Press Releases
05/21/2024
Share the Shore with Nesting Birds
Help Protect Shorebirds at Coastal Beaches and Wading Birds at Offshore Islands
(HARTFORD) — As the summer beach season approaches, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) reminds beachgoers and others recreating on the shoreline to share the shore with nesting birds.
With ever-growing public use of our beaches, there are fewer places for shorebirds like piping plovers and least terns, which are identified by the Connecticut Endangered Species Act as needing conservation and protection, to feed, rest, and raise their young. More intense coastal storms and tidal flooding caused by climate change have added to the challenges faced by bird species that depend on the shoreline. DEEP takes measures to protect nesting shorebirds and waterbirds, and you can help these vulnerable birds by exercising caution and abiding by posted rules when visiting the shoreline.
“Protecting wildlife and their habitat is one of DEEP’s most important responsibilities,” said DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes. “We coordinate closely with conservation organizations and work to educate the public about the importance of preserving these bird populations in Connecticut. It’s important to remember that when we visit the shoreline to recreate, we’re also visiting a crucial habitat for shorebirds.”
Protection Measures
The Dr. William A. Niering Preserve embedded within Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford, Charles Island in Milford, and Duck Island in Westbrook currently are closed to the public to prevent disturbances to nesting birds. DEEP has designated all three sites as Natural Area Preserves, primarily due to their importance as nesting habitats for several state-listed birds, including piping plovers, least terns, snowy and great egrets, glossy ibis, and little blue herons. Charles and Duck Islands have also been designated as Important Bird Areas by Audubon Connecticut.
DEEP also asks beach visitors and boaters along the Connecticut shoreline to respect the fencing and yellow signs warning of piping plover and least tern nesting sites. The piping plover, a small, sandy-colored shorebird about the size of a robin, is a threatened species under the federal Endangered Species Act, as well as a state threatened (or “state-listed”) species in Connecticut. The small, gull-like least tern, which nests in colonies in the same beach habitat as the piping plover, is also a state threatened species. Both of these shorebirds reliably and successfully nest in the Dr. William A. Niering Natural Area Preserve in Harkness Memorial State Park. The closure of this preserve to the public minimizes human disturbance to these birds during the sensitive nesting season. Access points to the preserve are posted with signage stating, “This area is closed to the public.”
“Each year, Charles and Duck Islands are closed during the nesting season to protect various bird species. Fencing also is erected at beach nesting areas along Connecticut’s shoreline to safeguard piping plovers and least terns,” said Justin Davis, Chief of the DEEP Bureau of Natural Resources. “Closing the islands and the Dr. William A. Niering Natural Area Preserve, as well as enlisting the public’s help and cooperation, are simple but effective ways to protect these birds.”
Charles and Duck Islands
Protecting heron and egret nesting areas on Charles and Duck Islands are important steps to prevent disturbances that can result in abandonment of nests or possibly the entire nesting colony. Nest abandonment would have a tremendous negative effect on these declining bird populations.
To protect the nesting colonies, also known as “rookeries,” on Charles and Duck Islands, educational signs describing state-listed birds and the importance of not disturbing nesting sites have been erected at access points. Additionally, the sites are posted with island closure notices, the rookeries are fenced, and signs are posted that read “Do Not Enter – Bird Nesting Area.”
When young birds become agitated by disturbances, they often fall from the nest. Once grounded, the young birds die of starvation or predation. If disturbances continue, the adults may abandon the nesting area. Problematic disturbances to rookeries include unleashed dogs, boat and kayak landings, people approaching fenced nesting areas, campouts, and bonfires.
DEEP Environmental Conservation Police Officers patrol the islands. The islands are entirely closed, and landing watercraft on the shoreline is prohibited. The public can help to protect nesting birds by abiding by the closure and reporting any observed violations by calling DEEP’s 24-hour Dispatch Center at 1-800-842-HELP (4357).
Protection of Piping Plovers and Least Terns
Human disturbance at beach nesting areas may result in nest abandonment by state threatened piping plovers and least terns or the loss of eggs and chicks. To prevent disturbances, DEEP delineates nesting sites with rope and fencing to dissuade people from disturbing the area.
Plovers and terns need special protection throughout their nesting season from April through August and especially during the increased beach activity that occurs during holiday weekends (Memorial Day and July 4). By obeying the warning signs and staying away from fenced areas, beach visitors can avoid disturbing the nesting birds.
Both piping plovers and least terns use a shallow depression in sand for a nest. Their sand-colored eggs and young are so well camouflaged that they easily can be stepped on by accident. When perceived predators approach, young piping plovers are likely to stand motionless while the adult tries to attract attention by pretending to have a broken wing or flying around the intruder. If you witness this behavior, DEEP advises you to move away from the area and toward the water’s edge at once.
DEEP also provides the following advice to protect nesting shorebirds and help them survive the challenges of living in beach habitat:
- Walk close to the water on the lower portion of a beach, so birds resting and nesting on the upper portion of the beach remain undisturbed. Be vigilant for posted signs that will alert you to sensitive areas. Follow all guidance on signs, and respect all areas fenced or posted for protection of wildlife.
- Refrain from walking dogs or allowing house cats to roam freely on beaches during the nesting season. Dogs are not allowed at many beach areas during the bird nesting season. These areas include, but are not limited to, Compo Beach in Westport, Long Beach and Short Beach in Stratford, Pleasure Beach in Bridgeport, Silver Sands State Park and Milford Point in Milford, Sherwood Island State Park in Westport, Sandy Point in West Haven, Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford, Bluff Point Coastal Reserve in Groton, and Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison.
- At areas where dogs are allowed, always keep them on a leash, but remember that even leashed dogs have the potential to step on or disturb nests and young birds. Dogs also may harass sensitive shorebirds by chasing them.
- Keep your distance while photographing or birdwatching so birds feel safe to attend to their eggs and chicks.
- Remove trash and food scraps, which can attract animals that might eat piping plover eggs and chicks.
- Do not feed animals or wildlife on or near the beach.
- Do not attempt to “rescue” young birds that appear to be lost or too young to be solitary. They should not be removed from the beach to be cared for at home. In most cases, when immature birds are found alone, the adults have been frightened away but remain nearby and will return to their young once the intruder leaves. It is illegal to hold wildlife for rehabilitation without proper state or federal permits. In addition, shorebirds have a unique diet that people would find hard to duplicate, probably resulting in starvation of the young bird. Any violations affecting wildlife should be reported to the DEEP’s 24-hour, toll-free hot line: 1-800-842-HELP (4357).
Piping Plover – Piping plovers need special protection throughout their nesting season and especially during the increased beach activity experienced over Memorial Day weekend. By obeying the posted signs and staying away from fenced areas, beach visitors can avoid disturbing the nesting birds. Credit Paul Benjunas/DEEP
Great Egret – Charles and Duck Islands have been designated by DEEP as Natural Area Preserves, primarily due to their importance as nesting habitats for several state-listed birds, including snowy egrets and great egrets (pictured; state-threatened species), glossy ibis, and little blue herons (state special concern). Credit Paul J. Fusco/DEEP
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Contact
DEEP Communications
DEEP.communications@ct.gov
860-424-3110