City: ‘Share the Shore’ with shorebird neighbors
The city of Sanibel reported that the island’s shorebird species nest from now through August.
“Small actions can make a big difference for wildlife,” it shared. “Keep Sanibel’s beach safe for shorebirds nesting, resting and feeding.”
The city provided the following guidelines:
– Give wildlife space. Stay out of posted nesting areas and keep your distance from nesting shorebirds and their young. If birds leave their nest, you are too close. Disturbance flushes birds from their breeding site, exposing eggs and chicks. Egg temperatures increase to lethal levels in just a few short minutes.
– 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 attended 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 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/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.
– Please do not use flash photography, flashlights or phone lights near nesting wildlife.
– Fly your kite and drone away from posted nesting areas and wildlife preserves.
– 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.
“Teach visitors, neighbors and children these conservation tips,” it shared.
For more tips and information, visit the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) at https://sancaplifesavers.org/shorebirds/.
Created by the city, “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge, Sanibel-Captiva Audubon Society and SCCF, the “Our Shorebird Conservation Video” highlights the threats the island’s shorebirds face every day and provides simple ways the public can help its shorebird neighbors thrive. To watch the video, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eS6EWByVphs&feature=youtu.be.
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. In any life-threatening emergency, dial 911 immediately.
For questions about shorebird nesting or rules governing the Gulf Beach and Gulf Ridge Ecozones, contact the Sanibel Natural Resources Department at sandnr@mysanibel.com or 239-472-3700.