4.1K shorebirds seen during global counts
The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation reported that the first week of September marks the beginning of Global Shorebird Counts and World Shorebirds Day (Sept. 6).
Every year, scientists and community members combine efforts to participate in the global event to contribute to shorebird research and conservation. The SCCF has been taking part since 2016.
With help from partners and volunteers, the SCCF shorebird team surveyed Sanibel, Captiva, North Captiva, Cayo Costa, Estero Bay Preserve State Park and the SCCF’s McGregor Preserve. It counted a total of 4,096 individual shorebirds, seabirds and wading birds from 48 different species. All six species of plovers that can be found in Southwest Florida were observed, as well.
The most abundant species included:
– Royal tern (Thalasseus maximus)
– Sanderling (Calidris alba)
– Willet (Tringa semipalmata)
– Laughing gull (Leucophaeus atricilla)
– Ruddy turnstone (Arenaria interpres)
“These counts provide population data on shorebird species from around the world and can help scientists determine where they should focus their conservation efforts,” SCCF shorebird technician Aaron White said.
Of the birds observed, several banded individuals traveling from their breeding grounds were re-sighted during the count window, including royal tern CN1 from Georgia and black skimmer 7U. CN1 was banded as a chick during the summer of 2019 by researchers from Virginia Tech University and spent the first 3.5 years of its life on Sanibel and the surrounding area.
“We were thrilled to find CN1 alive and well following Hurricane Ian,” White said. “We first observed it in breeding plumage in May 2023, and it continues to return to us in the non-breeding seasons.”
Black skimmer 7U had not been seen since it was banded on St. Pete Beach in 2022 until last month on Lover’s Key, and then once again near South Seas during Global Shorebird Counts.
“Reporting banded birds can inform conservationists on movement patterns, survival rates, and population status, among other insights,” he said.
This year’s count was slightly lower than last year’s, during which the SCCF recorded 4,918 birds.