HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008 Final ReportNORTH FORK AUDUBON SOCIETY
ENDANGERED SPECIES PROJECT
2008 FINAL REPORT
During this season, NFAS monitored nesting species on 25 sections of beach in
Riverhead and Southold. Twelve of these sites hosted piping plovers, with 16 pair
hatching 37 chicks. Of these chicks, at least 18 fledge& Some pairs were more successful
than others. The Corey Creek pair fledged three fi.om four eggs, two pair at Breakwater
fledged five and the Kenney's Beach pair fledged three. These numbers are consistent
with the 2007 season.
Least terns were present on most sites, if only in small numbers. Several sites, notably
Breakwater (with over 200 terns), Little Creek and Jamesport Town Beach, had large
colonies of nesting terns, and numerous chicks were hatched and fledged, again
consistent with last year.
What was not consistent was the number of site visits made to monitor the nesting
population. NFAS volunteers and project staff made at least 490 visits this year, up from
246 last year. Sites with active nesting birds received 394 visits this year. The group of
volunteers also expanded, with some twenty volunteers giving at least some time, and at
least ten spending considerable time and energy making consistent visits and providing
reliable reports on their observations.
A major factor in the project efforts this year has been the hiring of John Brash as
Assistant Plover Monitor. John worked tirelessly with our volunteer observers, as well as
making many site visits himself. I was able to spend more time on data collection and
reporting to our various contract bodies and governmental partners. These reports
included two reports to each of the Towns with whom we contract, one at mid-season and
one end-of year report, as well as the two annual DEC surveys on coastal waterfowl.
With the support of John Sepenoski, we began the process of automating our data
collection, to increase our ability to produce accurate and timely reports
SOUTHOLD SITES 2008
INACTIVE SITES
Angel Shores
Cutcho(jue Harbor (Private)
Downs Creek
Goose Creek Southold Bay
Hashamomuck Beach
James Creek
Jockey Creek Spoil Island
Kimogener Point
Little Ho~ Neck
Marratooka Point
Paradise Beach Point
Pipes Cove
Port of Egypt
TOTAL
VISITS
3
13
3
5
14
3
5
6
11
4
4
13
12
2007 VISITS
INACTIVE 112
ACTIVE 134
TOTAL 246
ACTIVE SITES
Conklin~l Point
Core}, Creek Mouth
Cutchogue Harbor (TNC Preserve
Goldsmith Inlet (Private)
Gull Pond West
Little Creek
Mattituck Inlet
Richmond Creek
TOTAL
VISITS
2O
24
21
43
24
45
43
~ 25
245
2008
PAIRS HATCHED FLEDGED
2 4 3
I 4 3
1 0 0
1 3 3
1 0 0
2 4 2
2 7 5
1 0 0
11 22 16
2007 TOT/ 11 22 15
RIVERHEAD SITES 2008
JAMESPORT TOWN BEACH
MIAMOGUE POINT
SIMMONS POINT
HALLOCK POND
TOTAL
VISITS
48
49
16
36
149
PAIRS
HATCHED FLEDGED
2 4 1
1 4 1
1 0 0
1 7 0
5 15 2
2007 TOT/ 3 12 3