ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring and Audubon Florida remind beachgoers to avoid disturbing nesting shorebirds with fireworks.
Setting off fireworks on AMI beaches is illegal, according to local law enforcement officials.
Turtle Watch has been monitoring a colony of least terns in Bradenton Beach since early May. The colony has grown to 45 birds and 22 nests, six of which are expected to hatch shortly. Six chicks already have hatched, ranging in age from one to two weeks.
“The adults are highly agitated by people coming too close to the buffer area, dogs on the beach and fireworks,” according to an email from Turtle Watch Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella. “Fireworks have been known to cause an entire colony of nesting birds to abandon their eggs and chicks.”
Local law prohibits dogs on AMI beaches.
The least tern chicks are using both washed-up seaweed and chick huts as shelter. The chick huts also protect them from predators such as fish crows and laughing gulls. Fish crow effigies have been placed to reduce predation from the crows.
“Chick Crossing” signs have been placed around the colony and beachgoers are asked to watch for chicks outside the posted area. Do not pick them up and move them. Allow the least tern adults to call the chicks back into the enclosure.
Volunteer bird stewards will be at the colony throughout the holiday weekend to educate the public and respond to questions.
According to a press release from Audubon Florida, nesting shorebirds seen on Anna Maria Island beaches can include least terns, black skimmers, Wilson’s plovers, snowy plovers and American oystercatchers.
“Debris left from the fireworks litter on beaches and in near-shore waters and can be easily mistaken for food by sea turtles and other marine animals. Chicks nibble on plastic refuse, even ingesting some of the smallest pieces,” according to Audubon.
Audubon recommends that people attend a municipal fireworks show versus deploying store-bought fireworks on the beach.
“Nesting birds face threats from vehicular traffic, kites, off-leash dogs, getting stepped on and firework displays on crowded beaches. These disturbances can cause adult birds to abandon their nests or chicks, which can ultimately lead to chicks starving, getting eaten by a predator or overheating in the sun,” according to Audubon.
