sharp
decline is likely due to the noise and close proximity of beachgoers and boats, however both nests failed
due to predation.
7) Corey Creek East (South Harbor Beach, Takaposha road entrance), Southold: Another relatively
quiet beach that continues to provide a small area of adequate habitat for PIPL. However, natural
predators (e.g. American Crow) remain a problem for fledglings at this site. Unleashed dogs are also a
regular issue at this site.
PIPL: One pair has nested successfully, as they did last year. The three eggs hatched with one chick
currently due to fledge between 8/9 and 8/16.
LETE: None nested here this season and have not traditionally nested at this site.
8) Richmond Creek, Peconic: This quiet beach continues to provide a small area of adequate habitat for
PIPL, but natural predators and other unknown factors were a problem for fledglings this season.
PIPL: One pair nested successfully. Unfortunately, the chicks hatched but were all predated or were
lost within the first two weeks of hatching. We are unsure if predators, tides, or some other factors were
the cause for the loss of chicks.
LETE: None nested here this season and do not traditionally nest at this site.
9) Little Creek, Cutchogue: This popular beach continues to provide adequate habitat for shorebirds.
PIPL: For the third year in a row, one pair nested successfully with two chicks fledging. Last year
another pair attempted to nest but did not return this year.
LETE: The colony decreased noticeably from last year with only two nests this season, which is down
from 20 in 2018. Five chicks hatched in total compared with 15 in 2018. 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) Conkling Point, Southold: This quiet private beach continues to provide adequate habitat for PIPL.
PIPL: For the first time in three years, one pair nested successfully at this site. Unfortunately, the pair
abandoned the nest before the eggs hatched. We assume the presence of natural predators (e.g. raccoon
and/or red fox) caused the abandonment.
LETE: None nested here this season. The last time a pair attempted to nest here 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
Christine Tylee, ctylee@eastendenvironment.org