St. Johns Shorebird Partnership
Pre-season Meeting Agenda
March 7th, 2013 1PM- 4PM
Location: 9601 Oceanshore Blvd in Marineland. It’s a one story flat roof building on the
west side of A1A, just south of pedestrian crossing. Sign says Coastal Policy Center. If
you get lost, call Monique at 904-813-5115.
Note: Please bring your CALENDAR for scheduling posting activities
1:00 – Sign In/Introductions – All
Attendees: DEP: Jason dePue, Cristy Leonard, Tonia Creamer; St. Johns County: Mike
Golubovich (works with Tara), Sidney Lindblad (works with Billy); Fort Matanzas National
Monument: Kurt Foote; GTM NERR: Diane Reed (for Scott Eastman); Alligator Farms: Julie
Farrington; Audubon: Teddy Shuler, Peggy Cook, John Brice, Linda Avery, Susan Killeen, Chris Farrell,
Laura Ostapko (Flagler Audubon); Audubon Florida: Monique Borboen.
Law Enforcement: Federal (Fort Matanzas National Monument): Matt Elliott; FWC: Steve
Zukowski, Darryl Thornhill; County (Natural Resources deputy): Keith Oke
1:10 – Summarize Regional Needs/Issues – All (5-10 minutes each)
 GTM NERR: Diane Reed presented findings from the Shorebird Survey conducted in
February. It was noted that one area south of the Gate Gas Station was not covered
this year, but Diane did survey from the Gate Gas Station to the North Boundary of the
GTM and has also entered the data on the spreadsheet. Diane presented the
Shorebird Diversity poster and explained that the surveys are done all year around,
once a week during low tide including counts of people on the beach, dogs (leashed
and unleashed). GTM staff enter the data into (Cornell Univ) eBird. Monique Borboen
requested that it is equally important to have the nesting data in the shorebird
database and that negative data can be vital.
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Porpoise Point – Billy, Tara (both not able to attend): Michael G. discussed the
changing beach profile with the jetty being exposed and the inability to drive around
the jetty. Tara Dodson is collecting data and will be meeting with Alex Kropp to assess
the area for nesting pre-posting. The habitat looks good.
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Summer Haven – Alex, Billy, Tara (all three not present): Michael G. and Sidney L.
discussed the possible re-dredging of the river and there was continued discussion on
the upcoming plans. There was also discussion about the continuing efforts to address
the dogs off leash that are endangering the nesting habitat.
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ICW/Julia’s Island – Monique: The Florida Wildlife Research Institute (part of FWC)
had a grant for research on oystercatchers. On the Tolomato River, 17 pairs of
American Oystercatchers (AMOY) were monitored with 22 nests. There were several
washovers and 4 chicks fledged. The AMOY chicks were banded and one juvenile bird
was observed at the Weff Rd docks post banding (in January). There was good
productivity on the rakes in the Matanzas River with several fledglings being banded.
Monique reminded everyone to be on the lookout for banded AMOYs and to report
them when observed.
Anastasia State Park – Jason, Teddy, Christie: Approximately 200+ least tern nests
were documented at ASP this season near the beach access areas. The terns kept
settling to nest onto the newly deposited dredged sand, and it took good collaborative
work to keep them posted and protected. Jason reported that at least one sea turtle
wandered into the least tern colony and got trapped by the dredge pipe, and had to
be moved back to the beach. Jason discussed issues with pre-nesting predator control
and some traps set up. Animals trapped were opossum, house cat, raccoon,
armadillo. Tracks were seen indicating canine predation, possible coyote. Jason also
made mention that he is in need of volunteers to help monitor and survey the beach.
The habitat looks good for nesting.
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Matanzas NM and CWA – Kurt, Peggy: Two Law Enforcement Officers are now based
at Ft Matanzas. Kurt, Peggy and some more volunteers have conducted monthly
wintering bird surveys, with results entered into eBird. They will start weekly surveys
for the nesting season. Predation issues continue with discussion of trapping of
predators. The sands on the west side of the bridge have moved and the bar is now
connected to the park. It only overwashes at really high tides. The habitat looks good
on the east side of the bridge where the winter storms brought new sand in. Peggy
and John’s (with assistance from Kurt for historical accuracy) bird house – Fort
Matanzas – won the Anastasia Island Library contest for the Great Backyard Bird
Count!
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Rooftop Colonies: CJ McCartney monitored the rooftop at the Betty Griffin House.
She worked with staff there and had their assistance. One Killdeer was observed
nesting on the rooftop. The terns that were monitored there did not remain and
seemed to have left the area. Laura Ostapko from Flagler County checked her
county’s historic nesting rooftop sites and found only one active rooftop, a residence
in Flagler Beach that had 40 Least Terns on the roof. The owners have informed Laura
that they were replacing their rooftop, which made it no longer good tern nesting
habitat.
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Law Enforcement Activities – Natural Resource Deputies & FWC & Fort Matanzas:
County Sheriff’s Dept was well represented and described the new leash laws which
are now in effect. The good news is the increased fines (1st offense, $93; 2nd offense
$150; 3rd offense $500; 4th offense Court appearance.) The bad news is that the new
law allows that dogs can be off leash if they are in the water at the time they are
unleashed. This means that a pet can be running along the shoreline, untied, as long
as it is “in the water”. The Sheriff’s dept also announced that it will make a stronger
effort to “push north” on the beach patrols. They will have a forth Natural Resources
Deputy joining them in April.
FWC Lt Steve Zukowsky also announced that they will be patrolling the beach for state
violations (gopher tortoises, shorebirds, fisheries). The FWC will address any
harassment and/or disturbance. These violations are considered a misdemeanor.
FWC will now have a code under which to record their interventions about shorebirds.
FWC now has ATVs to patrol the beach. In January, FWC has a squad meeting with
other law enforcement department and county staff to discuss coordination of efforts.
County Sheriff’s dept should always be contacted first when incidents occur and the
group is reminded not to approach a person who is in violation.
Ft Matanzas: Law Enforcement Officer M. Elliott reported that with now two law
enforcement officers, they will be providing 7 day/wk coverage. Any offenses at Ft
Matanzas will be considered a Federal Offense (Federal Court in Jacksonville). The
officers might issue more warnings than citations for dogs off leash: federal judges will
not appreciate seeing their court filled with leash law cases, so citation will be issued
only in cases of really bad offense. Federal officers also enforce closure violation and
wildlife harassment.
Request was made to provide more information about the importance to keep dogs
on leash away from the birds. Suggestion was made for the county to provide
educational materials at the pay stations at the beaches (or on their website) and with
the fireworks pamphlet they distribute to all condos, especially for tourists and
visitors to the area. Extra suggestion was a joint press release.
2:10 – Summary of Winter Shorebird Surveys/Piping Plover Workshop – Monique: Good
coverage was provided for the survey this year with only one area not covered (Gate Station south
to Vilano ramp). The county offered to provide staff and vehicle if there is a need for coverage for
this area. There seemed to be less birds than usual and there was thought that maybe the above
average high tide on that date and the rough weather contributed. Red Knots (8) were observed at
one of the survey points (Crescent Beach area). Monique attended a PIPL workshop in Beaufort, SC
and gave a presentation from her trip. The USFWS is recommended some measures to better protect
the birds on their non-breeding grounds. These measures were compiled in a Comprehensive
Conservation Strategy
http://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/pipingplover/pdf/CCSpiplNoApp2012.pdf and include
site stewardship, posting of roosting/feeding habitat and no dogs, raking or vehicles within 1.5 km of
unstabilized inlets:
http://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/pipingplover/pdf/CCSpiplApp2_2012.pdf
2:20 – BREAK
2:30 – Overview of Revisions to Protocol/Data Sheets – Alex (unable to attend) Monique:
The FWC nesting database is open and there are webinars available for the slight changes to the
database.
First shorebird window survey in March 18 – March 24
Survey coordinators and volunteers for the different sites are as follow:
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GTM NERR: Diane – weekly surveys
Porpoise Point: Monique to coordinate. Volunteers: Dan, Margaret and Jim, Janet, Chris
Farrell, Susan Killeen
Anastasia SP: Jason coordinating. In need of new surveyors as Ned and Teddy will be
travelling this summer. Volunteers: Tina VanGhent, Susan Killeen, Julie Farington, Diane
Reed. Will need orientation to drive park’s vehicle
Fort Matanzas: Kurt and Peggy coordinating. Other volunteers: Julie Farington and others
from the winter surveys. First survey will be March 21.
Summer Haven: Linda Avery and Greg Lepera. Linda will enter data and contact Soledad and
Leif.
Rooftops: CJ will coordinate with Tom Pitchford to monitor the Betty Griffin roof. Laura O.
will coordinate Flagler county and is planning to ask Audubon members to search for
occupied roofs all over the county. We will only monitor the roof where killdeer have been
seen during the March survey window as Least Terns are not back yet.
Tolomato and Matanzas river. FWRI will do some surveys and we will try to complement
them
3:00 – Schedule Posting Events – Alex (Monique) and All
o Porpoise Point – Alex, Tara and Billy to coordinate.
o Anastasia State Park – Jason coordinating. Tentative date: Monday March 18th.
o Fort Matanzas NM – Preposting on Friday March 15th. Meet at 9am at the
beach driving ramp (ocean side, across from the entrance going to the visitor
center). Contact Teddy with any question.
o Summer Haven – Alex, Tara and Billy to coordinate.
o GTM NERR – Diane Reed and staff to coordinate.
3:20 – In-the-field Training/Shorebird Monitoring – Alex: Alex has offered to do field training
and provide practice for using the database. In the field training session will be held at a nesting site,
probably in late April-early May
3:40– Wrap-up/Action Items – Monique: Special thanks to all staff personnel and volunteers
who continue to make this program a success. Extra thanks to law enforcement officers
for taking the time to attend and to present at the meeting: all agreed that this is very
beneficial.
Draft notes submitted by,
Diane Reed 3/7/13