Top: Royal terns enjoy the courting ritual on a Florida beach. ©R.J. Wiley
Introduction:
Of the 23 shore-dependent birds listed
in Florida’s Comprehensive Wildlife
Conservation Strategy as “species of greatest
conservation need,” populations of only two
species are “abundant;” three are “stable” or
“increasing;” and 13 are “unknown or low,
unknown or declining.” Declines in many
of these species are believed to be a result
of habitat loss and repeated disturbance of
remaining habitat, diminishing the birds’
abilities to successfully nest, rest and feed.
Benefits:
Shore-dependent birds will have more
suitable sites to nest, rest and feed, helping
to improve productivity and adult survival.
Land managers will have greater capacity
to implement needed protection measures.
Beachgoers will better understand shoredependent bird conservation issues and their
visits to the beach will be enhanced by wildlife
viewing opportunities.
Location:
Duval, Flagler, Nassau and St. Johns counties
Objectives:
1. Build a volunteer corps in Northeast
Florida to support the FWC’s Florida
Shorebird Alliance.
Contact:
Julie Wraithmell, Audubon of Florida,
jwraithmell@audubon.org
Monique Borboen, 904-813-5115,
mborboen@audubon.org
2. Help assess the regional abundance and
distribution of shore-dependent bird
species.
4. Identify critical habitat and management
prescriptions for these species.
This project was funded by the State Wildlife
Grants Program under Florida’s Wildlife
Legacy Initiative.
In the harsh coastal environment, parents, such as this Wilson’s plover, provide
shelter and protection for their chicks.
©R.J. Wiley
3. Develop a forum for coastal land managers
to collaborate on regional shore-dependent
bird management.
©R.J. Wiley
Shore-dependent Bird Monitoring Corps
5. Assist with management, including colony
posting and stewarding.
6. Create a constituency for shorebird
conservation in Northeast Florida and a
model for export to other regions.
Approach:
This project will recruit and train volunteers
from Audubon chapters and the community
at large to support the Florida Shorebird
Alliance in Northeast Florida. These
volunteers will be an important complement
to chronically understaffed natural resource
managers and agencies by helping to evaluate
resource management and implement coastal
bird monitoring and management activities.
Top: Bird stewards are volunteers that help educate the public about
shore-dependent birds and the importance of seasonal protections for
these species.
The eggs of beach-nesting birds are perfectly camouflaged with their surroundings. Unfortunately, people frequently flush parents off nests
without even realizing it, and the unprotected eggs can cook in the hot Florida sun in a matter of minutes.
Center: Globe-trotting red knots stop in Northeast Florida to rest and
feed on their long migration from Argentina to the Arctic. ©R.J. Wiley
Bottom: Volunteer bird stewards pre-post a portion of the beach for
bird nesting.