The second Sailbirding trip was made from the Milwaukee Community in Milwaukee this afternoon. It was an exciting time for all! Bird counts in the study area were: 1 Ruddy Turnstone being the highlight, 1 Sanderling, 30 Double-crested Cormorants, 40 Ring-billed Gulls, 25 Herring Gulls, 2 Mallards and 2 Sparrow spp. Out of the study area a Peregrine Falcon and 30 American Coots were located near the breakwall. Some nice algae was present along the breakwall too. Participants on this sailbirding run included in sail boat #1, sailor Carl Eisenberg, Jennifer Rutten, and myself. In sailboat #2, sailor Helen Bolgrien, Ann Lowrey and Jym Mooney. It was a cloudy day with some puffs, winds around 14 mph. Images were taken on September 28, 2018.
NOTE: The purpose of this sailbirding trip today was to document bird species on a portion of the breakwaters (breakwall to some). This portion of the breakwall has been changed by the Army Corps of Engineering by strategically adding smaller rocks to the giant ones along the breakwall structure. The Army Corps has collaborated with UWM with hopes to create breakwall habitat for a variety of living creatures including birds.
Sailing out to the breakwall to count birds present in the study area set up by the Army Corps of Engineering…
Ruddy Turnstone, bird of the trip in the study area!
Ruddy Turnstone
Double-crested Cormorant
Herring Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Sailbirding sailboat #2 checking out the breakwall…
Sailbirding boat #2 looking and counting with sailor Helen…
Another image of the study area were smaller and flatter rocks have been set for species habitat…
Sailor Carl at the controls of sailboat #1 with sailboat #2 in the background…
Jennifer with intense looks at the breakwall for bird species as we approach it…
Sailbirding group…
Great adventure!
I am excited about the sailbirding venture. Already I spotted some plovers which were new to my eyes. I am eager to see sanderlings and the ruddy turnstones. Thank you for introducing these birds to us Milwaukee Bay sailors.
The mainstage comes after Acting Classes.