Protecting Beach-nesting

Birds in Louisiana

VOLUNTEER TRAINING

How Many Bird Species in Louisiana?

a. 120 b. 280 c. 480

Year-round Residents

Nearctic-Neotropic Migrants

John Hartgerink

Winter Hummingbirds of Louisiana

Eric Liffmann

W. Dave Patton

Secretive Marshbirds

Cyndi Sellers

Rarities and Vagrants

Important Bird Areas of Louisiana

• In the late 19th century, Great Egrets

(Ardea alba) were hunted to near-

extinction for their plumes

• Bird watchers chose the species as a

symbol of the conservation movement

• The Great Egret is a sketch from

renowned bird artist David Sibley

100+ Years of Bird Conservation

Guy Bradley, 1870 - 1905

Terminology

• Wading birds

• Sea birds

• Shore birds

• Beach-nesting birds

• Colonial nesting versus solitary nesting

Wading Birds: Herons, Egrets, Ibis, Spoonbills

Gulf Wading Bird Rookeries

Recently surveyed and active

Not recently surveyed (pre-2008) or recently surveyed and inactive

Sea Birds: Terns, Gulls, Pelicans, Pelagic Species

Recently surveyed and active

Not recently surveyed (pre-2008) or recently surveyed and inactive

Gulf Seabird Colonies

Recently surveyed and active

David J. Ringer/Audubon

Shore Birds: Plovers and Sandpipers

size and shape

behavior

plumage coloration / pattern

Shorebird Identification

habitat seasonality

Plovers versus Sandpipers

• Big-eyed • Short and squat billed • No halex (rear toe) • Pensive, thoughtful

• Smaller-eyed • Thin and long billed • Halex (usually) • Eager, fervent

Red Knot 19,000 mile round-trip each year

Tom Benson/Flickr Creative Commons

50,000 birds in 1985 Today: ~10,000 birds

Declining

Increasing

Stable or unknown

Possibly Extinct

Don Bleitz, Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology 52 species of sandpipers, plovers, and allies breed or winter in North America

Which species is increasing?

Beach-nesting Birds: Terns, Skimmers, Gulls, and Plovers

Colonial Nesting (Wading Birds & Sea Birds)

Solitary Nesting (Shore Birds)

Mark Vance/Flickr Creative Commons

Why different strategies?

• Safety in numbers • “Dilution” effect • Food resources away

from the beach

• Cryptic/camoflauge • Needle in a haystack • Food resources right

there on the beach

Two Important Species

Least Tern (colonial seabird)

Wilson’s Plover (solitary shorebird)

Linda Martino

Nesting Season: late March - August

From egg to flight takes 7-8 weeks.

Nests are not always laid at the same and if 1st attempt fails, will try again and again.

David Maher

Built for Camouflage

Predators

Defense “Emergency” Behaviors

MOBBING “BROKEN-WING” http://rollingharbour.com/

Becky Doane

http://newsdaytonabeach.com/

Nest Failures

Coyotes tracks (right) at a depredated Least Tern nest (left)

Ghost crab hole (left) and a depredated Least Tern chick

humans

Nbcnews.com

Chandeleurs before and after Hurricane Katrina in 2005

Wine Island 2007

Wine Island 2012

Protect Nesting Areas Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Environmental Outreach & Education

Tabling at Festivals and Rodeos

How You Can Help

• Keep your distance and obey signs for sensitive nesting areas

• Avoid driving on beaches

• Keep pets on a leash

• Don’t feed wildlife or leave trash

• Dispose of fishing line properly

• Spread the word!

• Volunteer!

What Our Volunteers Do Conduct shorebird surveys Outreach and Education

Gerry Ellis

Mobilize Equipment

Coastal Stewardship 101

• Inform beachgoers – These birds lay their eggs in the sand and are hard

to see

– Disturbing these nesting birds can cause failure

– When the birds dive at you or if see one that looks injured, this means you are too close to their nest or young

– These birds are protected by federal laws, like the Migratory Bird Treaty Act

– Here, I can show you one of the nesting birds if you’d like!

Coastal Stewardship 101

• Answer questions

– Why is this area posted and off-limits to people?

– How long is the nesting season?

– Why should I keep my dog on a leash?

– How can I get involved?

Coastal Stewardship 101

• We are not enforcement

Matthew Paulson

Beach-nesting Bird Protection

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Funding provided by:

Your support is greatly appreciated!

The birds thank you!

Partners