A SEASON OF SHOREBIRDS (7/21/00)

In other words, they are shorebirds whose season extends almost exactly from mid-July to Labor Day. Unlike the human brigade that flocks here to frolic and soak up the sun, shorebirds are touring the Cape with a more serious-minded purpose. They are here to feed on marine worms, insects, crustaceans and mollusks in order to replenish their fat deposits before continuing their long migration that for most began on the Arctic tundra and for many won’t end until they reach the southern tip of South America, a distance of 12,000 miles.

Shorebirds, for those of you who want to know but are afraid to ask, comprise many families of birds, including oystercatchers, stilts, avocets, plovers, turnstones, sandpipers and phalaropes. Although it may sound as though any bird of the shore, such as terns, gulls and ducks, is included in the overall term, this is not so. Furthermore, not to confuse you, there are shorebirds that are never found at the shore, either!

In order to help you enjoy these birds to the fullest, here are some pointers about how and where to look for them and identification features of different families. A very few common species make up around 80-90% of what you’ll see, so if you can identify even a few, you’ll be on your way. One shorebird with which most of you are already familiar is the sanderling, that little bird that runs in and out with the advancing and retreating waves. Sanderlings are usually in their pale gray plumage when we see them, although in breeding plumage their upper parts are reddish to orange-brown. Get their 8” size fully in your head, so that you can relate the size of other birds to them.

To see shorebirds well, it really helps if you have binoculars (or even better, a telescope), as the extra magnification of these optics provides a more detailed look at individual birds, especially those that remain at a considerable distance. Being able to look through a scope can certainly open up a wonderful world! If you are not so fortunate as to own a scope, keep your eyes open for someone who does, and quite likely that person would be glad to share a view with you.

Two prime shorebird stopovers are located in Chatham. Both are reachable by private boat or water taxi. One is South Beach, 2-miles out from the beach below the lighthouse; the other, Monomoy Wildlife Refuge. Restrictions limiting access to parts of Monomoy in order to protect nesting birds until around the middle of August do not interfere with shorebird watching.

Another Chatham viewing area which you can get to with only a short walk is accessed through the Monomoy Wildlife Headquarters’ property on Morris Island. From the lighthouse, take Morris Island Road. After you cross the causeway leading to the island, a sign will point you to the headquarters building at the first left turn. From there you walk down the long stairway to the beach, turn right and walk to the very end.

Here you are apt to see the handsome black, brown and white unmistakable American oystercatcher, a bird 19” long with a bright red bill. Also in this area, best visited at low tide, are usually black-bellied plovers, 4” larger than the sanderling. In full breeding plumage, these stout, almost neckless-appearing birds, have a black throat and belly, but as they begin changing into winter plumage, they appear grayish overall. Plovers feed by running a short distance, stopping and then perhaps probing for a goody they have detected hiding in the wet sand below.

Another plover, the semipalmated may be present here, too. Only 7” long, it is dark brown above and has a prominent, unbroken, dark neck ring. It also runs and stops, runs and stops. If you are looking for shorebirds, you probably hope to view the much heralded piping plover that has been the cause of both agitation and celebration, depending upon your particular point of view. These 7” pale sand-colored birds with a less conspicuous neck band than the semipals are an endangered species and one of the few shorebirds that breed on the Cape.

Unfortunately, their choice of nesting habitat, above the high water line in a hollow created in the sand, places them in direct competition with the activities of humans. All shorebird young are precocious, that is, as soon as their feathers dry after they hatch, they are able to run around and quickly learn to feed themselves, so until these plovers are fully grown and able to fly, they are in jeopardy of being run over by vehicles or even stepped on by beach goers.

The areas where these plovers breed are closed for up to six weeks, causing the despair of those who wish to frolic there. On the other hand, the population of piping plovers has rebounded because of this protection, a happening that calls all those with a concern for the environment to celebrate.

Mixed groups of shorebirds often feed together. Distinctive species are ruddy turnstones, 8”, heavily patterned with a black bib and orange legs. Yellowlegs, both greater (14”) and lesser (10”) sport bright yellow legs and have longer bills than most of the other species. They feed by walking and probing through water rather than on bare sand. Integrating with these more obvious shorebirds are often a myriad of difficult to identify small sandpipers. Best to leave their identification for another lesson.

Chatham is certainly not the only location where shorebirds congregate. Most anywhere on the long expanse of of the north shore side of the Cape which uncovers at low tides to expose sand flasts can be productive. For a comprehensive description of other sites, use Birding Cape Cod, which will direct you to all parts of the Cape. You will also be greatly aided in your ability to identify shorebirds if you use a field guide. Both types of guides are available at bookstores and shops that specialize in bird supplies.

By far the best way of getting “up close and personal” with shorebirds is to visit the Mass. Audubon Society’s Wellfleet Bay Sanctuary, where personnel can show you various birds, or go with a group and an experienced leader, such as those from the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History (508-896 -3867) or Mass. Audubon (508-349-2617).

One last word. Dogs. When you see and understand the intensity with which shorebirds feed in order to fuel their bodies for their extraordinary flights to Latin America, you can understand why frequent disturbances cause them serious setbacks. So, if you take your dog to the beach, please keep him on a lease when you are in an area where shorebirds are feeding.

Cape Codders are very fortunate to have this other tourist season, as shorebirds can be extremely enjoyable to watch and study. A chance to experience them can add a wonderful dimension to your vacation.