Fort DeSoto’s Outback Key experienced a second rogue wave in early May, but the plucky Least Terns seem determined to maintain a successful colony, with 34 nests until the 10th of May, according to environmentalist and longtime Florida Shorebird Alliance volunteer Lorraine Margeson. This number fell to 24 after a Yellow-crowned Night Heron took advantage of an easy meal, though this predator subsequently suffered quite a beating from the Least Terns’ defensive mobbing. Circling gulls and crows have also been kept at bay by the cooperative practices of these colonial nesters.
If all of this were not enough, over the new moon weekend of May 15-17, Ft DeSoto experienced king tides, brought about by the combined gravitational pulls of the Earth, moon, and sun in alignment while the moon is at its perigee, closest to Earth. The resulting elevated coastal water levels washed away all but 5 of the Least Tern nests. Within days, pairs got busy courting, mating, and scraping, and new nests appeared daily. The first chick just arrived, May 31st! Stay tuned!

Multiple solitary-nesting Wilson’s Plover pairs have also chosen this area to breed. Two chicks hatched in early May, two more by mid-May, and an additional single chick on May 21st. There are at least two more active nests at Outback Key, and East Beach’s Wilson’s Plover pair produced 2 eggs and 2 chicks, 1 of which survived.

Beloved American Oystercatchers AE and Archie did not return to Outback Key after losing their nest to the rogue wave. Instead, they chose another favored locale, Shell Key, to create a new nest, and they are now incubating three eggs! There is another American Oystercatcher nest in the North Beach Sanctuary and several potential Oystercatcher pairs frequenting the Ft DeSoto beaches.
Photos|Wilson’s Plover chick, Least Tern with chick|Lorraine Margeson

Black Skimmer colonies coalesced on St Pete Beach and Redington Shores during late April and egg-laying began during the first week of May. Mid-Pinellas Anchor Steward Amanda Janulionis reported 27 active nests at St Pete Beach and 10 at Redington Shores on May 14th. However, as if April’s attempted sabotage by a mothball dump on St Pete Beach were not enough, there has been evidence of human encroachment into the St Pete Beach colony, causing the abandonment of one nest and the loss of at least one egg.
Placement of an additional camera was planned in order to enhance monitoring. The use of “crow effigies” is also being implemented in response to recent harassment of the colony by Fish Crows.
By May 24th, 176 active nests were observed by veteran Black Skimmer scholar Beth Forys. The first chick hatched on May 25th at Redington Shores and on May 28 at St Pete Beach. Photo | Donna Sperber

Threatened shorebirds, including American Oystercatchers and Least Terns, nest on gravel rooftops as well as on the beaches. These rooftop Oystercatcher chicks were 2 weeks old as of Mother’s Day weekend.
Photo|Abby McKay, Audubon Florida

Volunteers will be needed throughout the summer to help all of these threatened birds safeguard their eggs and nurture their newly-hatched young through fledging and beyond. Stewarding is fun, interesting, and very rewarding!
Become a Beach Steward!

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Student Scientists

Remember Rowan Byrne, the USF student who, for his senior honors thesis project, analyzed the effects of local beach renourishment on the quality of sand, the invertebrates it supports, and subsequent foraging outcomes for Sanderlings? (Wingspan May 2026). Here he is, out at the St Pete Beach Black Skimmer colony, stewarding and collecting data for his Gabe Vargo Grant research on the comparative incubating behaviors of male versus female Skimmers. He and supervisor Beth Forys have installed two motion-triggered cameras to monitor night-time intrusions and possibly provide additional information for the study.

Gale Raichart is also out on the beaches, investigating kleptoparasitic behavior, also known as piracy, by Laughing Gulls on Black Skimmers. This is particularly problematic when adults are bringing fish back to the colony to feed their chicks. Gale’s research is investigating the influence of chick age on frequency of kleptoparasitism and the success rate of piracy attempts by the gulls.
Skimmer photo|Karen Catbird

Thank you to everyone who has donated to St. Pete Audubon or is a member. You are making this stewardship and research possible!

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Field Trips

Boyd Hill First Saturday Bird Walks

June
Leader: Peter Plage

Saturday, June 6, 2026

July
Leader: JoAnna Clayton

Saturday, July 4, 2026

August
Co-leaders:
Paul Waton, Susan Ladwig, & Donna Sperber

Saturday, August 1, 2026

8AM-10AM

Location
Boyd Hill Nature Preserve
1101 Country Club Way S
St Petersburg, FL 33705

Meet in front of the Nature Center at 7:45AM; walk will start at 8:00AM.
Walk is on dirt trails and boardwalks.
What to Bring: Hat, binoculars, insect repellant, sunscreen, water
Public Restrooms: Located in the Nature Center

If you are a bird enthusiast interested in helping to lead a Boyd Hill walk, please contact Paul Waton pvwaton@gmail.com

An encouraging note to all potential leaders:

Audubon Spring, 2025: You Have What It Takes To Lead Bird Outings

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Sunset Boat Trip | Coffee Pot Bayou Bird Island

Saturday, July 18, 2026
6:30-8:00 PM

Location: The trip will depart from the St. Pete Pier via the Tampa Bay Watch’s vessel Discovery.

The cost is $30/person. Proceeds will benefit Tampa and St Pete Audubon Societies (based on the number of passengers from each area).

Boat space is limited; reserve now! Contact Ann Paul annpaul26@gmail.com

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Here is Pete Plage, who, along with Paul Waton, investigated Boyd Hill’s many wooded trails with a mixed band from beginner birders to pros. Some highlights of the May 2nd walk included a pair of Yellow-billed Cuckoos, Magnificent Frigatebirds, Purple Martins, Downy Woodpecker, Royal Terns, Green Herons, Northern Parula, and a resident raccoon.

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Pete Plage led a marathon 3-hour field trip at Ft DeSoto on Tuesday, May 5th, covering areas around Bay Pier, East Beach, and the fort. The Nandays were particularly entertaining as they investigated cavities in snags. An interesting group of three Loggerhead Shrikes appeared to be building a nest amongst dead twigs, and a pair of Gray Kingbirds, flycatchers known to nest in the park, perched together briefly. Migrant highlights were Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and a pair of Tennessee Warblers, one of which dropped to the ground for a few moments, allowing for a good view. We saw close to 30 species, including the Groove-Billed and Smooth-Billed Anis, Bald Eagles, male and female Indigo Buntings, Royal Terns, and a Northern Cardinal whose song was as striking as his brilliant color.

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Purple Martin enthusiast Mark Frohman, along with Pete Plage, Jim Bays, and Abby McKay, have been monitoring local Purple Martins in their man-made nesting abodes at Crescent Lake, Lake Maggiore, and Mirror Lake. At Crescent Lake, as of the end of May, about 46 fledglings, which are similar in appearance to adult females, are now receiving flying and hunting lessons from their parents. Throughout the summer, Purple Martin families join together in large staging roosts to feed and socialize before their long migratory journey to South America, where they over-winter through at least January of the following year.
Learn more!| Purple Martin Conservation Association
Chick photos | Abby McKay

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The vision of benefactor Dr. Harold Albers, Teacher Ecology Camp is a science camp for educators which combines presentations from the local scientific community with practical in-the-field experience. Teacher Ecology Camp is presented at no charge to educators in collaboration with Sensing Nature biologists & environmental educators, Jeanne Murphy and Brian Lane.
**Register here**
Learn more about Dr Harold Albers

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