March brings us to shorebird nesting season which means that our surveys start! I monitor Passage Key, which is a Bird Sanctuary and closed beach location. I am permitted to conduct these surveys by US Fish & Wildlife Service. PLEASE DO NOT ACCESS THE ISLAND!
March Survey details:
3/21/2017
1:00-3:00PM
Mid-Incoming TIDE
Clear, slight breeze, sunny
70-72 degrees
5 SNPL – Snowy Plover
2 AMOY – American Oystercatcher
1 WIPL – Wilson’s Plover
3 PIPL – Piping Plover (one banded BLACK CU)
13 REKN – Red Knot
1 PEFA – Peregrine Falcon
2 RUTU – Rudy Turnstone
1 HEGU – Herring Gull
Several LAGU (Laughing Gulls), ROYT (Royal Terns), SBDO (Short-Billed Dowitcher), SAND (Sanderlings), BBPL (Black Bellied Plover) and were present.
AMOY and SNPL appeared to be in breeding mode having paired off a bit and were showing signs of being territorial, however NO NESTS AT THIS TIME.
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