The seashore hen nesting season has begun alongside Florida’s coasts. Spring and summer time mark essential occasions of 12 months for 5 susceptible species, which should keep away from human disturbance, storms, and predators to boost their infants efficiently.
Background
Sea and shorebirds lay their eggs proper on the sand. They’re scared of individuals and canines and can take flight at any time when boaters, beachgoers, or canines strategy too carefully. Repeated human disturbance typically causes grownup birds to desert the nesting space, generally even leaving eggs and chicks behind. To restrict the quantity of human disturbance to nesting birds, Audubon employees shut off vital nesting areas to individuals whereas the state-Threatened birds, reminiscent of Least Terns, American Oystercatchers, Black Skimmers, Wilson’s Plovers, and Snowy Plovers, increase their households.
Panhandle Nesting Seashore Places
Along with the year-round closures at Flag Islands and Lanark Reef Important Wildlife Areas, Audubon employees are working carefully with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Fee to quickly shut different sections of seashore for shorebirds till nesting season ends on August 30. These areas embrace sections of Canine Island, Tyndall Air Drive Base, Alligator Level Important Wildlife Space, and lots of State Park seashores. The St. George Island Causeway Important Wildlife Space closure will probably be in impact from March 1 by way of September 30 to accommodate late nesting Brown Pelicans.
Why That is Necessary
Postings typically embrace informational indicators, together with string and flagging, positioned round areas the place state-protected seashore birds are identified to nest. Staying out of posted nesting areas and giving the birds loads of house permits them to efficiently increase their chicks. Boaters have to heed signage and keep away from areas posted as “no trespassing,” even when they do not discover any birds.
“Fowl postings enable guests to get pleasure from seashores whereas ensuring to maintain secure areas open for birds. We closed Canine Island simply in time, as we’re already noticing plover tracks everywhere in the habitat,” says Col Lauzau, Audubon’s Panhandle Shorebird Program Supervisor.
What You Can Do
Learn how to defend beach-nesting birds to allow them to increase the subsequent era of chicks to maturity:
- Respect posted areas, even in the event you don’t see any birds inside.
- If birds dive-bomb you, rigorously transfer away as there could also be a nest close by.
- Guarantee no trash or meals remnants are left behind, as this will entice predators.
- Hold canines on a leash (if they’re allowed on the seashore in any respect), on board your boat, or at residence.
Audubon Florida protects birds and the locations they want, right now and tomorrow. Audubon works all through the Americas utilizing science, advocacy, training, and on-the-ground conservation. State packages, nature facilities, chapters, and companions give Audubon an unparalleled wingspan that reaches thousands and thousands of individuals annually to tell, encourage, and unite numerous communities in conservation motion. A nonprofit conservation group since 1900, Audubon believes in a world during which individuals and wildlife thrive.
