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 18 people on the beach during the shift and 2 were approached.
- 3 leashed dogs were observed on the beach.
Counts
Flats
- An estimate of “peeps” feeding across the mud flats was 2200.
- Other birds included: 69 Gulls, 2 Great Blue Herons, 3 Bald Eagles, 5 Cormorants, 4 Turkey Vultures, and 1 Peregrine Falcon.
Marsh
- Around 1000 “peeps” flew over the marsh with most headed in the direction of the beach though they were not observed settling down.
- Other birds included 1 Northern Harrier, 10 Great Blue Herons, 3 Greater Yellowlegs, 2 Peregrines, 2 Double-crested Cormorants, 6 Gulls, 3 Great Egrets, 3 Green-winged Teal, 2 Bald Eagles, and 14 Mallard/Black Ducks.
East Beach
- Shorebirds observed included: 51 Semipalmated Plovers, 12 Sanderlings, 78 Semipalmated Sandpipers, and one group of 50 “peeps” that flew down westward down the beach.
- Other birds observed included 1 Double-crested Cormorant, 1 Common Eider, and multiple gulls.
Main Beach
- 364 “peeps” were counted roosting on the beach.
- Other birds seen included 15 Gulls and 5 Savannah Sparrows.
- The marsh had more land area available than it has the past several days as the height of the tide continues to decrease. Groups of “peeps” were observed flying from the beach to the marsh.
This project was made possible with the support from our funders at the Environment and Climate Change Canada. We would like to thank our partners at Irving Nature Park and NatureNB.