Good morning PiPl Friends,
We lost a chick yesterday afternoon. Super Piping Plover Ambasador Jennie witnessed the encounter, where a gull swooped in from behind and carried off the chick. Dad did his best, latching onto the gulls wings and trying to bite the gull but was unsuccessful in saving the chick.
We think Mom left yesterday morning to begin her southward journey. Seeing the two remaining chicks to fledgling is all on Dad now. It is not uncommon for the females to depart earlier, and the GHB Mom usually does depart sooner than the Dad and fledglings. We still have two more weeks to go before the chicks are considered fledged. Dads can do this! I am documenting a PiPl family where several years ago, the Mom left two chicks with Dad when the chicks were only ten days old.
Although I am sure it was devastating to witness, thank you Jennie for being there. Our chicks are so closely monitored and I think it really helps for the collective knowledge of Piping Plovers to know exactly how a chick is killed. I am surprised the gull took a twenty-two day old chick. The time I witnessed a similar take, the chick was only a week old. We now know, the PiPls are not safe from the gulls at any stage of development.There are so many Crows and seagulls on beaches today. They are scavengers and when the beach is empty because of bad weather, I think they are especially hungry without their usual diet of chips and junkfood. Seagulls need to relearn how to forage!
Waiting for the rain to subside a bit, this morning I put together the informational one sheets attached, one for each beach. I’ve been thinking about it for some time and Rockport Ambassador Eric Hutchins wondered if we had something like this to laminate and show to beachgoers. I think this answers most of the FAQs we are asked. I wish it could be longer. Please read over and let me know your thoughts. Thank you!
Being a PiPl Ambassador is wonderfully rewarding and you meet the nicest people, but it has its low moments, too. Thank you everyone for your good work and kind and caring ways.
Have a super day,
xoKim
