The “Coastal Training Group,” made up of Woman Scout Cadettes from Troops 328 and 446 of the Woman Scouts of Gulf Coast Florida Council, is working towards their Silver Award. For his or her “Take Motion” undertaking, the ladies set their sights on Florida’s coast, asking a easy however highly effective query: How can we assist?
They discovered their reply within the Least Tern, a small, charismatic shorebird whose nesting success has declined throughout a lot of its vary as a consequence of habitat loss and human disturbance. Quite than being assigned a undertaking, the ladies selected to guard this species after connecting with employees at Delnor-Wiggins Go State Park to be taught the place assist was most wanted.
“My group selected this particular undertaking as a result of DelnorWiggins reached out to us and instructed us about their Least Terns,” mentioned Katherine J. “We thought that it was a really distinctive and enjoyable undertaking to do. I personally hope to be taught management abilities and extra details about the kinds of birds and find out how to educate others about sharing the shore.”
For Develynn S., the undertaking opened the door to a brand new understanding of coastal wildlife: “Once I was knowledgeable about it, I used to be very intrigued. I by no means knew that shorebirds had been so vital, and I instantly needed to be concerned,” she mentioned. “Shorebirds are key species in our ecosystem, so we must always be sure we do our greatest to maintain them secure.”
The chance got here at a crucial second for the park. After a sequence of hurricanes in late 2024, and whereas nonetheless recovering from 2022’s Hurricane Ian, park employees made the forward-thinking resolution to guard newly fashioned seashore habitat. They posted the just lately reshaped space with indicators and fencing to provide shorebirds area to forage throughout winter with the hope that nesting birds would return this summer time. In keeping with park employees, Delnor-Wiggins has not hosted nesting shorebirds for the reason that Nineteen Eighties. The brand new habitat presents a uncommon alternative.
The challenges going through shorebirds had been one motive Iris S. felt drawn to the undertaking. “I selected this undertaking as a result of shorebirds maintain leaving nesting websites due to boaters approaching sandbars and due to habitat loss,” she mentioned. “I hope to be taught extra about shorebirds, particularly Least Terns, from this expertise.”
To encourage Least Terns to reclaim the positioning, the Coastal Training Group designed a decoy undertaking modeled on confirmed conservation methods. With help from park employees and steering from Audubon Florida, the ladies realized how decoys can appeal to nesting terns by signaling that an space is secure and already occupied.
Group companions rapidly stepped in to make the thought a actuality. Rick Schalk of the Thomas Riley Artisans’ Guild donated his time, supplies, and woodworking abilities to create the decoys. Kathy, Carey, and Amy Slavin of Household Passion Middle provided paints and supplies. The ladies painted every decoy by hand, reworking uncooked wooden into lifelike fashions designed to attract actual birds again to the seashore.
On February 13, the undertaking got here collectively on the sand. Joined by their grownup Woman Scout undertaking adviser, Delnor-Wiggins employees, and Audubon Florida employees, the ladies rigorously positioned the decoys throughout the posted space whereas studying how beachgoers might help shield nesting birds just by respecting posted areas, leashing pets, and giving birds area.
These small actions are central to the message the group hopes to share. “We will do issues which will appear easy to us however are big for shorebirds,” mentioned Develynn S. “The following time you’re on the seashore throughout nesting season, ensuring you avoid nesting areas could make an enormous distinction.”
Training is on the coronary heart of the Coastal Training Group’s Silver Award undertaking. With assets and recommendation from Delnor-Wiggins State Park and Audubon Florida, the ladies are actually making ready to share what they’ve realized with their group and educate others how small actions can shield coastal wildlife.
Abi N. says the expertise has proven the group how vital these efforts could be. “On this undertaking we’ve got realized about how shorebirds are vital to the shoreline and why we must always assist improve their numbers,” she mentioned. “Everybody can contribute to sharing the shore by giving the birds private area and never getting into their properties.”
In a spot formed by storms and restoration, the undertaking presents one thing lasting: proof that conservation works finest when communities come collectively. From Woman Scouts and park employees to conservationists and native companies, this “Share the Shore” effort exhibits that stewardship isn’t nearly defending birds, it’s about empowering the subsequent technology to cleared the path.
This text initially appeared within the 2025 Coastal Report. Click here to read the full report.
