Habitat Replenishment Benefits Shorebirds – Lloyd Center 2024 Shorebird Wrap-up

As stated in the early season article, winter storms both reduced nesting habitat for breeding shorebirds where dense cobble washed up, and increased it through sand replenishment. While Piping Plover abundance is constrained on small sites with lower carrying capacity, microhabitat changes can create new nest locations for both small numbers of additional pairs and returning birds that is more protected from predators. While high predation rates by canids (coyote, fox) continued in 2024, subtle shifts at more dynamic sites may have allowed for the successes that did occur, however small.

In Fairhaven, West Island is our one site always gaining sand from storms, and during the nesting season, habitat was available around the entire perimeter of the “barrier island”. Nests were more spread out than in 2023, and on state property storms created a thin strip of habitat that attracted pairs preferring seclusion and some chicks fledged. The Town Beach received immense amounts of sand, including overwash along the lagoon which was used by four chicks which again fledged from likely the same pair.

In addition to three more plover nests near the estuary lagoon, the new overwash resulted in the first Least Tern nest since 2018, and the first American Oystercatcher nest on record for the Town Beach. While these were all predated as predators found and explored the new habitat, this shows the continued potential of the West Island Town Beach for breeding shorebirds. The oystercatcher pair and late summer migrants made frequent use of the new sandy “shelf” along the lagoon. Although the nest was lost to fox, another milestone was the first ever plover pair/nest on the busy recreational stretch between the point near the lot and the cottages, which was also replenished by storms. 

Nearby Winsegansett Heights was particularly impressive, fledging two broods of plovers for the first time on record, along with the first recorded oystercatcher hatch on the plover beach portion section. Although the chick was presumably predated, seeing an oystercatcher hatchling was a treat. Least Terns returned with four pairs, collectively laying multiple clutches, but which were all predated. A plover and oystercatcher pair and the Least Tern colony all shared the same small spit which was enhanced with sand where it has been lacking in recent years. Successful hatching of the oystercatcher and plover nest, but predation of the cluster of Least Tern nests, also depicts the common trend where colonial nesters are particularly vulnerable to predators.  The other plover nest closer to cottages hatched on its second attempt, the pair also using new sandy habitat.

In Westport, the parking lot pair at Bakers Beach fledged chicks for the first time since 2020, from the one consistently exclosed nest in the region. Although this managed habitat remains static and isn’t replenished, it also escapes storm damage impacts. The late April nest was a month earlier than the last hatch in 2022 when no chicks fledged, with avoidance of the hottest stretch of weather keeping chicks cooler while in the lot, and less affected by crowds and predators near the water. While only two of four fledged, feeding on weedy clover in a parking lot, and repeatedly crossing the lot during times of high traffic, and over the dune system and back were major feats to overcome. The second pair nested close to Bakers this year, but unfortunately suffered canid predation.

Near the Westport River, Richmond Pond gained a pair, the successful pair using the new storm-induced berm on Land Trust property, producing fledges on the renest after an initial overwash. The pair east of the channel closer to the public beach left the site after predation by coyote or fox of its nest placed in cobbled berm.  At Elephant Rock, the shorter stretch of habitat due to extensive cobble from storms was an easy target for roaming fox which clearly pushed the pair around, but finally a nest occurred in mid-June, later than last year and closer to the cottages. Although only two eggs hatched and the chicks were again predated, the brood lasted longer this year and even walked all the way to Richmond Pond and back on a low tide. Given the degraded habitat due to cobble and beach preparation challenges early on, another hatch was in itself a success story.

Back home in Dartmouth, Salters Point was largely a repeat of 2023. The one pair on the smaller, more populated beach again succeeded, this year fledging all four chicks.  An initial challenge was keeping the brood contained where sand had built up to the top of a rock jetty, and a trench was dug to prevent crossings before chicks were strong. When they ultimately did cross after gaining strength, they found optimal foraging habitat nearby and settled there. The area below the pond had cobble and shell buildup which resulted in slightly less sand and two less pairs than 2023. A pair nesting closer to the beach access point this year depicted the scarcity of sand below the pond.  While last year all hatchlings were predated, this season all nests were lost to both canid (coyote/fox) and avian (crow) predators. These results show that nests closer to human activity can be more successful, due to tolerance of plovers to disturbance, and less predator stress.      

Our newest site, Nonquitt Beach, had extensive barrier beach habitat divided between Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust (DNRT) property and private land. Five total pairs nested with all but one producing fledges (seven fledges total), for a mix of success and predation from both egg and hatchling losses. Including renests this equaled seven plover nests spread out along the beach (mostly on DNRT property, but also private beach), a high density for a small site. For pairs renesting, one fledged all chicks after losing the first clutch to an abandonment, while the other fell victim to two egg predation events. One pair produced only one fledge because three eggs were inviable (never hatched). For pairs having hatchling mortality, one lost two of four chicks late in the season, while another lost the entire brood, both likely by coyote which were reported by residents. Productivity will be marginal, but increased habitat surely helped some pairs succeed.    

Additional shorebird activity included a few Least Tern nests, one of which produced one fledge on the beach, and both an American Oystercatcher pair and a small Common Tern colony had good productivity on an offshore glacial erratic. The oystercatcher pair and three fledges regularly used Nonquitt Marsh, which became extremely active during migration, being used by shorebirds and snowy egrets, both numbering in the hundreds. Marsh avian surveys were also a reminder of work done there by the Lloyd Center in years past.

We thank volunteers from all sites for their observations and reports; every observation is part of the daunting effort at protecting plovers and managing the beaches. We also give special thanks to plover intern and UMass Amherst student Julianna Souza of New Bedford, the first Lloyd Center plover intern since 2017. Julianna helped during crunch time make the rounds for twenty-two nesting plover pairs distributed between seven beaches in 2024! A busy season it was, and we’ll see you on the beach again in 2025!