Sarasota Audubon Society is Ramping Up Efforts to Save Beach Nesting Birds

Every year threatened and endangered beach nesting birds try to raise their chicks on Sarasota County beaches. Facing a number of threats from disturbance of nest sites by humans, predation by crows, dogs, cats and raccoons, the situation can be grim.

You may have noticed the buffered zones on Siesta and North and South Lido. This year, we have a new strategy: Sarasota Audubon Society is holding pre-posting parties, and everyone is invited. The group is buffering historical nesting sites in order to create a "safe zone" for birds to set up their nests. The public is invited to help or just come to watch and learn.

Last year on Siesta Key beach, 36 eggs hatched from eight Snowy Plover nests. Only two chicks survived one night on the beach, and the rest did not.

This year can be different with your help.

Here are some key dates for you and anyone interested in the effort:

• Informative presentation about beach nesting birds. Concession area on Siesta Key Public Beach on Wednesday, March 10 at 9 am. 
• Pre-posting parties. Siesta Key on Friday, March 12 at 10 am at Access 7, and Lido Beach on Friday March, 26; meet at the corner of Ben Franklin and Ringling at 10 am.  
• Chick Check walks on Lido Key. March 20, April 17, May 21 at 8 am. Learn how to identify our beach nesters and to spot chicks.

At the pre-posting parties, Audubon will be installing stakes every 20 feet or so around a designated site, attaching string, colored tape and information signs. The Chick Check 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.

For more information about the birds that share our beaches and how you can help, contact Jeanne Dubi at (941) 355-1709.