Become a Chick Checker for Our Critical Beach Monitoring Program

Each year, dedicated volunteers jump through hoops trying to help our beach nesting birds survive. The picture is grim. Last year on Siesta Key beach, 36 eggs hatched from 8 Snowy Plover nests; two chicks survived one night, and the rest did not due to predation from crows, dogs, cats, raccoons, and human disturbance of nest sites.


You may have noticed the buffered zones on Siesta and North and South Lido. This year, we have a new strategy: we are going to have pre-posting parties—everyone invited. This means we will buffer historical nesting sites in order to create a “safe zone” for birds to set up their nests. Come help us or just watch and learn.

When are the parties? On Siesta Key on Friday, March 12 at 10 am at Access 7. On Lido on Friday March, 26, meet at the corner of Ben Franklin and Ringling at 10 am. What will we do? We’ll install stakes every 20 feet or so around a designated site, attach string, colored tape and information signs.

Prior to parties, I will be giving a presentation about our beach nesters at Beach University in the concession area on Siesta Key (public beach) on March 10 at 9 am. All are welcome. In addition, Sarasota Audubon is leading three Chick Check walks on Lido Key: March 20, April 17 and May 21. These walks are designed to look for courtship and nesting activities and to monitor the progress of Snowy Plovers, Least Terns, and Black Skimmers as they go through their breeding cycles. Meeting place is the parking area at the corner of Ben Franklin and Ringling on Lido Key at 8 am.

I hope you can join us to learn about the birds that allow us to share their beaches. For more information, call 355-1709.

Jeanne Dubi, President, Sarasota Audubon Society