Volusia Shorebird Partnership Post Season Meeting Notes
Wednesday September 16, 2015, 1:30- 3:30
Beach Safety Headquarters, 3rd floor conference room
515 S. Atlantic Ave. Daytona Beach, FL
Meeting Agenda
1:30-1:40: Welcome and Introductions
Partners in attendance:
Naomi Avissar, FWC Florida Shorebird Alliance Coordinator (via phone)
Jennifer Winters, County of Volusia, Volusia Shorebird Partnership Coordinator
Jess Rodriguez, FWC Northeast Region Volunteer Coordinator
Anna Deyle, FWC Northeast Region Assistant Species Conservation Biologist
Lt Steve Van Nortwick, FWC Law Enforcement
Michael Brothers, Marine Science Center Manager
Jason DePue, DEP, Florida Parks Service regional biologist
David Hartgrove, Halifax River Audubon
Mike Cooper, NPS, Canaveral National Seashore (new)
Mike Simmons, County of Volusia, Sea Turtle HCP Field Manager (new)
Brandon Noel with Bethune Cookman University couldn’t make it last minute. no rep
from SE Volusia Audubon unfortunately.
1:40-2:30: Partner updates about 2015 routes
Mike Cooper- Apollo Beach Route- turtle monitors are out every day- 1 WIPL nest, by
the time he went to cordon it off, it was predated by raccoons. A lot of coyotes in
Canaveral. Playalinda-hogs on the beach.
Jennifer Winters- County of Volusia Managed Beaches Route- 9 WIPL nests, 7 of the
9 successfully hatched- one inside Canaveral- 2 chicks hatched from that not sure if
they fledged
Beach Safety is doing extra patrols in that area to look for dogs. The monitoring groups
have been asked to take pictures of dog activity. This is a somewhat remote area,
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mostly residential- not a lot of truck patrols. SE Volusia Audubon volunteers-some
stewarding with WIPL nests-a lot of volunteers didn’t come to steward training.
Disappearing Island- over-washed around Mother’s Day- pre-posted it in Marchsurveying it regularly- LETE courtship behavior all summer- no nesting activity. A couple
hundred LETE in the inlet regularly but they just weren’t nesting there.
Rattlesnake Island- 1 LETE nest- didn’t make it- we know there are predators out there.
We need to double check how this sight is entered and if it should be listed as a route or
not. (Was not surveyed each count window)
1 WIPL nest on Rattlesnake did hatch -2 chicks
Mike Simmons- A territorial WIPL was seen in New Smyrna Dunes park but no nest
was located.
David Hartgrove- Dunlawton Bridge- AMOY- one nest on N end of rookery island
failed- adults were incubating went back a couple days later- completely abandoned.
Replaced by a 2nd pair- 1 adult was banded in SC, a female- defended area around
where original nest was. Saw them copulate- never saw any sign of nesting- not sure if
moved and nested somewhere else or what.
Another pair on N side of bridge- W side of ICW- successfully fledged 2 chicks out of
that nest.
Rookery island a very healthy colony of BRPE this year- still maybe 5 or 6 feathered
chicks out there now- extremely late nesting-last week several chicks still being fed by
adults in nesting area
Mike Brothers- the two lighthouse point park routes- nothing- he added August visits to
the FSD since we made the spreadsheet of route coverage
Jason DePue-North Peninsula State Park (NPSP) North Marsh and NPSP South
Marsh- these two routes should be removed from the FSD- new one “N Peninsula State
park beachside” is already in there and are planning to continue surveying it. It may
have been deleted by accident- talk to Whitney and Naomi about.
NPSP- they were ready to put out coyote traps this year if needed there- last year
coyote predated sea turtle nests- but wasn’t a problem there this year- no nesting
shorebirds observed this year-continue to see Willets and Willet chicks out on the
beach- previous years 30 or 40 chicks on the beach- behind NPSP tons of marsh- were
these entered as roving chicks in the FSD this year? Jason said maybe
Frank Quinn, President of Flagler Audubon and Jason alternating the surveys there
now-Laura Ostapko not doing them anymore.
Rooftops- David Hartgrove- surveyed all of them up until August-just went to ones he
knew were still active in August so didn’t have to drive so far to check them all.
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Waterway West Condo (VOR17)- New site down in New Smyrna- the area is usually
covered by SE Volusia Audubon- someone let him know in late May they heard birds
and saw them calling on roof- new place-president of condo association got him up on
roof- took a quick peak- 5 inch parapet, drains covered, elevated A/C units set up on
little cement blocks- cover and shade for chicks- no indication of any of them falling off
the roof- David did a walk around the parking lot- at least 12 or 14 nests he could seemore out of his line of vision behind A/C units etc, 30 nests estimated based on birds
flushing up
Winchester Manor Condos (VOR8)- thinks it has probably been re-roofed-manager
won’t answer.
K-mart Ormond Town Mall- nice parapet 12 or 14 in high, drains covered- haven’t
nested there in last 3-4 yrs- river rock- large- not gravel- but they used to use it
Ormond Beach Mall- birds nesting above Taste of China restaurant- across from
Winchester Manor Condos so maybe the birds moved over there. Nesting activity was
observed but success unknown.
Together Unisex Salon- thought we had cooperation from building to put a camera up
there in 2014, but then one store owner was not ok with it and no project was pursued.
The salon owner saw the birds flying around the roof this year but didn’t think the birds
would actually nest- the birds didn’t nest there- a lot of predation from fish crows and
boat-tailed grackles.
Seaire Apartments- a little small apt complex- flat gravel roof- 5 or 6 pairs 2004 or 2005not sure how successful they were
Powerhouse Gym (VOR2)- he suspects it has been reroofed-he will check
Bellaire Bowling Alley and Old Publix- he is surprised there was no nesting there- It is a
U shaped shopping center with ideal roofing.
Covidien Building- east side of Deland- Covidien a large health products companyenviro compliance officer on site- he went up on roof two years ago there. At least 30
pairs nesting there this year
BCU Roof- Brandon Noel- it failed he doesn’t know why-has video camera footage that
he will review and let us know what he finds.
Naomi-499 S Nova road- Ormond beach- historic nesting rooftop- Naomi has in her
notes but it was not checked or known of by David Hartgrove as an active site in his
recollection.
2:30- 2:45: FWC preliminary 2015 data summaries (local and
statewide)
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Please contact flshorebirddatabase@myfwc.com for a copy of the presentation. It is a
summary of local and statewide data entered into the Florida Shorebird Database as of
9/10/2015.
2:45-3:00: Local Projects- FWC Input (NSB proposed development
near Rookery Islands and beach re-nourishment projects)
NSB Proposed Development near Rookery Islands:
Anna Deyle and David Hartgrove gave background on the proposed development:
The name of the project is: Coronado Island Marine Village. A development project
proposed for New Smyrna Beach- current drawings for the project show putting in new
boat docks very close to two wading bird and brown pelican rookery islands.
Species reported nesting on those islands are: tricolored herons, snowy egrets,
brown pelicans, great egrets, cattle egrets, double-crested cormorants, and blackcrowned night herons. Michael Brothers indicated there are also Reddish Egrets. All
species that nest on the islands are protected under the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty
Act (MBTA) and State Rules 68A-4.001 and 68A-16.001 F.A.C., which include
prohibitions on the taking, killing, capturing, and possession of these species, their
eggs, and young without a permit. Additionally, Tricolored herons, snowy egrets and
brown pelicans are all state listed Species of Special Concern and are protected by
state rules that offer similar protections as the MBTA. However, by the time the project
starts snowy egrets and brown pelicans may have come off of the state list, and
tricolored herons may have been up listed to state-threatened status. State-designated
Threatened species are protected under State Rule 68A-27, which includes prohibitions
on harm and harassment of these species without a permit. “Harm” may include
significant habitat modification or degradation that actually kills or injures wildlife by
significantly impairing essential behavioral patterns, including breeding, feeding or
sheltering. “Harass” includes an intentional or negligent act or omission which creates
the likelihood of injury to wildlife by annoying it to such an extent as to significantly
disrupt normal behavioral patterns which include, but are not limited to, breeding,
feeding or sheltering.
Anna and Alex Kropp with FWC have provided informal technical assistance to the
development company about which bird species nest on the islands and their
protections.
If the project proceeds as planned the development company will need to obtain permits
for dredging from DEP and the Army Corp of Engineers and this should trigger official
environmental commenting from FWC.
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David was at the Sept 8th City Commission Meeting where developer and city discussed
sale of the land to the developer and whether the zoning for the land will need to be
changed. Both issues were tabled for now. The city decided they want developer to
come back with 3D images of what they expect the development to look like when it is
complete before the city commission will vote on whether to sell the land to the
developer or not.
At this meeting, the attorney for the developer said they are willing to move the docks
that are currently shown to be very close to the two rookery islands in the development
drawings further back from the islands.
Michael Brothers raised concern for birds that over-winter on the rookery islands and
rest on them at night but do not nest on them. He suggested that someone may want to
document them.
Jennifer Winters asked who future concerned citizens should be directed to call. The
group consensus was to direct them to call the City.
Beach re-nourishment project:
Anna let the group know about an upcoming project to dredge a side channel of Ponce
Inlet and place the dredge spoil as beach renourishment in an area of the beach near
Lighthouse Point Park.
FWC is providing environmental commenting for this multi-year maintenance dredging
project (15 years). Alex has asked if it would be possible for the dredge spoil to be
placed at Smyrna Dunes Park or even Disappearing Island. He is concerned that
renourishing the beach near Lighthouse Point Park might attract shorebirds to nest in
that area where there are pretty severe feral cat and raccoon predation issues.
If you’d like more information about this project feel free to contact Alex or Anna.
Links to the permitting info and plans can be found here:
ftp://ftp.dep.state.fl.us/pub/ENVPRMT/volusia/pending/0332937%20PonceInletSideChannelDredging/001-JC/Application/
3:00-3:30: Open Discussion
Marine Discovery Center marsh restoration project was discussed- possibility of trying
to bring birds to nest in that area- although the area might not be large enough for
shorebird nesting, might be more suitable for foraging-especially for willet.
Could MDC make it a route and check it for shorebirds?
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Mike Simmons- MDC oyster recycling program- could there be potential here for
making suitable potential AMOY nesting sites? Jeff Beal and Annie Roddenberry would
be good to work with on this.
No one from the MDC was present at the meeting to respond to either of the above
topic ideas.
Jennifer- mentioned idea of having our 2016 pre-season partnership meeting at the
Marine Discover Center to get them more involved in the partnership
Michael Brothers – Canaveral National Seashore Bird Island was not active this year.
It is currently not a route but Mike Cooper is trying to get one set up.
Jess Rodriguez (FWC NE Region Volunteer Coordinator)- asked if coverage is good
for shorebird monitoring in Volusia County.
One gap mentioned is AMOY surveys along the Halifax River (with the exception of the
Dunlawton Bridge area which David Hartgrove monitors)- Michael Brothers has a boat
and so does MDC- so they might be able to do more AMOY surveys.
Naomi Avissar- FWC is going to do things a little differently when it comes to
responding to emergency repairs on rooftops with actively nesting shorebirds on them.
Trying to train volunteers in each area who could assist and be present to accompany
rooftop repair people up on roof and make sure they follow shorebird safe protocols. If
you would be interested in doing this, please let Naomi or Jess Rodriguez know!
FWC Lt Steve van Nortwick- any law enforcement problems or issues this past
season? One dog walked in the Bethune Beach area while a steward was volunteering.
They were non responsive when politely asked to keep the unleashed dog away from
the nesting areas. Jennifer also contacted him about complaint she received about a
tour boat that was too close to the rookery islands in NSB- Lt Van Nortwick contacted
the boat operator. There was an amphibious vehicle used on disappearing Island to
help monitor behavior on Disappearing Island during the “Aquapalooza” event. Tracks
went directly next to the posted nesting area. Jennifer Winters mentioned that there
was no advanced coordination of that activity to reduce bird harassment concerns.
Fortunately there was no recorded nesting activity in the area.
Mike Simmons-10 PIPL on Disappearing Island the other day, 3 were banded. It is a
major resting and foraging area for shorebirds. The group wondered if the FWC CWA
designation process has been revamped. Anna offered to get an update on the current
review status.
Adjourn
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