IF YOU LOVE THE BEACH! VOLUNTEER BIRD STEWARDS NEEDED Once again, beach nesting birds and rooftop colonies will need your help from Memorial Day thru Labor Day weekends only. Beach bird nesting season is beginning on local beaches. Volunteers are needed for a few hours each weekend from Memorial Day through Labor Day at Ft Desoto, Indian Shores, Shell Key and Egmont Key. If you would like to help the birds have a successful nesting season, please join us in making a difference this year. We provide on-site training and the anchor steward at each site has umbrellas, chairs, and information. If you would like to learn more, please contact Saskia Janes at bnb@stpeteaudubon.org.
For Summer 2013, we will need Bird Stewards to sit near beach nesting bird colonies especially on the busy holiday weekends this summer. What a better way to spend a day at the beach while helping protect our feathered friends as they raise their chicks? It's not difficult and no experience is needed. We'll transport you to any of the islands if they're not accessible by car. We'll train you on what to say to beach visitors to educate them on the nearby nesting birds and why it's important to not disturb them and send you out with experienced stewards. We have law enforcement personnel on call if there are any problems.  Chick Checkers visit rooftops where our Least Terns and Black Skimmers nested. They check for chicks that fall off the roof. It's a great feeling to rescue a chick from certain death on the ground and place it back on the rooftop using one of our "Chick-a-booms". Chicks that are injured in a fall go to rehab center. If you can commit to one time a week or a few times a week to visit a site near your home, please join us. Chicks will start hatching late May and continue through mid July. Locations vary so please contact us to for locations close to you. Check out Chick Flicks for life in a Rooftop Colony.  If interested, visit Visit Bird Stewards on Facebook. A place for bird stewards to share photos and experiences! To schedule or change your volunteer time, you can contact Saskia at bnb@stpeteaudubon.org. Memorial Day thru Labor Day weekends only.
For additional information about Bird Steward Programs around the state please visit the Florida Shorebird Alliance Thanks to Saskia Janes for coordinating our bird stewarding efforts and for producing our end of season report! Rooftop Nesting Birds: Least Terns, Black Skimmers & Oystercatchers
Source: Beth Forys, Eckerd College Professor Least Terns produced chicks on ten rooftops out of 138 roofs checked. Rooftops locations were located throughout Pinellas County. Photo by Kim Kandz 
Bird Stewards featured in Bay SoundingsBirds and Rooftop Stewards are featured in the summer issue of Bay Soundings.  |
Summer 2013: Bird Stewards & Rooftop Chick Checkers Needed |