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New DEP measures should protect birds this summer
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The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection announced last Wednesday several new measures to protect birds that live on the coast or shore and asked for the public's cooperation in ensuring the safety of these species.
Beachcombers, sunbathers, boaters and anglers along the Connecticut shoreline are urged to respect the fencing and yellow warning signs along beaches where piping plovers and least terns nest and at off-shore heron and egret nesting areas.
Beach visitors also are being asked not to fly kites, particularly ones that make noise, near shorebird nesting and feeding areas. The kites are perceived by the birds as predators, which frighten them away from nests and feeding areas.
No visitors are allowed on Charles Island in Milford and Duck Island in Westport through September 10. Both islands are popular fishing areas.
The islands are sensitive nesting areas for herons and egrets. Disturbance of their nesting areas can lead to the death of the chicks and abandonment of the entire colony by the adult birds.
"Shorebirds and wading birds need special protection throughout their April to August nesting season and especially when there is increased beach activity during summer," said Susan Frechette, Deputy Commissioner of the DEP in a prepared statement. "By heeding the warning signs and staying away from the fenced areas, beach visitors and boaters will not disturb the critical nesting areas."
Each year along Connecticut's beaches, the DEP Wildlife Division ropes off or fence plover and tern nesting sites to prevent human disturbance which may cause nest abandonment or the loss of eggs and chicks.
The piping plover, a small, sandy-colored shorebird about the size of a sparrow, is a threatened species under both the federal and state Endangered Species Acts. The small, gull-like least tern nests in colonies in the same beach habitat as piping plovers, and is also classified as a state threatened species.
Both piping plovers and least terns use only a shallow depression in the sand for a nest. Their sand-colored eggs and young are so well camouflaged that they are easily stepped on. When intruders approach, young piping plovers are likely to stand motionless while the adult tries to attract attention by pretending to have a broken wing or flying around the intruder.
"If you witness this, move away from the area at once," advised Julie Victoria, a DEP Wildlife Division biologist. "Further disturbance may cause the adults to leave the nest, subjecting eggs and young to possible death by exposure to the elements or by predation."
"Historically, piping plovers and least terns have been declining due to the loss of beach habitat to residential and recreational development," said Victoria.
In Connecticut, there are about 30 pairs of piping plovers in 10 locations and about 150 pairs of least terns.
Herons and egrets are also state-listed species. They nest on islands in Long Island Sound and are also extremely sensitive to disturbance when nesting.
Disturbance of their nesting areas can lead to death of the chicks and abandonment of the entire colony by the adult birds.
Unlike plovers and terns, young herons and egrets remain in their nests until they are ready to fly. If the adults are scared away from the nest, the chicks are exposed to predators and rapid heating or chilling, and may risk falling from the nest.
In an effort to insure that these unique nesting areas are not abandoned, the DEP has completely closed Charles Island in Milford and Duck Island in Westbrook through the nesting season. These Natural Area Preserves have also received designation as Audubon Important Bird Areas in recognition of their importance for nesting wading birds.
The DEP Wildlife Division provides the following advice to help protect nesting shorebirds and wading birds:
Refrain from walking dogs or allowing cats to roam freely on beaches during the nesting season. Dogs and cats are frequent predators of piping plovers and least terns.
l Don't let pets off boats onto posted islands or beaches.
l If dogs are walked on beaches, always keep them on a leash.
l If you live near a beach, do not let pets roam during the nesting season.
l Do not bury or leave trash, picnic leftovers, and fish scraps on a beach. They attract predators of chicks and eggs, such as skunks, raccoons, foxes, and black-backed gulls.
l Do not attempt to "rescue" young birds that appear to be lost or too young to fly.
l Do not attempt to remove young birds from the beach or coastal areas to care for them at home.
"In most cases, when immature birds are found alone, the adults have been frightened away but remain nearby and will return to their young once the intruder leaves," said Victoria.
It is illegal to hold wildlife for rehabilitation without proper state or federal permits. In addition, shorebirds have a unique diet that people would find hard to duplicate, probably resulting in starvation of the young bird.
Any violations affecting wildlife should be reported to the DEP's 24-hour, toll-free hot line: 1-800-842-HELP.
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