Report created by Erin Brown, Shorebird Counter and Public Educator for the Shorebird Conservation and Education Project with the Saint John Naturalists Club.
Public Engagement
- There were 13 people on the beach during the shift and 7 were approached. Everyone was interested to hear about the birds and all interactions were positive.
- 4 leashed dogs and 1 unleashed dog was observed on the beach. The owner of the unleashed dog was distant and left before I got to that end of the beach. One couple with their dog saw the shorebirds before I got to them and turned around and when I met them later, they said they had spoken with volunteers before. Direct evidence that the education component is working.
Counts
Saints Rest – Main Beach
- Several large groups of peeps were seen roosting on the beach. Birds counted included 974 Semipalmated Sandpipers, 42 Least Sandpipers, 15 Semipalmated Plovers, 1 Ruddy Turnstone, and 4 Sanderlings were observed. 150 “peeps” were also counted.
- Other birds counted included 4 Horned Grebes, 2 Common Loons, and 1 Herring Gull. The Herring Gull was observed flying down the beach right over the groups of resting shorebirds and disturbing them.
Saints Rest – East Beach
- 2 groups of birds were observed roosting and totaled 16 Semipalmated Plovers and 6 Semipalmated Sandpipers.
- 2 Cormorants and a Red-throated Loon were also counted.
- 2 Greater Yellowlegs and 4 Canada Geese flew over the beach from the marsh.
Flats – Observed as the tide began to fall
- An estimate of peeps feeding across the mud flats was 1450.
- Other birds included: 123 gulls, 7 Great Blue Herons, 19 Cormorants, 1 Eider, 1 Merlin, and 1 Osprey.
Marsh
- 236 groups of “peeps” were seen. Groups able to be identified included 319 Semipalmated Sandpipers, and 46 Least Sandpipers.
- Other birds counted included 2 Savannah Sparrows, 7 Greater Yellowlegs, 1 Lesser Yellowlegs, 4 Great Egrets, 8 Mallard/Black Ducks, 12 Great Blue Herons, 1 Dowitcher, 1 Common Yellowthroat, I Whimbrel, 2 Eiders, 2 Blue Winged Teals, 3 Northern Shovelers, and 1 Harrier.
Beach Surveys
Beaches east of Irving Nature Park were scouted for feeding shorebirds and to assess roost site potential.
- Courtney Bay Mud Flats – A few hundred shorebirds were observed feeding as I drove past.
- Marsh beside east wastewater treatment plant – observed multiple species foraging in the mud – 20 Semipalmated Plovers, 15 “peeps,” 3 Dowitchers, and 1 Greater Yellowlegs.
- Beach across from east wastewater treatment plant – 30 “peeps” (appeared mostly Semipalmated Plovers) and 1 Ruddy Turnstone observed.
- Bean Beach off Anthony’s Cove Road – no shorebirds observed. The beach is mostly sand and shingle with some cobble. Does not appear to be a preferred feeding site but could provide adequate roosts.
- Mispec – No shorebirds observed – All sand and well used by people so not likely to be used by birds.
This project was made possible with support from Environment and Climate Change Canada. We would like to thank our partners at Irving Nature Park and NatureNB and our dedicated volunteers.