Shorebirds of Rockaway

By Terri Estes

The Rockaway peninsula is a critical sanctuary for migratory and endangered shorebirds. We are so fortunate to live here and be able to enjoy this display of exquisite, vulnerable and rare birds that grace our beaches. Some of them are transient, and some of them are full-time residents.

Among these birds are the American oystercatcher, identifiable by their black and white plumage and their bright orange bill. They usually arrive in mid-March and have prominent nesting sites at the tip of Breezy Point, throughout Fort Tilden, Jacob Riis Park, as well as the designated bird nesting site in Arverne.

We also have the black skimmer. I have dedicated an article solely to these birds in the past, as this is one of my favorite shorebirds. This large black and white bird has a uniquely uneven bill, and they drag the lower half of their bill through the water while flying in order to feed. No other bird species forages in this way!

Our common terns and least terns are similar in looks, as both sport grey and white color patterns, but the common tern is a medium-sized gull-like bird, while the least tern is the smallest tern in all of North America. They both nest close to sand dunes, usually well above the high tide mark. They are VERY territorial and will dive-bomb unsuspecting beach goers that venture too close to their nesting sites.

And we cannot forget our piping plover. This little bird has caused lots of controversy over the last few decades on our peninsula. This tiny, sand colored bird is known for its quick, darting movements in and out of the surf. Every year, large portions of prime beach are fenced off as nesting areas for the piping plover. Many people find these fenced-off areas inconvenient to walk around. But these tiny birds are very vulnerable, and it is important that we give them every possible chance to raise their offspring to ensure their survival as a species on this earth.

There are so many more breeds of shorebirds and gulls that call Rockaway home, or at least call it a yearly stopover. Too many to name in this short article. But see how many different types of shorebirds you can spot on your morning beach walks and let me know how many you count. I’ll give you a hint: there are more than 20 types of gulls and shorebirds that flock to the Rockaway peninsula during the course of the year.