Bullfrog Bill Loc: CT

A baby Oystercatcher died of starvation and concern has risen about the well-being of shorebirds there.

August 16, 2021 — For the good of the shorebirds feeding and resting now at Milford Point, Connecticut Audubon has decided to schedule no group walks to the point's sandbar for the rest of August.

We are also asking for your help in giving the shorebirds room to feed and rest when you visit on your own.

On a morning two weeks ago, four photographers carried their equipment out to the sandbar.

To make sure they were close enough to get the photos they wanted, they settled onto the sand within 50 feet of two American Oystercatchers and their baby.

The baby oystercatcher was too young to fly and the parents were too attached to leave it on its own. Connecticut Audubon’s coastal ranger asked the photographers to please move farther away.

But they stayed. The birds were on high alert and distracted from resting, feeding and keeping cool in the midday heat.

By 1:30, shortly after the photographers’ four-hour stakeout, the baby American Oystercatcher was dead.

A necropsy showed that it starved to death.

Oystercatchers at Milford Point attempted 20 nests during the 2021 season.

Only one baby has survived.

This was just the latest example this summer of seemingly well-meaning visitors ignoring the warning signs, string fencing, and requests of Connecticut Audubon staff to birds on the sandbar the room they need to survive.

Walking, birding, and taking photos on the sandbar can unnecessarily disturb the shorebirds there.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Another sad commentary on human disturbance.....8-(
.

Brokenland

All it takes is a coupled of bad apples to ruin it for ALL photographers. Thank for reporting this, but sadly there's not enough media to keep people updated on topics like this and this isn't the first time issue like this have occurred. WE All must do our part to look out for one another.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

--Bob

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Well said.

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

There’s no such thing as a well-meaning visitor that does stupid and irresponsible things. That’s another example of an oxymoron.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Horrible. Here near where I live we have a similar situation. The nesting areas of a endangered shore bird needs protecting from shore walkers and shore vehicles in the dunes at Oceano. Also near that location the Pismo Clams need protection from poachers in Pismo and Grover Beaches. People can be so selfish.

tcthome Loc: NJ

I live a few miles from Sandy Hook NP, A National recreation area which is part of the Gateway NP in the NY City/NJ area. They close parts of the park during the nesting season & give the shore birds their time to get to a point of self survival. Also, most of the sand dunes are closed all year where the plant life that helps sustain the dunes & the birds that depend on them. I consider it a management problem if it wasn't done at the location. They should of received a fine & forced to leave the area.

John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

Trouble is the BAD APPLES move onto something else when the inevitable restrictions come into play.

ClarkJohnson Loc: Fort Myers, FL and Cohasset, MA

Heartbreaking.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

Bad apples...perhaps. More like examples of ignorance and selfishness so pervasive today.

DAN Phillips Loc: Graysville, GA

Ignorance is ignorance; no matter what color, race, sex, religion or creed!

hippi Loc: Sedalia MO

cedymock Loc: Irmo, South Carolina

Does the Connecticut Audubon’s coastal ranger not have authority to remove people that are not following regulations ?