Keeping up with the Plovers (and their neighbors)

    I have been back to volunteering with NYC Plover Project and this year I give much of my time on the weekends. I have had a few chances to hop out on weekdays, but nothing like I did last year - just because of the simple fact being that this year I am employed. Though I will say, even being out there on the time I have had, it has still been so incredibly magical. You just get this amazing opportunity to really hone in on the intricacies of the lives of these birds and the other species who share the beaches with them. 

    So let's catch up - things have felt hopeful so far this season, at this point there is a plover chick who has made it to the fledgling stage, it felt like last year that happened so much further into the summer, and its invigorating to have that little flutter of hope that more can still happen for them!

    Also, this year beach goers are generally (to me at least) more understanding to the beach closures. Last year was the first time that happened, so you know how change is perceived. Well, beach closures have been happening this summer and people don't seem as surprised, and that also gives me hope.

    But enough of my excitement for these little lovelies-- let's get to them... Strap yourself in, here comes lots of PIPL Pics...

This banded bird is a new one to me, I submitted a band report for this piping plover but have yet to hear back on who they are and where they were born.

The chicks felt like they started early, but the beach season has been rather windy, chilly, and the kind of conditions that make people stay away. Which is great for wildlife.

Marine worms are an absolute food favorite among piping plovers.

On one shift I saw two plover chick species- the piping, but also this killdeer chick at a puddle in a parking area. 

A freshwater puddle can be a great place to find birds, especially when that puddle is one of the very few, if not only freshwater source in an area.

The adults were close by, but oddly quite as these birds are usually noisy, and almost chaotic.

This year for the Plover Project we are mentoring new volunteers and honestly that has been such a blast. I took people out and showed them their first piping plovers and we felt that magic.
On this shift I took a new volunteer who not only never saw a PIPL, but also enjoyed photographing birds- well, did they get a show... starting with a PIPL running right toward and past us, just mere feet away.

And then we saw chicks.

And the chicks definitely saw us...

And as we observed from a distance, and kept still, the pair of chicks kept walking our way and past us to the shore. Absolute magic that I wish for not just ever plover volunteer but anyone who is a lover of nature to experience.

LIKE HOW CAN YOU NOT?! oh mean, these babies tear my heart up.

So right, the new volunteer gets a plover baby show.... and then an American Oyster Catcher show, like, let's just put on the razzle dazzle today, Mother Nature!

We got to see the main difference between parenting tactics for oystercatchers versus plovers -- Oystercatchers bring food up for their chicks while plovers day, "get it yourself, kid!" 
Plover young need to find food themselves down at the shore in order to survive which is why need the vast stretches of beach to be clear of foot traffic, dogs, and other dangers.

For this new volunteer, as if it couldn't get better - we had a small group of black skimmers just sitting on the sand. What a lovely opportunity to take in their awkward elegance.

The common terns get a bad reputation for dive bombing people, but truly they are just fierce parent protecting their nests, eggs, and ultimately their babies.

Personally, I LOVE terns and have much respect for them.

On this outing, the new volunteer and I also got to see a new nest site- this bird is sitting on eggs! What a lovely shift for them, and me too, I love sharing this and getting people excited for PIPLs!

On another outing, I spent my entire shift on west beach which is usually where I see some goodies, like this lesser black-backed gull.

Serious empathy for this mama plover catching some rest while her two chicks take a cat-nap in the shade of the grasses.

Many people on this beach look for shells and things, so they are not really keeping their attention on their surroundings. And when people do get close, the chicks crouch like this to blend in. I approached the person in the background with their air pods in, who was so into whatever was in their ear, they didn't even see or hear me, would have surely missed this chick in their path.

Nothing gives my mama heart more joy than seeing the chicks get down to the water to eat.

A face I know well, especially when trying new foods...

That perfect camouflage in a popular place for people is their ultimate downfall. No one sees them, knows them, and therefore cares for their presence on the beach -- because so many simply don't know!

A look at those yellow legs that sets their lesser apart from teh greater black-backed gull.

Speaking of the goodies on west beach - a small group of breeding plumage red knots is a special treat.

Another day another nest! This one is extra special. But an amazing look at those 4, perfectly camouflaged eggs.

On this shift, a VERY special moment, the moment I live for (among way too many others, but its up there), seeing new life, Clark Kent's chicks, only maybe an hour old? So now, so fresh, so perfect!

Serious dad skills, juggling two freshly hatched chicks and their two siblings, still in their eggs.

Clark's mate is a 1 year old, banded and born on Fire Island, NY. Clearly, she has a lot to learn, as she sits without a worry as a crab nearly her own size crawl past her.

Other families also live in the same area as Clark, so many obstacles on day one, just those naturally occurring. The human-related obstacles are still another story.

I was tipped off that something was up as he was so squirmy and fidgety over his clutch, in the way that something below deck was shifting around.

Watching mom, with her very first brood ever, was, well, relatable. She has quite an over whelmed, new mom look about her here. Good thing she chose an older guy, which for him this isn't his first rodeo.

Oh boy, yeah, this is what you signed up for, but I promise, you'll be okay and you're doing great! 

While mom figures out how to comfort her new brood, dad get's busy shoo'ing off Ghost crabs which are potential predators of the chicks.

While some birds come here for summer, some winter visitors simply just, stick around. This long-tailed duck should be well up north, but looks like this one wanted to try a NY summer.

Mama and her chick. American Oystercatchers are some really good parents, I love watching them with their kids.

Common Tern chicks, coming soon.