SUMMARY OF 2006 CENSUS OF AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS IN MASSACHUSETTS
Compiled by:
Scott M. Melvin Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Westborough, MA 01581
August 2007
SUMMARY OF 2006 CENSUS OF AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS IN MASSACHUSETTS
INTRODUCTION
This report summarizes data collected during a statewide census of the American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) in Massachusetts during the 2006 breeding season. This census was conducted by a statewide network of cooperating agencies and organizations. The American Oystercatcher is a large, strikingly colored shorebird that nests on coastal beaches along the Atlantic Coast from Maine to Florida. Although the species has expanded its range and increased in abundance in New England over the past 50 years, its range extension northward along the Atlantic Coast may well be a recolonization of formerly occupied habitat (Forbush 1912). On a continental scale, the American Oystercatcher is one of the most uncommon species of breeding shorebirds in North America and has been designated a Species of High Concern in the United States Shorebird Conservation Plan (Brown et. al. 2001).
METHODS
Data on American Oystercatcher abundance, distribution, and reproductive success were collected by a coast-wide group of cooperators that included full-time and seasonal biologists and coastal waterbird monitors, beach managers, researchers, and volunteers. This is the same group that conducts annual censuses of Piping Plovers and terns in Massachusetts (Melvin 2007, Mostello 2007).
Observers censused adult oystercatchers during or as close as possible to the designated census period of 22 - 31 May 2006, in order to minimize double-counting of birds that might move between multiple sites during the breeding season. The 2006 census period was the same as in 2005 and was intended to closely target the peak of oystercatcher nesting statewide, when we felt breeding pairs might be most accurately censused. Abundance was reported for each site both as total number of adults (pairs, single birds, or groups of apparently unpaired birds) and number of breeding pairs (pairs of adult birds with nests or chicks or that exhibited territorial, courtship, or distraction behavior at a site).
Cooperators were asked to report numbers of young fledged for each pair, if known. Chicks were considered to have fledged if they survived to > 30 days of age or were able to fly, whichever occurred first. We also asked cooperators to report numbers and locations of large assemblages of post-breeding oystercatchers and the dates observed.
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RESULTS
Observers reported totals of 387 adults and 191 pairs of American Oystercatchers at 69 sites in Massachusetts in 2006 (Table 1), from a total of 229 sites censused (Tables 1, 2). The small discrepancy between number of adults and number of pairs is due to several reports during the census period of single adults and small groups of adults for which pairing status could not be determined. The largest numbers of breeding pairs were reported from Nantucket (48 pairs), Lower Cape Cod (43 pairs), Martha's Vineyard (31), and the Boston Harbor Islands (19) (Tables 1, 2). Individual sites with the largest numbers of pairs were the Coskata-Coatue area of Nantucket (32 pairs), South Monomoy Island, Chatham (13), Tuckernuck Island (13), North Monomoy Island, Chatham (8), “Minimoy” Island, Chatham (8), South Beach, Chatham (8), and Norton Point Beach, Edgartown (7) (Table 1).
Statewide, at least 92 chicks were reported to have fledged from 149 pairs for which productivity could be determined, for an overall productivity of 0.62 chicks fledged per pair.
The largest reported post-breeding concentrations of oystercatchers were 110 birds at South Beach, Chatham on 18 September 2006, 50 birds (reported to be all adults) at South Monomoy Island, Chatham on 17 August, 31 birds at Coatue, Nantucket on 4 September, 15 birds at Muskeget Island on 25 July, 14 birds at the Glades, Nantucket on 19 July, 14 birds at North Monomoy Island, Chatham on 16 August, 10 birds at Eel Point, Nantucket on 6 and 23 August, and 10 birds at North Beach, Chatham on 15 August.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We extend our sincere thanks to the many biologists, seasonal shorebird monitors, beach managers, landowners, and volunteers that participated in monitoring and protection efforts for American Oystercatchers and other coastal waterbirds in Massachusetts in 2006. This work was carried out by cooperators from state and federal agencies, local municipalities, county government, private conservation groups, and universities. We especially thank all the individuals who collected and submitted the data that are summarized in this report.
LITERATURE CITED
Brown, S., C. Hickey, B. Harrington, and R. Gill (eds.). 2001. The U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan, 2 ed. Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences, Manomet, MA.
Forbush, E.H. 1912. A history of the gamebirds, wild-fowl, and shore birds of Massachusetts and adjacent states. Massachusetts State Board of Agriculture, Boston.
Melvin, S.M. 2007. Summary of 2006 Massachusetts Piping Plover census data. Unpubl. report. Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, Westborough, MA.
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Mostello, C.S. 2007. Inventory of terns, laughing gulls, and black skimmers nesting in Massachusetts in 2006. Unpubl. report. Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, Westborough, MA.
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Table 1. Results of 2006 census of American Oystercatchers in Massachusetts.
Location Total Total No. No. pairs Sourced adultsa pairsa chicks with fledge fledgedb datac NORTH SHORE e f Salisbury Beach - North, Salisbury nd nd nd nd nd e Salisbury Beach -South., Salisbury nd nd nd nd nd Woodbridge Island, Newburyport nd nd nd nd nd
Plum Island town beaches, 0 0 0 0 FWS Newburyport/Newbury Parker River NWR, Newbury/Rowley 0 0 0 0 FWS
Sandy Point State Res., Ipswich 0 0 0 0 FWS
Crane Beach, Ipswich 0 0 0 0 TTOR
Coffin’s Beach, Gloucester nd nd nd nd nd
Wingaersheek Beach, Gloucester nd nd nd nd nd
Good Harbor Beach, Gloucester nd nd nd nd nd
Ram Is. – North, Manchester 2 1 nd nd DFW
North Gooseberry Is., Salem 2 1 nd nd DFW g g Coney Is., Salem 2 1 nd nd DFW h h Cat Is., Salem 1 0 nd nd DFW, MAS i Other North Shore islands 0 0 0 0 DFW
BOSTON HARBOR
Snake Is., Winthrop 8 4 nd 0 Manomet,NPS
Logan Airport, Boston nd nd nd nd nd
The Graves, Hull 0 0 0 0 Manomet, NPS
Green Island, Hull 0 0 0 0 Manomet, NPS
Little Calf Is., Hull 0 0 0 0 Manomet, NPS
Calf Is., Hull 6 3 nd 0 Manomet, NPS
Outer Brewster Is., Hull 0 0 0 0 Manomet, NPS
Middle Brewster Is., Hull 2 1 nd 0 Manomet, NPS
Great Brewster Is., Hull nd nd nd nd nd
5 Location Total Total No. No. pairs Sourced adultsa pairsa chicks with fledge fledgedb datac Shag Rocks, Hull 0 0 0 0 Manomet, NPS
Lovells Is., Boston 6 3 nd 0 Manomet, NPS
Gallops Is., Boston 4 2 0 0 Manomet, NPS
Georges Is., Boston 2 1 nd nd Manomet, NPS
Rainsford Is., Boston 2 1 nd nd Manomet, NPS
Spectacle Is., Boston nd nd nd nd nd
Thompson Is., Boston 2 1 nd 0 Manomet, NPS
Hangman Is., Quincy 0 0 0 0 Manomet, NPS
Peddocks Is., Hull 4 2 nd nd Manomet, NPS j j j Sheep Is., Weymouth 3 1 nd 0 Manomet, NPS Bumpkin Is., Hingham nd nd nd nd nd
Langlee Is., Hingham 0 0 0 0 Manomet, NPS
Ragged Is., Hingham 0 0 0 0 Manomet, NPS
Sarah Is., Hingham 0 0 0 0 Manomet,
Button Is., Hingham 0 0 0 0 Manomet, NPS
SOUTH SHORE
Third Cliff, Scituate 0 0 0 0 MAS
Fourth Cliff, Scituate 0 0 0 0 MAS
Rexhame Beach, Marshfield 0 0 0 0 MAS
Duxbury Beach, Duxbury/Plymouth 0 0 0 0 MAS, Town of Duxbury Plymouth Beach, Plymouth 0 0 0 0 Town of Plymouth k Ellisville, Plymouth 0 0 0 0 MAS Sagamore Beach, Bourne and 0 0 0 0 MAS Sandwich Scusset Beach State Res., Sandwich 0 0 0 0 MAS, DCR
UPPER CAPE
Mashnee Dike, Bourne 0 0 0 0 MAS
6 Location Total Total No. No. pairs Sourced adultsa pairsa chicks with fledge fledgedb datac Bassetts Island, Bourne nd nd nd nd nd
Black Beach/Sippewisset, W. 0 0 0 0 MAS Falmouth Woodneck Beach, W. Falmouth nd nd nd nd nd
Acapesket Beach, Falmouth 0 0 0 0 MAS
Menauhant Beach, Falmouth 0 0 0 0 MAS,WBNERR l Washburn Island, Falmouth 2 1 0 1 WBNERR, DCR South Cape Beach, Mashpee 2 1 0 1 WBNERR, DCR
New Seabury, Mashpee 0 0 0 0 WBNERR, DCR
Rock Landing/Maushop Village, 0 0 0 0 MAS Mashpee Popponesset Spit, Mashpee 0 0 0 0 MAS
Town Neck Beach, Sandwich 0 0 0 0 MAS
Springhill Beach, Sandwich 0 0 0 0 MAS
East Sandwich Beach, Sandwich 0 0 0 0 MAS
Scorton (Neck) Creek, Sandwich 0 0 0 0 MAS
Scorton Shores, Sandwich 0 0 0 0 MAS
Sandy Neck, Barnstable 0 0 0 0 Town of Barnstable
Sampson’s Is.-Dead Neck, Barnstable 0 0 0 0 MAS
Bone Hill Road, Barnstable 0 0 0 0 MAS
Dowse’s Beach, Barnstable 0 0 0 0 MAS
Long Beach, Barnstable 0 0 0 0 MAS
Craigville Beach, Barnstable 0 0 0 0 MAS
Squaw Island, Barnstable 0 0 0 0 MAS
Sea St. / Keyes Beach, Barnstable 0 0 0 0 MAS
Kalmus Park Beach, Barnstable 0 0 0 0 MAS
Gray’s Beach, Yarmouth 2 1 0 1 MAS
Seagull Beach / Radio City, 0 0 0 0 MAS Yarmouth Great Island, Yarmouth 2 1 0 1 MAS
Bass River Beach, Yarmouth nd nd nd nd MAS
7 Location Total Total No. No. pairs Sourced adultsa pairsa chicks with fledge fledgedb datac West Dennis Beach, Dennis 0 0 0 0 Town of Dennis, MAS Chapin Beach, Dennis 0 0 0 0 Town of Dennis, MAS Mayflower Beach / Town Landings, 0 0 0 0 Town of Dennis, Dennis MAS Howes St. Beach, Dennis 0 0 0 0 Town of Dennis, MAS Corporation Beach, Dennis 0 0 0 0 Town of Dennis, MAS Sesuit Harbor Beach, Dennis 0 0 0 0 Town of Dennis, MAS Quivett Neck / Coles Pond / Crowes 0 0 0 0 Town of Dennis, Pasture, Dennis MAS Miramar Beach (Swan River), Dennis 0 0 0 0 Town of Dennis, MAS Cold Storage Beach, Dennis 0 0 0 0 Town of Dennis, MAS Wings Island, Brewster 0 0 0 0 MAS
Paine’s Creek, Brewster 0 0 0 0 MAS
Robbins Hill Beach, Brewster 0 0 0 0 MAS
Saint’s Landing, Brewster 0 0 0 0 MAS
Point of Rocks, Brewster 0 0 0 0 MAS
Town Beach, Brewster 0 0 0 0 MAS
Ellis Launching Beach, Brewster 0 0 0 0 MAS
Linell Landing Beach, Brewster 0 0 0 0 MAS
Crosby Landing Beach, Brewster 0 0 0 0 MAS, DCR
Bank St. / Merkel Beach / Wychmere, 0 0 0 0 MAS Harwichport Red River Beach, Harwich 0 0 0 0 MAS
Allens Harbor, Harwich 0 0 0 0 MAS
Saquatucket Bluffs, Harwich 0 0 0 0 MAS
LOWER CAPE
Forest Beach, Chatham 0 0 0 0 MAS
Cockle Cove / Ridgevale Beach, 0 0 0 0 MAS Chatham Harding Beach Shores, Chatham 0 0 0 0 MAS
8 Location Total Total No. No. pairs Sourced adultsa pairsa chicks with fledge fledgedb datac Harding Beach, Chatham 0 0 0 0 MAS
Harding Beach Point, Chatham 0 0 0 0 MAS
North Monomoy Island, Chatham 16 8 5 8 FWS
South Monomoy Island, Chatham 26 13 5 13 FWS
“Minimoy Island”, Chatham 16 8 5 8 FWS
South Beach, Chatham 16 8 2 8 MAS
Morris Is. dredge spoil, Chatham 0 0 0 0 MAS
Tern Island, Chatham 0 0 0 0 MAS
Nauset Beach, Chatham 2 1 0 1 Town of Chatham
Nauset Beach, Orleans 0 0 0 0 Town of Orleans
Nauset Spit (Heights), Orleans 2 1 0 1 Town of Orleans
New Island / Nauset Cove, Orleans 4 2 1 2 Town of Orleans
Skaket Beach, Orleans nd nd nd nd nd
Rock Creek (north side), Orleans nd nd nd nd nd
First Encounter Beach, Eastham nd nd nd nd nd
Coast Guard Beach, Eastham 0 0 0 0 NPS
Marconi Beach/LeCount Hollow, 0 0 0 0 NPS Wellfleet Sunken Meadow Spit, Wellfleet 0 0 0 0 MAS
Lieutenant Island, Wellfleet 0 0 0 0 MAS
Indian Neck, Wellfleet 0 0 0 0 MAS
Jeremy Point/Great Island, Wellfleet 4 2 1 2 NPS
Duck Harbor, Wellfleet 0 0 0 0 NPS
Bound Brook, Wellfleet 0 0 0 0 NPS
Ryder Beach, Truro 0 0 0 0 MAS
Pamet Harbor-South, Truro 0 0 0 0 MAS
Pamet Harbor-North/Corn Hill Beach, 0 0 0 0 MAS, Town of Truro Truro Pond Village Beach, Truro nd nd nd nd nd
Pilgrim Beach/Beach Point, Truro 0 0 0 0 MAS
9 Location Total Total No. No. pairs Sourced adultsa pairsa chicks with fledge fledgedb datac Ballston Beach/Newcomb Hollow, 0 0 0 0 NPS Truro Longnook Beach, Truro 0 0 0 0 NPS
Highland Beach, Truro 0 0 0 0 NPS
High Head / Head of the Meadow, 0 0 0 0 NPS Truro Race Point - South Beach, 0 0 0 0 NPS Provincetown / Truro m m Race Point - North Beach, 0 0 0 0 NPS Provincetown Provincetown Harbor nd nd nd nd nd m m Long Point/Wood End, Provincetown 0 0 0 0 NPS
BRISTOL COUNTY
Stony Point Dike, Wareham 4 2 0 2 MAS
Long Beach Point, Wareham nd nd nd nd MAS
Little Harbor Beach, Wareham 0 0 0 0 MAS
Ram Island, Marion nd nd nd nd nd n n Marion (Sippican) Harbor, Marion 1 nd nd 0 DFW Strawberry Point, Mattapoisett nd nd nd nd nd
South Shore Marshes WMA, 2 1 nd 0 DFW Mattapoisett o o Nasketucket Point, Mattapoisett 2 1 nd 0 DCR Pea Island, Mattapoisett 2 1 2 1 DFW p p Fish Is., Fairhaven 0 0 nd 0 DFW q q Round Is., Fairhaven 0 0 nd 0 DFW r r r r Wards Rock, Fairhaven 2 1 > 2 1 DFW West Island - North Point, Fairhaven 2 1 0 1 LCES
Long Is. (Hoppy’s Landing), 2 1 0 1 LCES Fairhaven Winsegansett Heights, Fairhaven 2 1 0 1 LCES
Angelica Rock, Fairhaven 2 1 nd 0 DFW s Fort Phoenix St. Res., Fairhaven 2 1 nd 0 LCES Round Hill Beach, Dartmouth 0 0 0 0 MAS
10 Location Total Total No. No. pairs Sourced adultsa pairsa chicks with fledge fledgedb datac Salters Pond, Dartmouth 0 0 0 0 MAS
Demarest Lloyd State Park, 0 0 0 0 LCES Dartmouth Little Beach/Barney’s Joy, Dartmouth 4 2 0 1 MAS
Gooseberry Neck, Westport 0 0 0 0 LCES
Horseneck Beach, Westport 0 0 0 0 LCES, MAS
Westport River nd nd nd nd nd
Acoaxet, Westport 0 0 0 0 TNC-RI
Cockeast Pond, Westport 0 0 0 0 TNC-RI
Richmond Pond, Westport 0 0 0 0 TNC-RI t Bay Point, Swansea 0 0 0 0 A. Waring
ELIZABETH ISLANDS u u Nonamesset Is., Gosnold 0 0 nd 0 DFW, CSI v v Naushon Island, Gosnold 0 0 nd 0 DFW, CSI Weepecket Islands 4 2 nd 0 DFW, CSI
Pasque Island-Robinson’s Hole 0 0 0 0 DFW, CSI
Pasque Island-Cobbly nd nd nd nd nd
Pasque Island-Quick’s Hole 0 0 0 0 DFW, CSI
Nashawena Island-Quick’s Hole 0 0 0 0 DFW, CSI
Nashawena Island – Baret Rock 0 0 0 0 DFW, CSI
Nashawena Island-Canapitsit 0 0 0 0 DFW, CSI w w Cuttyhunk Island, Gosnold 4 1 nd 0 DFW, CSI Penikese Island, Gosnold 6 3 > 1 3 DFW
Ram Island, Mattapoisett 10 5 2 5 DFW
Bird Island, Marion 6 3 2 3 DFW
MARTHA’S VINEYARD
Eastville Point Beach, Oak Bluffs 2 1 0 1 MAS
11 Location Total Total No. No. pairs Sourced adultsa pairsa chicks with fledge fledgedb datac Harthaven, Oak Bluffs 4 2 2 1 MAS
Sylvia State Beach / Sengekontacket 4 2 0 2 MAS Pond, Edgartown Sarson Is., Oak Bluffs nd nd nd nd nd
Cow Bay / Trapp Pond, Edgartown nd nd nd nd MAS
Eel Pond / Little Beach / Lighthouse 2 1 2 1 MAS Beach, Edgartown Chappaquiddick Point Beach, 0 0 0 0 MAS, MVLBC Chappaquiddick Caleb Pond, Chappaquiddick nd nd nd nd nd
Cape Pogue Elbow/The Narrows, 8 4 5 4 TTOR Chappaquiddick Arruda’s Pt./The Jetties/Little Neck, 6 3 6 3 TTOR Chappaquiddick Leland/East Beaches, 8 4 3 4 TTOR Chappaquiddick Wasque, Chappaquiddick 0 0 0 0 TTOR
Norton Point Beach, Edgartown 14 7 10 7 TTOR
South Beach, Edgartown nd nd nd nd nd
Edgartown Great Pond., Edgartown 2 1 0 1 MAS
Oyster Pond, Edgartown 0 0 0 0 MAS
Watcha Pond, W. Tisbury 0 0 0 0 MAS
Tisbury Great Pond/Black Point 2 1 0 1 MAS, MVLB, Pond/Quansoo/Long Point, TTOR x Chilmark Chilmark Pond, Chilmark 2 1 0 1 MAS, MVLB
Lucy Vincent Beach, Chilmark nd nd nd nd nd
Menemsha Beach nd nd nd nd nd
Stonewall Beach 2 1 0 0 MAS
Long Beach/Squibnocket Beach, 2 1 nd 0 MAS, D. Swanson Chilmark Menemsha Beach, Chilmark 0 0 0 0 MAS
Moshup Trail Beach/Philbin Beach, 0 0 0 0 MAS, MVLB Aquinnah Dogfish Bar, Aquinnah 0 0 0 0 MAS
Lobsterville Beach, Aquinnah nd nd nd nd nd
Cedar Tree Neck/Lambert’s Cove, nd nd nd nd nd
12 Location Total Total No. No. pairs Sourced adultsa pairsa chicks with fledge fledgedb datac West Tisbury
Great Rock Bight Preserve 0 0 0 0 MVLB
Sepiessa Point Reservation 0 0 0 0 MVLB
Tashmoo, Tisbury 0 0 0 0 MAS
Wilfred’s Pd. and Mink Meadows 0 0 0 0 MAS, MVLB Beach, Vineyard Haven Northern Pines Shores, Vineyard nd nd nd nd nd Haven Lagoon Pond, Vineyard Haven, Oak nd nd nd nd nd Bluffs
y y Nomans Land 4 2 nd 0 FWS
NANTUCKET
Great Point/The Galls 6 3 2 3 TTOR z Coskata-West Beach 4 2 1 2 TTOR Coatue 32 16 10 16 NCF aa Coskata-East Beach/The Glades 22 11 12 8 TTOR aa Coskata Inlet/The Haulover 6 3 0 3 NCF Wauwinet nd nd nd nd nd
Squam Pond 0 0 0 0 MAS
Quidnet/Sesachacha Pond 0 0 0 0 MAS
Low Beach 0 0 0 0 Town of Nantucket
Surfside 0 0 0 0 Town of Nantucket
Hummock Pond 0 0 0 0 NCF
Smith Point 6 3 0 3 Town of Nantucket
Eel Point 10 5 0 5 NCF
Dionis Beach 0 0 0 0 Town of Nantucket bb Polpis Harbor area 8 4 2 2 NCF Jacksons Point 2 1 0 1 Town of Nantucket cc Little Neck, Madaket 0 0 0 0 NCF
13 Location Total Total No. No. pairs Sourced adultsa pairsa chicks with fledge fledgedb datac dd Monomoy, Nantucket 0 0 0 0 NCF Nantucket Field Station 0 0 0 0 NCF
Tuckernuck Island 26 13 5 10 CSI
Muskeget Island 6 3 2 3 CSI
TOTALS 387 191 > 92 149
a Observers censused adult oystercatchers during or as close as possible to the period 22 - 31 May. Total adults includes pairs, single birds, and groups of apparently unpaired birds. Total pairs are defined as pairs of adult birds with nests or chicks or that exhibit territorial, courtship, or distraction behavior at a site. b Chicks fledged are defined as chicks > 25 days of age or observed in flight, whichever occurs first. c Numbers of pairs with fledge data includes all pairs for which it was determined how many chicks fledged, including pairs that did not nest, pairs that nested unsuccessfully, and pairs with broods from which no chicks fledged. d Key to sources: CSI = College of Staten Island; DCR = Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation; DFW = Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife; FWS = U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; LCES = Lloyd Center for Environmental Studies; Manomet = Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences; MAS = Massachusetts Audubon Society; MVLB = Martha's Vineyard Land Bank Commission; NCF = Nantucket Conservation Foundation; NPS = National Park Service; TNC-RI = The Nature Conservancy - Rhode Island Chapter; TTOR = The Trustees of Reservations; WBNERR = Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. e Salisbury Beach-North is defined as the length of beach from the Massachusetts/New Hampshire border south to the center of the town of Salisbury Beach; Salisbury Beach-South is the length of beach from the center of the town of Salisbury Beach south to the Merrimac River. f nd = no data available g At Coney Is., Salem, an adult oystercatcher was incubating a nest with 3 eggs on 25 May 2006. To our knowledge, this is the first nest record for American Oystercatchers in Essex County. h At Cat Is., Salem, a single adult was observed by boat on 24 May 2006. However, no oystercatchers were observed on Cat Island during a complete ground census of gull and cormorant nests on 25 May. i No oystercatchers were observed on the following North Shore islands during ground-based colonial waterbird censuses on 18, 23, 24, and 25 May and 9 June 2006: Straightsmouth Island, Thatcher Island, and Milk Island in Rockport; Tenpound Island, Normans Woe, and Kettle Island in Gloucester; Graves Island and House Island in Manchester; Chubb Island in Beverly; Great Misery Island, Pope Head, Eagle Island, South Gooseberry Island, and Tinkers Island in Salem; and Ram Island in Marblehead. No oystercatchers were observed during boat-based
14 censuses on 17 and 18 May 2006 on the following North Shore islands: Dry Salvages in Rockport; Great Egg Rock, Salt Rock, Rock Dundy, and Ram Island–South in Manchester; Little Misery Island, Bakers Island, Great Haste Island, Dry Breakers, Cat Island - South (Cormorant Rock), and Halfway Rock in Salem; Grays Rock and Marblehead Rock in Marblehead; and Egg Rock in Nahant. j At Sheep Is. in Boston Harbor on 24 May 2006, observers reported 1 pair with unfledged young (number not reported), plus a single adult. k Ellisville includes both Ellisville State Park and the private beach along the south side of Ellisville harbor. l At Washburn Island, an adult oystercatcher was believed to have depredated a Piping Plover nest. m Although no oystercatchers were observed during the census period in the North District of Cape Cod National Seashore, 4 adults were observed on 14 May flying over water at Race Point – North in the direction of Wood End – Long Point. n At Marion Harbor,1 adult, breeding status uncertain, was observed on the shore on 13 June. o At Nasketucket Point, 2 adults observed feeding in May and June may well have been the same birds reported from South Shore Marshes WMA or Ward’s Rock. They are reported here for the site, but are not tallied in counts of adults or pairs for the region or state. p At Fish Island, Fairhaven, 2 adults were observed flying about and calling on 20 June 2006. No chicks observed. q At Round Island, Fairhaven, 2 adults were observed flying about and calling on 20 June. No chicks observed. r At Wards Rock, Fairhaven on 30 May 2006, 1 pair was present with 2, two-thirds grown chicks. On 20 June , what was believed to be the same pair was observed with 2 fledged chicks and 1 unfledged chick. s At Fort Phoenix in Fairhaven, 2 adults were observed with 1 young on 31 May 2006. Unknown if the chick survived to fledge. t Although no oystercatchers were observed at Bay Point, Swansea, adults were observed flying up and down the Cole River, Swansea, in May and June. u At Nonamesset Island, no oystercatchers were observed on the beach southwest of the north tip (scanned from a boat approximately 50 yards offshore). v No oystercatchers were observed at the following sites on Naushon Island during a survey on 13 June 2006: Lackey Bay /Jobs Neck (scanned from a boat offshore, incomplete survey); Tarpaulin Cove, Robinson’s Hole, Kettle Cove, Crescent Beach (all ground surveys); West Beach (scanned from boat 200 feet offshore). w At Cuttyhunk Island on 13 June 2006, 3 adults were observed feeding together along the edge of the harbor; they behaved like a pair plus a third adult. A single adult was feeding at the eastern tip of Barge Beach. No oystercatchers were observed on West End Beach (scanned from a boat near shore). x This site also includes the Lewis property and Long Point Wildlife Refuge.
15 y Nomans Land was visited on 12-14 June. Two pairs of oystercatchers were reported, based on a thorough check of the island perimeter and all other potential nesting areas. z Coskata-West Beach refers to the beach along the Nantucket Sound side of Coskata, from the south end of The Galls south and west to the boundary of Coatue. aa Coskata-East Beach refers to the beach along the eastern (Atlantic) side of Coskata, including the washover at The Glades. Coskata Inlet is the inlet from Nantucket Harbor into Coskata Pond. bb “Polpis Harbor area, Nantucket” includes Medouie Creek, Ram Island, and Quaise Point. cc Little Neck is at north side of entrance to Hither Creek, Madaket, Nantucket. dd “Monomoy” on Nantucket is at the northeast side of The Creeks, Nantucket town.
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Table 2. Regional abundance of American Oystercatchers in Massachusetts, 2006
Region Total adults Total pairs Sites censused Sites with oystercatchersa North Shore 7 3 37 4 Boston Harbor 39 19 20 10 South Shore 0 0 8 0 Upper Cape 8 4 48 4 Lower Cape 86 43 34 8 Bristol Co. 27 13 25 13 Elizabeth Islands 30 14 12 5 Martha’s 62 31 25 14 Vineyardb Nantucket, 128 64 20 11 Tuckernuck, Muskeget
Totals 387 191 229 69
a Includes both paired and unpaired adults. b Includes Nomans Land.
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