City: ‘Share the Shore’ with Sanibel’s shorebirds, sea turtles
In celebration of all mothers for Mother’s Day weekend, the Sanibel Natural Resources Department reminded residents and visitors to “Share the Shore” with nesting shorebirds and sea turtles.
Shorebirds nest on Sanibel from February through August, while sea turtle nesting season begins in mid-April and continues through the end of October. Small actions can make a big difference, officials reported. Keep Sanibel beaches safe for nesting shorebirds and sea turtles by adhering the following:
– Give wildlife space. Stay out of posted nesting areas and keep your distance from nesting shorebirds and other protected wildlife areas.
– Keep your dog on a leash and away from posted nesting areas. Unleashed dogs may cause harm to vulnerable shorebird chicks. The Sanibel leash law requires dogs on the beach to be on a leash no longer than 8-feet in length.
– Never chase wildlife. Forcing birds to fly wastes precious energy reserves needed for nesting and migration. Flushing birds may also lead to nest abandonment and leave flightless young vulnerable to predators and the hot Florida sun.
– Do not feed wildlife. Food scraps attract predators such as crows and gulls to the area, which prey on shorebirds and their hatchlings.
– Mind your line and secure trash that may injure or entrap wildlife. Visit https://mindyourline.org/ to learn how to best unhook an entangled bird.
– Remove all beach furniture and equipment from the beach by 9 p.m. to avoid nesting obstacles or wildlife entrapments.
– Fill holes and level sandcastles after your beach day. Flightless chicks and sea turtle hatchlings and may fall into holes and become trapped.
– Leave the shoreline and the wrack line undisturbed to provide shorebirds food and critical habitat.
– Keep off the dune vegetation. Beach vegetation protects wildlife and our homes from coastal erosion.
– Leave personal fireworks at home and attend an official display instead. Close-range fireworks disturb nesting wildlife which may cause stress and nest abandonment.
– Fly your kite and drone away from posted nesting areas and wildlife preserves.
– Teach visitors, neighbors and children these conservation tips.
The city, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge and Sanibel-Captiva Audubon Society created a short that highlights the threats shorebirds face every day and provides simple ways the public can help shorebirds thrive. To watch the video, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eS6EWByVphs.
Violations of wildlife ordinances may be subject to city, state and/or federal fines and penalties and should be reported immediately to the Sanibel Police Department at 239-472-3111.