Tropical Storm Andrea has been making its way up the eastern seaboard today and will continue its path northward into Saturday. The heavy rains associated with the storm arrived in southeastern North Carolina over night, and the Least Terns, Black Skimmers, American Oystercatchers, and other birds nesting on the south end of Wrightsville Beach have been hunkered down over their eggs and chicks, protecting them from the weather.

Volunteer Coordinator Marlene Eader and I checked the posting at high tide this morning and found that no water had made its way into the colony so far. Later, stewards Michelle and Katharine Fraizer made their way to the beach to check on the birds. They found the birds were still sitting tight.

Marlene will be back on the beach after the storm passes to check on the birds again and see how they fared.