Shorebird stewards ready for start of breeding season in Florida

Early spring means the return of snowbirds, but also nesting shorebirds. 

Shorebirds like least terns, black skimmers and snowy plovers nest along Florida’s coasts and, in the Sarasota area, particularly like some spots on Longboat and Lido Keys. 

Shorebird breeding season officially began on Feb. 15 for Sarasota and Manatee counties, but Program Manager for Audubon Florida Holley Short said the shorebirds in this area won’t start to nest until closer to March. 

Short manages the program through Audubon Florida which collects volunteers to become shorebird stewards to raise awareness about nesting shorebirds and keep an eye on the colonies once the birds start to nest. 

In years past, Lido Key’s black skimmer colony has continued to be strong in the area, but Short wonders how that might change this year given how the beach’s topography changed with Hurricanes Helene and Milton. 

The north end of Longboat Key also sees a good amount of shorebird nesting activity, usually with least terns and black skimmers. Snowy plovers also have nested in the area of Whitney Beach in the past, Short said. 

Nesting shorebird colonies are vulnerable populations. Adult shorebirds use the area to rest or forage for food, and the eggs or chicks can be snatched easily by predators. 

Sometimes, it’s humans that cause the biggest problems for these species. 

For colonies like those on the north end of Longboat Key, the surroundings of a location could lead to some issues. 

“Nesting near public access areas comes with its own hurdles for the birds to try and get over,” Short said.

Last year, a nesting colony of least terns on the north end of Longboat Key was abandoned. Former Sarasota Shorebird Steward Coordinator Emily Briner suspected from trail camera footage that humans going too close to the nests caused the adults to leave the site altogether. 

When heading to the beach during these busy spring months, Short said it’s important people be aware of their surroundings and look out for beach signage and posted nesting sites. 

“Keeping an eye out for any signs or areas that are closed to the public is going to be so important because we want to leave those areas undisturbed,” Short said. “Even if you can’t see the bird — which could easily be the case sometimes with snowy plovers — you want to assume that something is there and you don’t want to disturb it.” 

Short added eggs and chicks are often well-camouflaged, so beachgoers should remain diligent near nesting shorebird colonies. 

This is especially important as the chicks start to explore. 

“The posting is to keep us out, it’s not to keep the birds in. They’re going to do whatever they want to do. At some point, the chicks are going to wander outside of the posting,” Short said. 

Photo by Lou Newman

When beachgoers see a large flock of birds, Short said it’s important to walk around the groups and not walk through them. The adults need to rest and feed, and disturbing them could impact the colony. 

This includes keeping dogs away from nesting colonies and only bringing dogs to designated areas, Short said. On Longboat Key, dogs are not allowed on any beaches. 

Lastly, Short emphasized the importance of not leaving behind any litter on the beaches, especially scraps of food. 

The litter and food scraps could attract scavenger species like crows, gulls and raccoons. Short said, once attracted by the litter, these species would then look for another easy snack nearby — chicks and eggs. 

The shorebird steward program for Sarasota will pick up around April, and Short encouraged anyone interested in volunteering to reach out. This program helps to monitor nesting shorebirds in the area and educate the public on these best practices. 

Stewards spend a couple of hours on the beaches near nesting colonies to keep an eye on the nesting shorebirds and educate the public about shorebirds. The program will supply interested volunteers with the necessary training and equipment. 

For more information or to sign up, email FLConservation@audubon.org.