FSA Florida Keys Shorebird Partnership
2015 Post-Season meeting
Location:
1st floor conference room, State Government Building (2796 Overseas Hwy., Marathon)
Date:
Friday, September 18, 2015
Time:
10 am – 12 pm
Meeting Participants:
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Ashley Taylor – FWC
Brittany Burtner – Monroe County
Carol Rizkalla – FWC
Janice Duquesnel – FDEP/Florida Park Service
Kate Guerena – USFWS
Kelli O’Donnell – NMFS contractor
Kelly Grinter – Marathon Wild Bird Center
Naomi Avissar – FWC/FSA
Peter Frezza – Audubon Florida
Ricardo Zambrano – FWC
Scott Tedford – FDEP/Florida Park Service
Shelby Graham – Naval Air Station Key West
Tom Sweets – Key West Wildlife Center
Trudy Ferraro - FDEP/Florida Park Service
I.
Janice started off the meeting with introductions and reviewing the agenda.
II.
Open discussion on shorebird and seabird nesting in the keys: Review of shorebird and seabird
nesting sites (including rooftops) and outcomes this season (everyone).
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Brittany reported that Least Terns were nesting on the Bahia Honda bridge (peak = 86 nests)
and produced chicks. Only one disturbance event (from a couple flying a drone). Peter
added that the birds nested there last year too (2014). Next year, if birds return, access
areas can be posted with informational signs. Brittany was able to view the colony with a
spotting scope from across the bridge and reports better visibility after 2 pm. The bridge is a
cultural resource, managed by the heritage trail group. Railing, lip, and rubble on the bridge
create shade for chicks.
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Ricardo added that the 7-mile bridge (FPS managed) has a section that would be used to
draw Least Terns and Roseate Terns. Janice, Scott, and Ricardo will discuss enhancing the
bridge with sand, gravel, or shell rake for nesting birds. Will look into partnering with DOT or
an electric company to access the site, or set up posted area with decoys close to the end of
the bridge for easier monitoring from land or by boat.
Kelli reported a peak of 110 Least Tern nests, viewable by security cameras over the Key
West Courthouse.
Also had about 5 pairs of terns at Boca Chica, at the end of the runway before jets take off.
15-20 years ago, Least Terns nested there.
Ricardo reported 4-5 nesting pairs at Sandy Cove but they weren’t successful (storms).
The State building in Marathon has one of the 2 remaining colonies of Roseate Terns in FL.
The County building in Marathon had LETE but had AC issues as well.
Truman/JIATF building is the other building with Roseate Terns. There are 3 buildings on site
with gravel roofs, and one will be re-roofed this winter. The Navy mitigated for re-roofing by
using 8 gravel pallets on an adjacent roof to draw in terns. Since this is the biggest ROST
colony in the state, folks should keep an eye out next year for ROST nesting elsewhere in
Key West (maybe the courthouse?).
Ricardo put pallets on Winn-Dixie (Big Pine Key) roof.
Ricardo was not able to get to the Dry Tortugas during the nesting season. He will provide
recommendations on how to attract Roseate Terns there next year because they didn’t nest
this year. In 2006, he used decoys and recorded calls to attract them and it worked until this
year.
Kelly worked with Karen Quist (reported) to check on several rooftops:
o Elementary school
o Marathon County and State Government buildings
o Key Colony beach (re-roofed)
o Casa Clara (had LETE)
o nothing at Key Colony beach hotels.
o Aldin Matthews monitored Royal Plum Condos (some LETE) and Independence Cay
(nothing).
o Suzy, one of their volunteers, monitors 332 Seaview in Duck Key (private residence).
A neighbor had set aside a protected area for chicks. No birds on the Sombrero
Resort roof.
Tom also checked on multiple rooftops in Key West:
o Sigsbee Info center was not active.
o United St. AT&T building was re-roofed but still had LETE activity and produced
chicks.
o Truman 103 could be seen from an adjacent building. Both that building and the
police building had LETE, though it will be re-roofed in the next 2 years.
o Sigsbee Elementary school was abandoned by June 26.
o Front Street rooftop was very active.
o Key West High School had LETE activity.
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Key West Professional building had 5 chicks rescued from that roof.
1 chick was rescued and put back on JIATF roof.
Two chicks from unknown buildings were released.
La Brisa repaired their roof once colony left.
Truman Waterfront redevelopment will likely be an issue in the future- maybe the
birds will move to the high school?
Peter checked on 7 rooftop sites and counts were consistent with last few years:
o Pino Windows will need to re-roof.
o Kawama Yacht Club (MOR25) had heavy construction nearby but birds seemed used
to it. Trudy will check on this site next year.
o Confirmed nesting on Futura Yacht Club condos, but people were going out on roof
(recreating) so Peter needs signs to post on doorway. These birds might have moved
here from Summer Seas condo.
o The Bank of America in Tavernier had no nesting.
Ricardo mentioned that there are Wilson’s Plovers at Geiger Key. Shelby will get survey data
to Ricardo.
Kate reported LETE colonies at several rooftops:
o Habitat for Humanity building had 70 pairs and 1 fallen chick, will try to put up
barrier fencing next season.
o Also reported a peak count of 70 LETE at Big Pine Key.
o LETE also nested at Cudjoe Key Air Force Station blimp site (owned by Homeland
Security), on 2 non-gravel rooftops. Both roofs have cameras that can be used for
monitoring nests. Kate spoke to biologist on staff and they will install permanent
barriers and shade structures on roofs in November. Seeing lots of fledges on the
beach nearby.
Janice reports that Coastal Resource Group (Laura Flynn) has Keys restoration fund for
platforms (used to be an Audubon grant). Janice will get Kate the info, and Ricardo will send
Kate Margo’s report.
Wilmer Key inundated but Least Terns and stilts use it for roosting, loafing.
Trudy reports activity at her rooftops and routes:
o Key Largo School had 2-3 birds but they abandoned.
o The Winn-Dixie had nothing in past years but they had LETE this year. They had AC
problems mid-season, but birds were on other side of the building. Seven LETE were
on nests but they abandoned.
o Carysfort had an average nesting season (5-6 WIPL nests) but Trudy anticipates that
it will decline as more vegetation grows in.
o Dynamite Island was posted but there was no activity. Lots of boaters and even a
seaplane landed on the island. Very hard to enforce on that island.
o Ocean Forest Estates restoration project- Trudy/FPS talked with USFWS about
shorebird mitigation. There was also discussion of using a barge to attract nesting
birds.
Janice checked on several rooftops:
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No activity at Bank of America in Tavernier or the West Marine Building (Pink Plaza).
Peak flush count of 30 birds at Garden Cove (VA building), with activity in May, June,
and July, and 1 fallen chick returned to roof.
o The Publix in Key Largo was re-roofed last year but 62 birds were counted there in
May.
o The Bank of America in Key Largo had low numbers, with activity starting in May,
June, and ending in July.
Janice conducted ground surveys at Bahia Honda State Park.
Long Key staff (Jessica) will conduct surveys along their beach, and saw juvenile Royal Terns
and Laughing Gulls but no nesting activity.
Scott trained staff at Curry hammock and Ft. Taylor to conduct beach surveys.
There is a new person at Everglades (Mark Perry?) and the Dry Tortugas National Park
(Curtis Wall). Since there may be WIPL nesting at the capes, Ricardo and Janice will ask them
about joining the Keys Partnership.
FL Bay Islands have WIPLs, LAGUs, and LETEs. Margo reported nesting. Alice Clark is the
contact there.
Naomi presented preliminary 2015 data for Keys and statewide; reminded group about Oct.
1 data entry deadline, the upcoming winter survey (1st Friday in February), and 5-year
International Piping Plover Survey from January 18-Feb. 1.
III.
Volunteers for rooftop emergency repairs (Ricardo & Ashley)
- FWC needs volunteers to assist with protecting birds when there are emergency rooftop
repairs during the nesting season (e.g., AC repairs).
- Volunteer would need to make sure that rooftop workers work in less than 30 minute
increments, early in the morning or late in the afternoon, and walk on the edge to avoid
nests/chicks. We need someone not afraid of heights, who can climb ladders, and who is
assertive but diplomatic.
- If interested, please contact Ashley.Taylor@myfwc.com. You will need to be registered as an
FWC volunteer for liability and permitting purposes. However, FWC doesn’t use volunteer
hours for grants, so if you’re a volunteer for another organization (e.g., Audubon) you can
still document those hours towards another organization.
- FWC will provide a training in the spring.
- FWC working with Audubon to develop Best Management Practices for rooftop workers. We
can bring these materials (BMPs, letters) to the next meeting.
- Janice recommends asking folks at the state parks if they want to volunteer, Tom also has
some folks that might be good candidates, and Scott knows of college students that might
be able to help.
- FWC might also be redoing their statewide rooftop survey in 2016 and will be looking for
volunteers – more info in the spring.
IV.
Needs for next season? (Signs, outreach materials, trainings, etc.?)
- Contact Carol.Rizkalla@myfwc.com if you need any signs or brochures.
V.
Naomi to send Peter a printable sign to post on roof access doors for next season.
(anyone else who needs one, please email Naomi.Avissar@myfwc.com).
Group requested another rooftop monitoring protocol training during the Spring 2016
meeting.
FWC can also do a rooftop emergency repair training at the Spring 2016 meeting.
Janice wrapped up the meeting and thanked everyone for attending.