| This Beach is 'For the Birds'! |
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| May 15, 2008 |
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Summertime is nesting time for many of our shore birds here in Florida, and some of them are pretty lazy when it comes to building a nest. In fact, some of them don't bother at all. They just plop down in the sand and lay their eggs. As you can imagine, this creates some problems when we want to use the beach.
The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission cooperates with other governmental agencies to educate the public about birds nesting on the beach, and to monitor the critical nesting areas. And there are many volunteers that spend a lot of time helping.
One of the things we do to help protect the birds is to mark off nesting areas with stakes, string, and signs. This makes it easier for all of us at the beach to avoid disturbing the nesting birds. Usually the areas roped off are out-of-the-way and up near the dunes. So it's not a major inconvenience to give the birds their space. Birds don't build nests down by the water.
Without the signs it can be very difficult to see the nests. After all, how many of us can spot a tiny white tern egg on white sand? In fact, even with the signs it can be hard to find the eggs.
So when you see the signs and the roped-off areas, be sure to keep your distance. And if you happen to have your pet at the beach (not generally allowed anyway, for this reason, among others), be sure Fido doesn't chase the birds. Sure, the birds may come back to the nest, but while they are gone, seagulls and other birds, as well as raccoons, will come and eat the eggs. Raccoons have no problem with coming out onto the beach in broad daylight for a tasty egg snack.
We love our birds and do everything we can to protect them. What would the beach be without the graceful terns, and the little willets, dowitchers, sandpipers, knots, skimmers and plovers? Help us enjoy and protect our birds by being aware of shorebird nesting areas. And explain to your children about why some areas of the beach are "for the birds."
I'll see you at the beach!
David McRee
Florida Beaches Expert |
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| A lone willet on Sunset Beach, near St. Petersburg. |
| Credit: David McRee, VISIT FLORIDA Beaches Expert |
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