Nesting Pair of Black oystercatchers

If you like shore birds we have a nesting pair of black oystercatchers (Haematopus bachmanl) -- very rare and interesting. You see them often on the cover of birding books. Because of them we ask that your dog stays on a leash at all times. Too much canine interest in their nest in the beach grass and they’ll leave the island and find another next year. Per Wikipedia: "...the black oystercatcher is a conspicuous black bird found on the shoreline of western North America. It ranges from the Aleutian Islands of Alaska to the coast of the Baja California peninsula. Although the species is not considered threatened, its global population size is estimated between 8,900 - 11,000 individuals. The black oystercatcher is a species of high conservation concern throughout its range. The black oystercatcher is a territorial bird during the nesting season, defending a foraging and nesting area in one territory. Some pairs have been recorded staying together for many years. Nests are small bowls or depressions close to shore in which small pebbles and shell fragments are tossed in with a sideward or backward flick of the bill. Around 2 to 3 eggs are laid in this nest, these are very hard and can even survive being submerged by a high tide or very high water levels. Incubation takes around 26-28 days. The chicks are capable of leaving the nest after one day, and will stay in the territory for a long time after fledging (40 days). The fledged juveniles will stay in the territory until the next breeding season".