Refuge provides highlights of monthly biology activities
J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge biological science technician Avery Renshaw recently reported on the Sanibel refuge’s following biology activities for the month of August.
Fall migration is already underway. If you want to see a lot of migratory shorebird species, which stopover in the area for a brief time each fall on their way south, head to the San Carlos Bay-Bunche Beach Preserve, across the bay from Sanibel — at low tide. She reported that Lee County owns and operates the preserve, which is adjacent to other conservation lands owned by the refuge and Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation.
Recently, an unusually large flock of American avocets was hanging out at the preserve, causing excitement among birders. While conducting a shorebird survey on the refuge’s adjacent property, Renshaw also had the fortune of observing the avocets, along with other species like red knots, marbled godwits, piping plovers, least sandpipers and short-billed dowitchers. The open sand beaches and tidal flats in the area are popular foraging and resting areas for shorebirds as they migrate thousands of miles south for the winter. While some shorebirds will stick around in Southwest Florida, many others will continue to Mexico and Central and South America to wait out the colder months.