Protecting Beach-nesting Birds in Louisiana VOLUNTEER TRAINING
How Many Bird Species in Louisiana? a. 120 b. 280 c. 480
Year-round Residents
Nearctic-Neotropic Migrants
W. Dave Patton Eric Liffmann Winter Hummingbirds of Louisiana John Hartgerink
Secretive Marshbirds
Rarities and Vagrants Cyndi Sellers
Important Bird Areas of Louisiana
100+ Years of Bird Conservation In the late 19th century, Great Egrets (Ardea alba) were hunted to nearextinction for their plumes Bird watchers chose the species as a symbol of the conservation movement The Great Egret is a sketch from renowned bird artist David Sibley
Guy Bradley, 1870-1905
Terminology Wading birds Sea birds Shore birds Beach-nesting birds Colonial nesting versus solitary nesting
Wading Birds: Herons, Egrets, Ibis, Spoonbills
Gulf Wading Bird Rookeries Recently surveyed and active Not recently surveyed (pre-2008) or recently surveyed and inactive
Sea Birds: Terns, Gulls, Pelicans, Pelagic Species
Gulf Seabird Colonies David J. Ringer/Audubon Recently surveyed and active Recently surveyed and active Not recently surveyed (pre-2008) or recently surveyed and inactive
Shore Birds: Plovers and Sandpipers
Shorebird Identification size and shape habitat seasonality behavior plumage coloration / pattern
Plovers versus Sandpipers Big-eyed Short and squat billed No halex (rear toe) Pensive, thoughtful Smaller-eyed Thin and long billed Halex (usually) Eager, fervent
Tom Benson/Flickr Creative Commons Red Knot 19,000 mile round-trip each year 50,000 birds in 1985 Today: ~10,000 birds
Don Bleitz, Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology 52 species of sandpipers, plovers, and allies breed or winter in North America Possibly Extinct Stable or unknown Declining Increasing Which species is increasing?
Beach-nesting Birds: Terns, Skimmers, Gulls, and Plovers
Colonial Nesting (Wading Birds & Sea Birds) Safety in numbers Dilution effect Food resources away from the beach Solitary Nesting (Shore Birds) Cryptic/camoflauge Needle in a haystack Food resources right there on the beach Mark Vance/Flickr Creative Commons Why different strategies?
Two Important Species Least Tern (colonial seabird) Wilson s Plover (solitary shorebird) Linda Martino
Nesting Season: late March - August
From egg to flight takes 7-8 weeks. Nests are not always laid at the same and if 1 st attempt fails, will try again and again.
David Maher Built for Camouflage
Predators
Defense Emergency Behaviors Becky Doane MOBBING http://rollingharbour.com/ BROKEN-WING
http://newsdaytonabeach.com/
Nest Failures Coyotes tracks (right) at a depredated Least Tern nest (left) humans Ghost crab hole (left) and a depredated Least Tern chick
Chandeleurs before and after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 Wine Island 2012 Wine Island 2007 Nbcnews.com
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Protect Nesting Areas
Environmental Outreach & Education Tabling at Festivals and Rodeos
How You Can Help Keep your distance and obey signs for sensitive nesting areas Avoid driving on beaches Keep pets on a leash Don t feed wildlife or leave trash Dispose of fishing line properly Spread the word! Volunteer!
What Our Volunteers Do Conduct shorebird surveys Outreach and Education Mobilize Equipment Gerry Ellis
Coastal Stewardship 101 Inform beachgoers These birds lay their eggs in the sand and are hard to see Disturbing these nesting birds can cause failure When the birds dive at you or if see one that looks injured, this means you are too close to their nest or young These birds are protected by federal laws, like the Migratory Bird Treaty Act Here, I can show you one of the nesting birds if you d like!
Coastal Stewardship 101 Answer questions Why is this area posted and off-limits to people? How long is the nesting season? Why should I keep my dog on a leash? How can I get involved?
Coastal Stewardship 101 We are not enforcement
Matthew Paulson Beach-nesting Bird Protection VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Your support is greatly appreciated! The birds thank you! Funding provided by:
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