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Tag: Anna Maria Island shorebirds

Least tern chicks fitted with tracking bands

Least tern chicks fitted with tracking bands

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Birds, Outdoors.

BRADENTON BEACH – Four least tern chicks in a local nesting colony have been outfitted with color-coded bands to help researchers study their migration patterns along with population and breeding success.

On July 15, Dr. Elizabeth Forys of Eckerd College fitted the four chicks with tracking bands under her master band permit #25258 and additional state permits. The chicks ranged in age from three to four weeks and had not yet begun to fly.

During the banding process, each bird was weighed, the length of their bill and wing were measured, and all data recorded in a state and federal database. The tracking bands include a silver, pre-stamped federal band along with a white band on the left leg and two colored bands on the left leg which are specific to the individual bird.

The chicks are identified as follows: Chick 11A – Blue-Blue/White Silver; Chick 11B – Blue-Red/White Silver; Chick 12 “Marilyn” – Blue-Green/White Silver and Chick 15 “StumbleBum” – Blue-Orange/White Silver

If you see a banded bird, report it to reportband.gov, noting

• Date, time and location;

• Species;

• Which leg or legs have bands;

• Color and order of bands; and

• Whether the band has an alphanumeric code, and, if so, the code.

Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring first reported the colony of least terns the week of May 6. Since then, the colony has grown to 45 birds. Of the 22 nests, there are still two birds sitting on eggs which are expected to hatch by the end of July.

First least tern chick takes flight

First least tern chick takes flight

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Birds, Outdoors.

BRADENTON BEACH – At a colony of 45 least terns, eight chicks vary in ages from one to four weeks and the oldest chicks are gaining their flight feathers and practicing flying.

On July 8, shorebird monitor Kathy Doddridge witnessed the first chick taking several solo flights over the Gulf of Mexico.

According to a release from Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, the remaining chicks are extremely mobile and can be seen using the “Chick Crossing” signs as shade.

“Their tiny footprints indicate they are moving outside the enclosure and even down to the water line,” according to the release. “Beachgoers are asked to watch for chicks that may decide to explore 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.”

The colony has 22 nests and three birds are sitting on eggs. Those eggs are expected to hatch by the end of July.

Chicks are using both washed-up seaweed and chick huts as shelter. The chick huts also protect the chicks from predators such as fish crows and laughing gulls. With assistance from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), fish crow effigies were installed inside the enclosure to deter crows from stealing eggs from the remaining nests.

Members of Turtle Watch and the Manatee County Audubon Society volunteered as beach stewards over the Fourth of July holiday weekend. They educated hundreds of visitors and residents about the importance of protecting these threatened shorebirds.

Least tern chicks hatch in Bradenton Beach

Least tern chicks hatch in Bradenton Beach

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Birds, Outdoors.

BRADENTON BEACH – Since a colony of least terns began nesting the week of May 6, their numbers have grown to include 45 birds, with 20 of them sitting on eggs, along with five new hatchlings.

Rainfall during the week of June 10 raised concerns about the colony’s survival. At that time many of the eggs had been incubating for more than 25 days and were expected to be close to hatching.

Not only did the colony survive the storms, but throughout the weekend five chicks could be seen peering out from under their parents, according to Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella.

Least tern chicks hatch in Bradenton Beach
A least tern chick is learning to stand. – Submitted | Kathy Doddridge

“Least tern chicks are highly mobile within a day of hatching. The adults can be seen using fish to coax the chicks to stand, open their bills and experience a fish in their mouth,” Mazzarella said in a press release. “At two days the adults lead the chicks around the colony to strengthen their legs and may leave the chicks unattended.”

Eventually, the chicks will use chick huts, upside-down V-shaped shade structures, as shelter, allowing the adults to forage offshore and feed fish to the chicks. The chick huts protect the chicks from predators such as fish crows and laughing gulls.

“Chick Crossing” signs have been placed at the north and south ends of the colony. In addition, chick fencing has been placed to deter chicks from going into the beach access area.

Beachgoers are asked to watch for chicks that may decide to explore outside the posted area and allow the least tern adults to call the chicks back into the enclosure.

Mazzarella offered the following tips to keep the colony safe:

• Keep your distance. If birds become agitated or leave their nests you are too close. A general rule is to stay at least 300 feet away from a nest.

• Respect posted areas. Avoid posted nests and resting areas and use designated walkways.

• Never intentionally force birds to fly. When birds are chased or disturbed, they use energy they need to reserve for nesting and migration.

• Pets are not allowed on AMI beaches. Keep cats indoors.

• Keep the beach clean and do not feed wildlife. Food scraps attract predators such as raccoons and crows to the beaches. Litter on beaches can entangle birds.

• Spread the word. If you see people disturbing nesting birds, gently remind them how their actions may hurt birds’ survival. If they continue to disturb nesting birds, please call and report their activities to FWC’s Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).

For more information or ways to help protect nesting shorebirds and seabirds, visit islandturtlewatch.com.

Loggerhead, least tern nests weather heavy rains

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Birds, Outdoors.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Both loggerhead sea turtle and least tern nests fared well during last week’s heavy rains, according to Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring.

“The storm was pretty harsh but most of our sea turtle nests survived and are still incubating for a good hatch,” according to a June 14 email from Turtle Watch.

Turtle eggs in nests that are washed over by the Gulf of Mexico for long periods can drown.

Loggerhead sea turtles are a federally threatened species. Least terns are a threatened species in Florida.

A colony of nesting least terns on Bradenton Beach is thriving, with the first chick hatching on June 14.

Turtle Watch officials offer the following reminders to beachgoers:

• Keep your distance. If birds become agitated or leave their nests, you are too close. A general rule is to stay at least 300 feet away from a nest. When birds are chased or disturbed they use energy they need to nest and care for their young.

• Respect and avoid posted areas.

• Pets are not allowed on Anna Maria Island beaches.

• Keep the beach clean and do not feed wildlife as food scraps attract predators such as raccoons and crows.

• If you see people disturbing nesting birds, gently remind them how their actions may hurt birds’ survival. If they continue to disturb nesting birds, please call and report their activities to FWC’s Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).

Season’s first shorebird nest discovered

Season’s first shorebird nest discovered

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Birds, Featured, Outdoors.

BRADENTON BEACH – The first shorebird nests this year on Anna Maria Island have been spotted and marked by Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring volunteers.

A colony of least terns began nesting the week of May 6 at an undisclosed location in Bradenton Beach. A state-designated threatened species, least terns last nested on Anna Maria Island in 2021.

As of May 9, there were four nests and 10 individual birds, according to Turtle Watch volunteer Kathy Doddridge. When she first came across the nesting birds, there were only two nests.

Once eggs were located, volunteers marked off the area to protect the nests from human and vehicle interaction.

Season’s first shorebird nest discovered
Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring volunteers have marked off a least tern nesting site in Bradenton Beach. – Submitted | Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring

According to Turtle Watch, previous colonies failed due to the presence of cats and crows, both predators of least terns. Keeping cats indoors and covering garbage to keep away crows are important for keeping the birds safe.

Least tern eggs take about 21 days to hatch. Chicks will then look for places to hide so chick huts have been placed within the perimeter of the marked area to provide shelter and shade. Least terns fly 19-20 days after hatching.

Least terns are protected by both state and federal laws.

Turtle Watch asks beachgoers to abide by the following:

• Keep your distance. If birds become agitated or leave their nests, you are too close. A general rule is to stay at least 300 feet away from a nest.

• Respect posted areas. Avoid posted nesting and resting areas and use designated walkways.

• Teach children to refrain from intentionally forcing birds to fly. When birds are chased or disturbed, they use energy they need to reserve for nesting and migration.

• Pets are not allowed on AMI beaches. Keep dogs and cats off the beach, as even their scent can frighten birds off nests.

• Keep the beach clean and do not feed wildlife. Food scraps attract predators such as raccoons and crows to the beaches. Litter on beaches can entangle birds.

Please, don’t feed shorebirds

Please, don’t feed shorebirds

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Birds, Featured, Outdoors.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Humans disturbing birds is one of the key hazards to threatened shorebird and seabird populations, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Florida Shorebird Alliance (FSA).

When attempting to nest and raise chicks on local beaches, breeding birds spend energy avoiding human threats, leaving chicks and eggs vulnerable to the elements and predators, according to the FSA’s annual report.

“Research has demonstrated that chronic disturbance from human activities at a site can negatively affect reproductive outcomes, local abundance, and ultimately statewide populations,” according to the FSA report. Kathy Doddridge, a volunteer with Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, offered some tips on reducing human interaction and dis- ruption to the local shorebird population.

“Walk around bird colonies so as not to disturb them, prevent children (and adults) from running through a resting colony in order to get that perfect selfie or video,” she said. “Feeding gulls bread is equivalent to feeding your children styrofoam peanuts. When the gulls become reliant on beach scraps, they are more inclined to stay around and then prey on chicks and eggs. One of the primary predators of nesting birds is the local cat population. Keep your cats inside and your dogs off the beach.” Manatee County law prohibits dogs on beaches.

FSA, a statewide network of local partnerships committed to advancing shorebird and seabird conservation in Florida, focuses on beach-nesting birds that are state-listed as threatened – the American oystercatcher, black skimmer, least tern and snowy plover. The Wilson’s plover is listed as a species of greatest conservation need.

Doddridge conducts a twice-monthly shorebird survey of Anna Maria Island and last week said she saw thousands of laughing gulls as well as migrating red knots, American oystercatchers, ring-billed and lesser black-backed gulls and smaller sandpipers.

“This past Sunday it was cold, windy and far fewer numbers of birds. So cold fronts play a big part in what we see on the beach,” she said. “In the summer months, we have black skimmers, least terns and American oystercatchers frequent the Island. This past year we did not have any nesting seabirds or shore- birds. However, other barrier islands had very large colonies. Gulls nest on Egmont Key, Passage Key and the spoil islands of Hillsborough Bay. Why do they prefer one area over another? People and predators.”

Gulls, terns, oystercatchers, skimmers and sandpipers use AMI beaches to rest during peak migration periods. Skimmers and least terns nest in colonies and rely on the group to protect them from people, crows and laughing gulls, she said.

“Skimmers gather near the water to cool off during the heat of the summer. Imagine wearing a black coat as you sit on the sand in the middle of July,” Doddridge said.

The 2022 Florida Shorebird Alliance Monitoring Data at Work annual report is now available at flshorebirdalliance.org. The report highlights trends and strategies to improve nest- ing outcomes and reduce human disturbance.

“Ever-increasing human populations mean continuing challenges in reducing human disturbance, managing predation and regulating coastal development that impacts beach-nesting birds,” according to the FSA report.

Posting signs and roping off areas around nesting habitat are tools routinely used by FSA partners. Posted Designated Critical Wildlife Area signs are disturbance reduction tools for birds.

FWC law enforcement patrol efforts have grown from 629 patrols in 2018 to up to 1,500 proactive patrols statewide each year. Law enforcement is an important aspect of species protection, according to the FSA site.

In another method of monitoring the local bird population, for the past 123 years, from Dec. 15 through Jan. 5, the Audubon Christ- mas Bird Count has been conducted.

“Teams of people count individual birds to establish a snapshot of what is happening within their circle. A circle is a 15-mile diameter circle,” Doddridge said. “There are two circles that cover Manatee County. I am the compiler for the Bradenton Circle which goes only as far as the Intracoastal (Waterway). AMI is covered by the Fort DeSoto circle, with only the northern end of AMI (north of Anna Maria Elementary) covered in the circle.”