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Index of Subjects --000325579fd69daebd046b0ad468 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hi Ulli and others, Thanks, Ulli, for passing on your observations and all others who send out info about beach birds throughout the year. Just wanted to follow up with a quick report on the status of Piping Plovers at Martinique Beach this year. Staff and volunteers from Bird Studies Canada and NS Dept. Natural Resources are monitoring plovers and protecting their nests and nesting habitat. As of Sunday, 24 May I observed two pairs: one incubating and one scraping. Based on Ulli's report, it's possible that another pair has shown up (I'm heading out there this morning, so I'll check again). Last year there were three pairs and only one nest hatched due to nest predation. In response, we are now using predator exclosures to protect nests. A predator exclosure is wire fencing that encircles the eggs (diameter~3 m), large enough to allow the plover to walk in and out to and from its nest, but small enough to prevent most predators from entering. There's a mesh top to prevent avian predators, like crows, from entering from above. Presently, exclosures are the only tool we have to decrease predation of nests in NS. They are used widely across N. America to increase hatch success of plover nests. We have signage around the nesting area, but if you see someone approaching or lingering near a predator exclosure, please let them know that it's best for the plovers to stay clear of the area. Simple message is "please stay on the wet sand." Appreciate your interest and feel free to contact me with any questions or if you'd like to get involved. We will be training volunteers throughout June. Thanks, Sue Abbott, Bird Studies Canada (nsplovers@gmail.com; 426-4055) On Thu, May 28, 2009 at 11:27 PM, <uhoeger@dal.ca> wrote: > On Tuesday after work I did a trip to Martinique Beach. Getting out of > Dartmouth and Cole Hbr was trafficwise a pain in the ..... > > On Martinique three Piping Plovers were foraging on the tidal edge on the > beach (~6pm), somewhere between the last parking lot board walk and the > big break in the dunes, well before the area with the signs. > > I believe that there may be a nest in that area, as one plover was leaving > the > beach to approach the more structured area well above the high water line. > There he disappeared for a few seconds, just to head back to the beach a > moment later. I guess I observed a pair playing tag team and switched duty > on the eggs. > > A few years ago I have seen this happening from start to finish and could > see the bird on the nest with the scope. Not this time. > > There is a nest on the back in a roped of area protected by a large cage. > Now lets hope for a good number of youngsters to fledge. > > Main reason for my visit were the Sanderlings. Missed those on the beach. > Bad timing, as a flock of ~25 was flying over head towards the beach when I > was pulling out of the parking lot. The raising tide must have flushed > them > from the mudflats in the marsh. Mid to High tide may be a better time to > try > for those ...... > > Ulli > -- NS Piping Plover Conservation Program Learn more: www.bsc-eoc.org/volunteer/nsplover/ Bird Studies Canada c/o 45 Alderney Dr., 16th floor Dartmouth, NS B2Y 2N6 (902) 426-4055 --000325579fd69daebd046b0ad468 Content-Type: text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <div>Hi Ulli and others,<br></div> <div>Thanks, Ulli, for passing on your observations and all others who send= out info about beach birds throughout the year.</div> <div>=A0</div> <div>Just wanted to follow up with a quick report on the status of Piping P= lovers at Martinique Beach=A0this year.</div> <div>=A0</div> <div>Staff and volunteers from Bird Studies Canada and NS Dept. Natural Res= ources are monitoring plovers and protecting their nests and nesting habita= t.=A0 As of Sunday, 24 May=A0I observed=A0two pairs: one incubating and one= scraping.=A0 Based on Ulli's report, it's possible that another pa= ir has shown up (I'm heading out there this morning, so I'll check = again).</div> <div>=A0</div> <div>Last year there were three pairs and only one nest hatched due to nest= predation.=A0 In response, we are now using predator exclosures to protect= nests.=A0 A predator exclosure is wire fencing that encircles the eggs=A0(= diameter~3 m), large enough to allow the plover to walk in and out to and f= rom its nest, but small enough to prevent=A0most predators from entering.= =A0 There's a mesh top to prevent avian predators, like crows, from ent= ering from above.=A0=A0Presently, exclosures are the=A0only tool we have to= decrease predation of nests in NS.=A0 They are used widely across N. Ameri= ca to increase hatch success of plover nests.</div> <div>=A0</div> <div>We have signage around the=A0nesting area, but if you see=A0someone ap= proaching or lingering near a predator=A0exclosure, please let them know th= at it's best for the plovers to stay clear of the area.=A0=A0Simple mes= sage is "please stay on the wet sand."</div> <div>=A0</div> <div>Appreciate your interest and feel free to contact me with any question= s or if you'd like to=A0get involved.=A0 We will be training volunteers= =A0throughout June.</div> <div>=A0</div> <div>Thanks,</div> <div>Sue Abbott,=A0Bird Studies Canada (<a href=3D"mailto:nsplovers@gmail.c= om">nsplovers@gmail.com</a>; 426-4055)</div> <div><br>=A0</div> <div>=A0</div> <div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Thu, May 28, 2009 at 11:27 PM, <span dir=3D"l= tr"><uhoeger@dal.ca></span> wro= te:<br> <blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"PADDING-LEFT: 1ex; MARGIN: 0px 0= px 0px 0.8ex; BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid">On Tuesday after work I did a tr= ip to Martinique Beach. Getting out of<br>Dartmouth and Cole Hbr was traffi= cwise a pain in the .....<br> <br>On Martinique three Piping Plovers were foraging on the tidal edge on t= he<br>beach (~6pm), somewhere between the last parking lot board walk and t= he<br>big break in the dunes, well before the area with the signs.<br><br> I believe that there may be a nest in that area, as one plover was leaving = the<br>beach to approach the more structured area well above the high water= line.<br>There he disappeared for a few seconds, just to head back to the = beach a<br> moment later. I guess I observed a pair playing tag team and switched duty<= br>on the eggs.<br><br>A few years ago I have seen this happening from star= t to finish and could<br>see the bird on the nest with the scope. Not this = time.<br> <br>There is a nest on the back in a roped of area protected by a large cag= e.<br>Now lets hope for a good number of youngsters to fledge.<br><br>Main = reason for my visit were the Sanderlings. =A0Missed those on the beach.<br> Bad timing, as a flock of ~25 was flying over head towards the beach when I= <br>was pulling out of the parking lot. =A0The raising tide must have flush= ed them<br>from the mudflats in the marsh. =A0Mid to High tide may be a bet= ter time to try<br> for those ......<br><br>Ulli<br></blockquote></div><br><br clear=3D"all"> <div></div><br>-- <br>NS Piping Plover Conservation Program<br>Learn more: = <a href=3D"http://www.bsc-eoc.org/volunteer/nsplover/">www.bsc-eoc.org/volu= nteer/nsplover/</a><br><br>Bird Studies Canada<br>c/o 45 Alderney Dr., 16th= floor<br> Dartmouth, NS B2Y 2N6<br><br>(902) 426-4055<br> --000325579fd69daebd046b0ad468--
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