5/31/2022
Dead Neck Sampson’s Island Report
As of 5/31/2022
Monitors: Clare SantaColoma, Sophia Valiulis and Cecilia Twining
PIPL Activity
There are 17 pairs of Piping Plovers on the island. There are 3 active nests and 1 brood on the west tip, 3 nests in the middle section, and 4 nests and 2 broods on the east tip. 2 of the nests found on east tip this week are renests.
Tern Activity
There is one Least Tern colony of 20 adults on the west tip and one of 30 adults on the east tip. Approximately 4 Least Tern nests have been seen on east tip and none have been observed on the west tip.
AMOY Activity
There is 1 active American Oystercatcher nest on the newer restoration area near west tip.
Fencing Maintenance
CWP staff have continued to add “no dog” signs that include the Town of Barnstable and Barnstable Clean Water Coalition logos on them around the island. Specifically, many have been placed in open landing areas of the island. CWP staff will continue to add more of these signs to open landing areas and twine a second dog line farther around the ocean side of the island.
Predator Observations
Coyote activity has been observed in multiple places around the island. Specifically, coyote scat was seen in the restoration area on west tip, and tracks have been seen running along west tip oceanside. A crow has been seen on the beach around east tip which is notable because two east tip nests have been depredated by crow. Dog tracks have been seen around west tip.
Human Activity
Due to the warmer weather and the holiday weekend, boating activity has increased this past week. Boats have both anchored offshore and landed on the island. Many boats landed on closed landing areas of both east and west tips but were educated by CWP staff and moved to open landing areas. Individuals who had their dogs on the island were also educated by CWP staff on multiple occasions.
Maps of DNSI Nesting Sites:
6/14/2022
Dead Neck Sampson’s Island Report
As of 6/14/2022
Monitors: Clare SantaColoma, Sophia Valiulis and Cecilia Twining
PIPL Activity
There are 18 pairs of Piping Plovers on the island. There are 2 active nests and 4 broods on the west tip, 2 nests in the middle section, and 3 nests and 4 broods on the east tip.
Tern Activity
There is one Least Tern colony on the west tip and one on the east tip. Approximately 100 LETE have been seen in the east colony with 30 incubating adults. Approximately 85 LETE have been seen in the west colony with 20 incubating adults. Numbers of LETE using nesting habitat have continued to increase. One Common Tern nest has been found on east tip as well.
AMOY Activity
The American Oystercatcher pair on west tip has an active brood of 3 chicks.
Fencing Maintenance
CWP staff fixed ocean side electric fencing in the east tip restoration area after wind and rain event during the week. All other fencing has remained intact.
Predator Observations
Coyote activity has been observed on east tip running from tip of beach along bay side intertidal zone. Crows have been seen flying over and foraging on east and west tips. Terns have been observed chasing them away on multiple occasions. It is suspected that predators are the cause of some chick loss, but CWP staff and USDA are working together to determine cause and solutions.
Human Activity
Human and boater activity was moderate this week. On a few occasions, boaters allowed their dogs off-boat and onto island in which case CWP staff spoke with them and individuals put their dogs back into boats.
Maps of DNSI Nesting Sites
6/28/2022
Dead Neck Sampson’s Island Report
As of 6/28/2022
Monitors: Clare SantaColoma, Sophia Valiulis and Cecilia Twining
PIPL Activity
There are 19 pairs of Piping Plovers on the island. There are 2 active nests and 4 broods on the west tip, 1 nest and 3 broods in the middle section, and 2 nests and 5 broods on the east tip.
Tern Activity
There is one Least Tern colony on the west tip and one on the east tip. Approximately 30 LETE have been seen on west tip and 100 have been seen on east tip. About 5 downy LETE chicks have been seen on east tip and 2 on west tip. These chicks were seen being fed by adults. 1 Common Tern nest hatched this week and 1 downy chick was seen.
AMOY Activity
The American Oystercatcher nest on west tip still has an active brood of 3 chicks.
Fencing Maintenance
More No Dog signs have been added on west and east tip bay sides. Electric and symbolic fencing has been maintained. More signage will be added in preparation for the holiday weekend.
Predator Observations
Crows have been seen flying and foraging on east and west tips. Coyote activity has increased this week, most likely due to 2 deer carcasses found on middle and east ocean side. Multiple sets of coyote tracks were observed leading to and away from carcasses.
Human Activity
Human and boater activity increased heavily over the weekend, more so on Saturday. Boaters allowed their dogs off-boat and onto island on multiple occasions, in which cases CWP staff spoke with them and individuals put their dogs back into boats. Additionally, some boaters + beachgoers refused to leave closed areas of the island on multiple occasions and CWP staff monitored their behavior during these instances. CWP Rangers have continued with outreach efforts and most interactions are very positive and successful.
Maps of DNSI Nesting Sites
7/13/2022
Dead Neck Sampson’s Island Report
As of 7/13/2022
Monitors: Clare SantaColoma, Sophia Valiulis and Cecilia Twining
PIPL Activity
There are 19 pairs of Piping Plovers on the island. There are 5 unfledged broods on the west tip and 1 fledged brood, 3 unfledged broods in the middle section, 4 unfledged broods and 3 fledged broods on the east tip. There are no more active nests on the island. 1 nest was depredated this week suspected to have been lost by crow.
Tern Activity
There is one Least Tern colony on the west tip and one on the east tip. Approximately 45 LETE have been seen on west tip and 75 have been seen on east tip. East tip LETE numbers have decreased this week due to coyote depredation. 9 confirmed LETE fledges have been observed from the eastern colony and 3 LETE fledges have been observed from the western colony.
AMOY Activity
The American Oystercatcher nest on west tip still has an active brood of 3 chicks that are close to fledging.
Fencing Maintenance
No new fencing maintenance this week.
Predator Observations
Coyote activity has remained high this week and increased on the west tip. Tracks were observed through multiple PIPL brood ranges and both tern colonies.
Human Activity
Human and boater activity was heavy this weekend. Folks allowed their dogs off-boat and onto island on multiple occasions, in which cases CWP staff spoke with them and individuals put their dogs back into boats. Additionally, folks refused to leave closed areas of island on west tip on multiple occasions and CWP staff monitored their behavior during these instances and continued to record boater information.
Maps of DNSI Nesting Sites
7/19/2022
Dead Neck Sampson’s Island Report
As of 7/19/2022
Monitors: Clare SantaColoma, Sophia Valiulis and Cecilia Twining
PIPL Activity
There are 19 pairs of Piping Plovers on the island. There is 1 active unfledged brood on the west tip, 3 active unfledged broods in the middle section, and 3 active unfledged broods on the east tip. 1 brood of 2 chicks was lost this week to likely predation
Tern Activity
There is one Least Tern colony on the west tip and one on the east tip. Approximately 35 LETE have been seen on west tip and 85 have been seen on east tip this week. East tip LETE numbers have increased slightly this week, most likely due to an increase in fledglings. There is one Common Tern pair nesting on island that hatched chicks.
AMOY Activity
The American Oystercatcher pair still has an active brood of 3 chicks, some of which have been seen starting to fly this week, but are not fully fledged.
Fencing Maintenance
CWP staff continue to maintain electric and symbolic fencing.
Predator Observations
Coyote activity has remained high this week on both east and west tips. Coyote tracks were observed in and near multiple brood ranges on west tip and middle island. It is suspected that two chicks were lost this week due to coyote as tracks have been observed in their brood range consistently. Dog tracks were also observed this week going inside symbolic fencing on east tip.
Human Activity
Human and boater activity was heavy this weekend. Individuals refused to leave closed areas of island on west tip on multiple occasions and CWP staff monitored their behavior during these instances and continued to record boater information. In one instance, there was a situation involving public nudity with folks who were non-compliant on west tip ocean side, at which point their boat information was recorded.
Maps of DNSI Nesting Sites
8/2/2022
Dead Neck Sampson’s Island Report
As of 8/2/2022
Monitors: Clare SantaColoma, Sophia Valiulis and Cecilia Twining
PIPL Activity
There have been 19 pairs of Piping Plovers on the island. There are no active unfledged broods on the island. There are no active nests on the island. The last two broods have fledged this week.
Tern Activity
There is one Least Tern colony on the west tip and one on the east tip. Approximately 30 LETE have been seen on west tip and 50 have been seen on east tip this week. Fledglings have been observed mostly on east tip this week, as well as multiple active nests that are still being incubated on east.
AMOY Activity
The American Oystercatcher brood that fledged with 3 chicks is still seen sporadically on the island.
Fencing Maintenance
It is suspected that coyotes chewed a hole through a section of e-fencing, requiring CWP staff to replace the entire panel on the east tip restoration area. A new battery was also connected at this time. No new signs have been added to the island.
Predator Observations
Coyote activity has remained high this week on both east and west tips. Tracks were also observed on west tip ocean side, middle ocean side and east bay side- all outside of and running parallel to symbolic fencing. Dog tracks were also observed this week on west ocean side but did not enter fencing.
Human Activity
Human and boater activity was heavy this weekend. The vast majority of boater and beachgoer interactions have been positive and compliant.
Maps of DNSI Nesting Sites
8/9/2022
Dead Neck Sampson’s Island Report
As of 8/9/2022
Monitors: Clare SantaColoma and Sophia Valiulis
PIPL Activity
There have been 19 pairs of Piping Plovers on the island this season. There are no active unfledged broods on the island anymore. There are no more active nests on the island.
Tern Activity
There is one Least Tern colony on the west tip and one on the east tip. Approximately 25 LETE have been seen on west tip and 50 have been seen on east tip this week. Fledglings have been observed on east and west tips this week, with 1 downy chick seen on west tip. At least 100 Common Terns were observed staging this week on east tip ocean side.
AMOY Activity
The fledged brood of American Oystercatcher is still seen sporadically on island.
Fencing Maintenance
CWP staff fixed small sections of electric fencing on the east tip restoration area this week. No new signs have been added to the island.
Predator Observations
Coyote activity has remained high this week on both east and west tips. Tracks were observed on west tip and west-middle ocean side running outside of fencing. Dog and owl tracks (from a Great Horned Owl) were also observed this week on west tip inside fencing.
Human Activity
Human and boater activity was heavy this weekend. A small portion of boaters refused to leave closed areas, but the vast majority of boaters and beachgoers were cooperative.
8/17/2022
Dead Neck Sampson’s Island Report
As of 8/17/2022
Monitors: Clare SantaColoma and Sophia Valiulis
PIPL Activity
There have been 19 pairs of Piping Plovers on the island this season. There are no active unfledged broods on the island anymore. There are no more active nests on the island.
Tern Activity
There is one Least Tern colony on the west tip and one on the east tip. Approximately 16 LETE have been seen on west tip and 25 have been seen on east tip this week. Fledglings have been observed on east and west tips this week, and 3 downy chicks were seen on west tip.
AMOY Activity
The American Oystercatcher pair on west tip with 3 chicks have all fledged and left the island.
Fencing Maintenance
CWP staff fixed small sections of electric fencing on the east tip restoration area this week. Despite coyotes continuing to chew through electric fencing, it remains electrified. No new signs have been added to the island.
Predator Observations
Coyote activity has remained high this week, mostly on east tip. Tracks were observed on east tip restoration area and coyotes chewed through more sections of electric fencing panels. Despite this, the fence remains electrified.
Human Activity
Human and boater activity was heavy this weekend. Individuals refused to leave closed areas of the island on east tip and CWP staff monitored their behavior during these instances and continued to record boater information.
Maps of DNSI Nesting Sites
