ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Humans disturbing birds is one of the key hazards to threatened shorebird and seabird populations, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Florida Shorebird Alliance (FSA).
When attempting to nest and raise chicks on local beaches, breeding birds spend energy avoiding human threats, leaving chicks and eggs vulnerable to the elements and predators, according to the FSA’s annual report.
“Research has demonstrated that chronic disturbance from human activities at a site can negatively affect reproductive outcomes, local abundance, and ultimately statewide populations,” according to the FSA report. Kathy Doddridge, a volunteer with Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, offered some tips on reducing human interaction and dis- ruption to the local shorebird population.
“Walk around bird colonies so as not to disturb them, prevent children (and adults) from running through a resting colony in order to get that perfect selfie or video,” she said. “Feeding gulls bread is equivalent to feeding your children styrofoam peanuts. When the gulls become reliant on beach scraps, they are more inclined to stay around and then prey on chicks and eggs. One of the primary predators of nesting birds is the local cat population. Keep your cats inside and your dogs off the beach.” Manatee County law prohibits dogs on beaches.
FSA, a statewide network of local partnerships committed to advancing shorebird and seabird conservation in Florida, focuses on beach-nesting birds that are state-listed as threatened – the American oystercatcher, black skimmer, least tern and snowy plover. The Wilson’s plover is listed as a species of greatest conservation need.
Doddridge conducts a twice-monthly shorebird survey of Anna Maria Island and last week said she saw thousands of laughing gulls as well as migrating red knots, American oystercatchers, ring-billed and lesser black-backed gulls and smaller sandpipers.
“This past Sunday it was cold, windy and far fewer numbers of birds. So cold fronts play a big part in what we see on the beach,” she said. “In the summer months, we have black skimmers, least terns and American oystercatchers frequent the Island. This past year we did not have any nesting seabirds or shore- birds. However, other barrier islands had very large colonies. Gulls nest on Egmont Key, Passage Key and the spoil islands of Hillsborough Bay. Why do they prefer one area over another? People and predators.”
Gulls, terns, oystercatchers, skimmers and sandpipers use AMI beaches to rest during peak migration periods. Skimmers and least terns nest in colonies and rely on the group to protect them from people, crows and laughing gulls, she said.
“Skimmers gather near the water to cool off during the heat of the summer. Imagine wearing a black coat as you sit on the sand in the middle of July,” Doddridge said.
The 2022 Florida Shorebird Alliance Monitoring Data at Work annual report is now available at flshorebirdalliance.org. The report highlights trends and strategies to improve nest- ing outcomes and reduce human disturbance.
“Ever-increasing human populations mean continuing challenges in reducing human disturbance, managing predation and regulating coastal development that impacts beach-nesting birds,” according to the FSA report.
Posting signs and roping off areas around nesting habitat are tools routinely used by FSA partners. Posted Designated Critical Wildlife Area signs are disturbance reduction tools for birds.
FWC law enforcement patrol efforts have grown from 629 patrols in 2018 to up to 1,500 proactive patrols statewide each year. Law enforcement is an important aspect of species protection, according to the FSA site.
In another method of monitoring the local bird population, for the past 123 years, from Dec. 15 through Jan. 5, the Audubon Christ- mas Bird Count has been conducted.
“Teams of people count individual birds to establish a snapshot of what is happening within their circle. A circle is a 15-mile diameter circle,” Doddridge said. “There are two circles that cover Manatee County. I am the compiler for the Bradenton Circle which goes only as far as the Intracoastal (Waterway). AMI is covered by the Fort DeSoto circle, with only the northern end of AMI (north of Anna Maria Elementary) covered in the circle.”
