We Have Plovers!

It is a competition between agencies on the island for the first plover nest... And we won! No, there isn't a prize besides bragging rights. We found two plover nests on Friday in addition to our American oystercatcher nests. These shorebirds rely heavily on camouflage to protect their nests. For example, a robin has bright blue eggs that really stand out in their twiggy nests. Robin nests are in nestboxes or trees and although they face predation, their nests aren't as accessible as groundnesting birds. Piping plovers, oystercatchers, and terns lay their eggs directly on the sand. Their chicks hatch with fuzzy feathers and are able to start getting to the shore within the first 10 days or so. After a few weeks the chicks develop more structured feathers and they eventually learn how to fly. Skunks, crows, cats, and gulls are the main predators for these guys as well as humans and dogs disturbing their nests or stepping on the eggs. We put up symbolic fencing to keep the humans and dogs out. 

Can you find the plover nest? Don't feel bad if you can't, they're very camouflaged! Oystercatchers and mainly plovers 'decorate' their nests with shells. It's really cool to see a scrape (the little indention they dig in the sand) lined with seashells. Below is an oystercatcher nest that didn't do a great job with hiding amongst the rocks!

Pigeon-toed plover tracks- they're species confused apparently!

 I pass this same shell on one of my sites up in the dunes and always debate picking it up. Go Thunder!

This crab shell reminded me of a butterfly; something about the symmetry and gentle curves transcends the clades of the animal kingdom.

This seal totally made my weekend. I was only on the beach scouting out plovers and saw him on the shore. I walked as far away as possible as to not disturb him, but he got up and went into the water. I continued a mile down the beach and turned around. He was back on the shore, taking a nap, and didn't seem to mind my presence the second time. I watched him use his fin to rub his face and roll over in his sleep. 

I love this little tree nook.

It's a rainy day here, but Emily and I have been productive. We scouted the ads and made thought-out grocery lists and hit up the town thrift store and big Edgartown grocery store. We are cooking away and planning out our meals for the week.