
We appreciate the beautiful sight of hundreds of
birds taking wing as we walk a beach or cruise by an island in our
boat or personal watercraft. But repeated disturbances
inadvertently threaten the survival of our feathered
friends.
Here' s why:
The Sandpipers

various shorebirds
|
During the spring and fall migrations, millions of
shorebirds make their way to Florida. A number of these birds stop
at points along our coastline and remain throughout the winter.
Many more simply stop over for some food and a brief rest before
continuing their travels.
These birds may have flown hundreds of miles before
reaching Florida. Exhausted and hungry, they land on our shores
pushed to the very limit of their physical abilities. The simple
act of flushing them off their feeding and resting grounds burns up
their reserves of energy. Weakened and vulnerable shorebirds with a
reduced ability to feed may not complete their journey.
Herons, Egrets, and their Kin

great blue herons and chick
|
Of the 14 kinds of water birds (like herons, egrets
and pelicans) in Florida, only 4 are
flourishing. Most of these "colonial" birds nest in large,
multi-species groups. When wading birds are frightened off their
nests, they may knock their eggs or young out of the nest or leave
them exposed to temperature extremes and predators. If disturbed
frequently, adults will abandon their nests altogether and often
times the entire nesting colony may fail.
Beach-nesting Birds

black skimmers
|
Many species of Florida' s water birds nest right
on the beach. The eggs and young are exposed and vulnerable. This
group of ground-nesting birds includes gulls, terns, black skimmers, plovers,
willets and oystercatchers. They have
adapted to the rugged coastal environment of temperature extremes,
hurricanes, high winds and coastal flooding. Barrier islands and
sandbars are favored nesting sites because they afford protection
from land predators; human disturbance and domestic animals are
another matter.

tern and chick
|
Many places that once were isolated are now teeming
with boat and beach enthusiasts (and their pets). When birds are
flushed off their nests, eggs and young are exposed to the intense
sun, cold of night, aerial predators like crows and gulls, or
marauding dogs. On a hot summer afternoon, temperatures at ground
level can rise to well over 100 degrees, and unprotected eggs of
beach-nesting birds are virtually invisible on the ground and young
chicks freeze in fear in a prone position when danger approaches;
it' s easy for unknowing pedestrians to crush the eggs or kill
young birds accidentally.
How You Can Help
When enjoying the water, remember that while you
are there to recreate, other creatures' survival may depend on your
behavior. Due to the high speed, maneuverability, sound, and
ability to navigate in shallow waters, personal watercrafts have an
especially disrupting effect on many species of wildlife. Please
follow these simple rules to minimize impacts on wildlife:
1. When you see a concentration of birds, either on
the shore or in the trees, PLEASE, keep your
distance. A good "rule of thumb" is to stay at least 500
feet away. Minimizing disturbance to concentrations of birds is the
key to conserving them.
2. PLEASE do not intentionally force birds
to fly. If you see birds on a beach, island, or sandbar,
walk or steer around them. Again, avoiding disturbance to them is
the best approach.
3. PLEASE avoid running your boat or
personal watercraft close to shore, except to idle to or
from a destination point. Because habitat destruction has resulted
in an ever-decreasing amount of shoreline available to wildlife,
almost all mangrove islands, beaches, mud flats, and other shallow
water and shoreline habitats are important to feeding, resting and
nesting birds.
4. Birds
like herons, egrets and pelicans generally nest
in the same places from year to year. Be on the lookout for large
concentrations of birds (especially large white birds) in trees
growing in the water or on islands, especially during the spring or
summer months. Get to know where nesting colonies are located in
your area. PLEASE avoid these colonies of birds during the
nesting season.
5. PLEASE keep pets leashed when
visiting the shore and never approach a bird colony accompanied by
your dog. One loose dog can destroy a colony of ground-nesting
birds in a matter of minutes.
6. PLEASE spread the word. If you
see others disturbing wildlife, politely let them know about the
effects of their actions. Many people do not realize that their
actions may be harmful to wildlife. If you see someone
intentionally and maliciously disturbing a bird colony, contact the
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 1-888-404-FWCC
(3922)
7. PLEASE support posting efforts.
Some places are posted with sign warning that the area supports a
bird colony and advising people to avoid that area during the
nesting season. Honor these closed areas and encourage others to do
the same.