Nesting Season for Snowy Plovers on Sanibel: Please Watch your step!

During spring and summer on Sanibel and other Florida beaches, shorebirds build nests out of sand and shells and hatch chicks that can barely be seen. So well-camouflaged are the nests, eggs and chicks of shorebirds like the snowy plover that they can easily be stepped on or missed unless people know to watch out for them.

People at the beach, including those paddling canoes, kayaks and boards along the shore, can help beach-nesting shorebirds by following basic guidelines.  The Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) offers this advice to Sanibel visitors and residents: 

• Honor the leash law- An unleashed dog can kill an adult bird or chick or trample a nest.
• Respect marked nesting areas- Too much human disturbance can cause birds to abandon their nest. It’s important to remain outside of the staked area.
• Avoid flying kites near nesting areas- Kites are viewed as predators. They can cause a bird to abandon its nest.
• Never chase birds on the beach- Shorebirds use the beach to nest, rest, and feed. Forcing them to fly interferes with all of these activities.
• Fill in holes- Holes on the beach can trap chicks that cannot fly. If trapped, chicks can die from predators or exposure.

Further suggestions were made by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)  reminding beachgoers to be on the lookout and avoid disturbing bird nurseries on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of Florida. “By taking a few simple steps, people can enjoy the beach without disturbing beach-nesting shorebirds and their chicks, which increases the birds’ chances of survival,” said Nancy Douglass, who works on shorebird conservation at the FWC.

“While the populations of beach-nesting birds are declining, people’s willingness to protect shorebirds and their chicks can make a difference.  Food scraps attract predators such as raccoons and crows.  Litter on beaches can entangle birds and and other wild life."

Sounds like there are plenty of things we can do or not do to help the Snowy Plovers!