Update on Breeding Season Monitoring and Management Efforts in North Carolina Sue Cameron NC Wildlife Resources Commission Overview • State listed as significantly rare and proposed.
Download ReportTranscript Update on Breeding Season Monitoring and Management Efforts in North Carolina Sue Cameron NC Wildlife Resources Commission Overview • State listed as significantly rare and proposed.
Slide 1
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 2
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 3
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 4
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 5
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 6
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 7
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 8
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 9
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 10
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 11
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 12
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 13
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 14
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 15
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 16
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 17
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 18
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 19
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 20
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 21
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 22
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 23
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 24
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 25
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 26
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 2
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 3
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 4
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 5
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 6
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 7
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 8
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 9
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 10
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 11
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 12
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 13
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 14
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 15
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 16
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 17
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 18
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 19
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 20
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 21
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 22
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 23
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 24
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 25
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?
Slide 26
Update on Breeding Season
Monitoring and Management Efforts
in North Carolina
Sue Cameron
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Overview
• State listed as significantly rare and proposed for upgrade to
species of special concern
• Only just beginning to collect coast-wide population and
distribution data (first coast-wide survey conducted in 2004)
• Biologists with NC State University, Cape Lookout NS and Cape
Hatteras NS have been monitoring oystercatchers on barrier
island beaches since late 1990s
• Additional data needed on oystercatchers nesting at nontraditional sites
Breeding Population and
Distribution
• 2004 was the first year NC conducted a coast-wide survey for
breeding oystercatchers
• 701 individuals (337 pairs) counted
• Many found on remaining undeveloped barrier islands (e.g.
Masonboro, Core Banks, Hatteras)
• About half the population found on barrier island beaches and
half on estuarine islands
Breeding Distribution
of American
Oystercatchers
Oregon Inlet
Cape Hatteras
Cape Lookout
New River Inlet
Lea/Hutaff Is.
Masonboro Is.
Cape Fear
American Oystercatcher Pair
2004 Distribution of American Oystercatchers
by Nesting Habitat in NC Counties
Natural Estuarine Island
Dredged
Material
Island
County
Barrier Island
Beach
Sand Beach
Shell Rake
Brunswick
12
18
4
0
16
3
53
New Hanover
52
3
0
0
6
0
61
Pender
14
3
5
0
0
0
22
Onslow
0
8
7
0
3
0
18
Carteret
53
33
11
13
11
2
123
Hyde
14
1
0
0
0
0
15
Dare
20
3
0
0
12
0
35
Total
165 (50%)
69 (21%)
27 (8%)
13 (4%)
48 (15%)
5 (2%)
327
Wrack
Other
Total
Upcoming 2007 Coast-wide Survey
• Surveys for oystercatchers conducted in
conjunction with colonial waterbird and piping
plover surveys
• State Wildlife Grant funding will be used to
conduct another complete survey this coming
breeding season
• Need to cover approximately 311 linear miles of
coastline plus estuaries
• Conducted with help from partnering agencies
Productivity Monitoring on
Estuarine Islands
• Only one study looking at success on
estuarine islands in NC (McGowan et al.
2005)
• Important to look at non-traditional sites -50% of NC’s oystercatchers nesting on
estuarine islands
• Two projects recently afforded us the
opportunity to try to collect additional data
on natural and man-made islands in the
sounds
– Bogue Inlet channel relocation project
– Parnell Island social attraction study
near Oregon Inlet
Cu r ri tu ck
NC Survey Areas
A lb e m a rl e S o u n d
Da r e
Da r e
B ea u fo r t
O re g o n In le t
Hyd e
P am l ic o S ou n d
Ca p e H atte r a s
Ha tte r as In le t
P am l ic o
O n slo w
O cr a co ke In l et
Ca r te re t
Morehead City
P en d e r
Ne w Ha n o ve r
B ru n sw ic k
Ca p e Fe a r
Ca p e L o ok o u t
Ne w Ri ve r Inl e t
Bogue Inlet Channel Relocation
Project
Condition of Habitats
•Primarily using shell rakes along AIWW and side channels
•Loss of nesting sites near inlet
•Mammalian predators probably present on shell rakes
•Human disturbance, overwash and great horned owls also a problem
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
2006 Nesting Distribution
Near Bogue Inlet
AIWW
Bogue Inlet
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Bogue Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield Nest
Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
8
11
10
14
0.20
0.36
0
1
0.00
0.10
Summary of Bogue Inlet Nesting
• Birds did poorly in both 2005 and 2006 -- nests
likely being lost to overwash, predation and
human disturbance
• Interesting to note that in 2006 many of the lost
chicks were fairly old (out of 4 pairs that hatched
and lost broods, three had chicks that were into
their 2nd and 3rd weeks when they disappeared)
• Plan on monitoring nests near Bogue Inlet at
least through 2008
Social Attraction Study at Parnell Island
Near Oregon Inlet
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Sidney Maddock
Island F
Island E
Island D
Wells Is.
Island MN
Parnell Is.
Monitored success of
American Oystercatchers
at Oregon Inlet in
conjunction with social
attraction work
Island L
Oregon Inlet
www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/inlets-airphotos.htm
Condition of Habitats
• Birds using dredged material
islands and marsh islands with
fringing beach
• Most dredge islands stateowned and posted
• Islands far from mainland so
few mammalian predators
• Evidence of mink and possibly
rats on some islands
• Human disturbance and gulls
can also be a problem
• In general, little forage on
dredged material islands
2006 Nesting Distribution at
Oregon Inlet Islands
Success of American Oystercatchers on estuarine
islands near Oregon Inlet, NC during
the 2005/2006 breeding seasons
# Pairs
# Nests
Mayfield
Nest Success
# Chicks
Fledged
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
2005
2006
12
14
14
15
0.56
0.86
7
11
0.58
0.79
In 2005, fledging success
was 1.67 chicks/pair on
natural sites and 0.22
chicks/pair on dredge sites
In 2006, fledging success
was 0.50 chicks/pairs on
natural sites and 0.90
chicks/pairs on dredge sites
Summary of Oregon Inlet Nesting
• In general, birds on Oregon Inlet islands appear
to be doing fairly well when compared with birds
in other areas
• Dredge island nesters may be impacted by
proximity of food to nest sites
• Need to try to increase protection of state-owned
sites (better signage, increased enforcement,
someone stationed in northern part of state in
future)
• Continue to work with the Corps to direct timing
and placement of material and create new
islands in area
Dredging Near Oregon Inlet
Comparison of 2005 Nesting
Season on Barrier Islands and
Estuarine Islands
Nesting Success
Fledging Success
(fledglings/pair)
Oregon Inlet Islands
0.56
0.58
Hatteras Island*
0.50
0.59
Bodie Island*
0.39
0.00
Bogue Inlet Islands
0.20
0.00
South Core Banks*
0.32
0.17
* data from Simons et al., 2005 annual report
Other Actions Across the State
• Working with Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area to get extra
protection
– Predator control
– Better human control
• Better protection at Masonboro
Island
• Continue to be involved in
review of beach stabilization
projects and require
environmental commitments to
benefit oystercatcher and other
waterbirds
• Completion of beach-nesting
bird brochure
Questions?