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2007 Beach-nesting Bird Nesting Season |
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The 2007 nesting season was an exciting one! Twenty three rooftops supported Least Tern colonies and fledged young. Volunteers worked hard to make sure any chick that fell off a roof got a round-trip ticket back. This year we had more colonies on larger buildings such as grocery stores, and we also noted that the local avian predators are becoming more aware that the terns are on the rooftops. There were fewer Black Skimmers on the rooftops this year (approximately four occupied rooftops), but more American Oystercatchers nested on rooftops (six nests).
Volunteers walked all of the beaches three times in Pinellas County and some in Sarasota and Manatee counties. In addition, volunteers spent hours monitoring and protecting ground colonies. Probably the most exciting successes of the year were the municipal beach colonies of Black Skimmers. A colony on Belleair Beach had over 250 nests and fledged many young. A small colony on Indian Shores had only about 20 nests but also fledged young. In addition, Black Skimmers did well on Egmont Key where a whopping 550 nests were recorded.
There were seven ground-nesting colonies of Least Terns, and colonies at Anclote Bar and Egmont both did fairly well, although they were relatively small. On all of our beaches, a total of 18 American Oystercatcher nests were recorded and eight of those produced chicks. Seven Snowy Plover nests were seen and eight chicks were recorded.
Twenty Wilson’s Plover nests were seen and these produced 23 juveniles. Overall, most of the nesting was on the Northern Islands and Egmont Key, but some nests were seen elsewhere. Pre-posting efforts at both areas and amazing rangers/state & federal biologists produced high nesting success.
Big thanks to all of you who helped monitor, protect and educate! I’m looking forward to next year.
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Protecting the Beach Nesting Colonies on July 4 |
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While the public is watching the fireworks on July 4th, who is watching over the beach nesting bird colonies? Volunteers known as Bird Stewards will be watching the colonies at various locations throughout Pinellas county. 
This weekend is critical for nesting birds and their hatchlings and chicks at Belleair Beach, Indian Shores, Ft. Desoto, and Egmont Key.
Channel 10 (WTSP-TV) featured a story about the Bird Stewards on Saturday, June 30th. Angie Atalla interviewed two bird steward volunteers, Dave and Kim Kandz, and both print and video versions can be found on their web page Sharing the Beach with Birds. Select "Video Story" to view the video version.
If you would like to become a Bird Steward contact Barb Howard at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
or call 727 343-1272.
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Thanks to Our BNB Business Sponsors |
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We are extremely grateful to TECO Energy and Seminole
Electric Cooperative, Inc., Business Sponsors of our Beach
Nesting Bird program.
Business Sponsorship funds
enable the Beach Nesting Bird program to expand its educational
activities, reprint brochures and provide more on-site
protection for the bird colonies during
nesting season.
Thanks to these businesses for providing generous financial support to the Beach Nesting Bird program!
How can I become a Sponsor?
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1st Rooftop Chick Corral In Pinellas |
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Mix a few Audubon volunteers, cooperation from the Madeira Beach Masonic Lodge, a very nice neighbor and you get Pinellas's first rooftop Chick Corral. Losing valuable beach nesting habitat to human disturbance, Least Terns have moved to gravel rootops to raise their young. Unfortunately many chicks fall to their death from tall buildings.
Several Florida panhandle rooftops have been succesfully improved by the addition of a temporary fence around the roof perimeter. The Masonic Lodge gave the go-ahead for this first installation in Pinellas.
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Conservation 
