A NEW way for the community to follow along with the piping plovers, least terns, and oystercatchers nesting on island this season!
If you’ve ever walked the beach and wondered whether there are nesting birds nearby, or wished you could check in on how the chicks are doing without having to track us down, we built something just for you!
Shorebird Watch is a new page on our website where you can follow what’s happening with the island’s nesting shorebirds throughout the season, updated regularly by our team as we see it happen out in the field.
Why we created this
Protecting nesting shorebirds on Fishers Island has always been a community effort. Our staff and volunteers spend hours each week monitoring nests, but the truth is, the birds’ best chance at a successful season depends just as much on everyone walking these beaches every day. We know people care, and we know not everyone has an easy way to stay in the loop on what’s happening at any given moment. Shorebird Watch is our way of closing that gap and making sure the whole community has the information they need to help protect these birds, together.
What you’ll see on the page
The page gives a season-long look at our active monitoring sites, with regular updates on what’s happening at each one. You’ll find general activity updates, like when a site has active nests or young chicks present, along with simple notes on what kind of care that site might need from beach goers at that moment. We’ll be adding photos throughout the season as well, so the community can see a bit of what our team is seeing out in the field.
How it will be updated
Our team updates the page regularly throughout the breeding season, generally on a weekly basis, though timing may shift depending on what’s happening on the beach. Nesting season moves quickly, so we’ll do our best to keep things current as eggs hatch, chicks grow, and birds make their way toward fledging.
A note on how to use this page
We’re sharing this information so the community can make small, thoughtful choices, like giving a certain stretch of beach a little extra space, or choosing a different path for a dog walk during an especially sensitive window. This page is meant to help you stay informed, not to invite a visit to the nest itself. We ask that everyone please avoid seeking out or approaching any active nesting areas. Even well-meaning visits can disturb nesting birds, and the whole point of this page is to help protect them, not to create more activity around them.
A community effort
At the end of the day, conservation on Fishers Island only works because this community shows up for it. Shorebird Watch is one more way to keep everyone connected to that effort, and to make it just a little easier to be a good neighbor to the birds sharing our beaches this summer. We’re grateful for everyone who already gives these nesting areas the space they need, and we hope this page helps even more of our community feel like part of the work.
You can find Shorebird Watch on our Shorebird Monitoring page now, and we’ll continue adding updates and photos throughout the season.
Featured Photo by Naomi Zahn