For The Birds

Wanted: Bird Stewards for the Beach

Humans aren’t the only species that love the wide, white beaches of St. Pete/Clearwater. Terns, plovers, skimmers, sandpipers and other shore birds love and even hatch and raise chicks in little, hard-to-see nests on the beach.

The St. Pete/Clearwater area is one of the only areas in southwestern Florida where beach-nesting birds can nest. Each year, during the summer months, groups of birds gather on beaches to lay their small and well-camouflaged eggs. For weeks, one adult will stay on a nest while the other flies off to search for food. The birds are highly protective of their young and will quickly take flight to distract or fend off predators, if they feel threatened.

What You Can Do

Most importantly, keep your distance from nesting birds. If birds seem agitated, you are too close. And, please remember to be aware of any marked nesting areas.

If you love the beach, too and you can spare a few hours while visiting our beautiful pristine beaches, your help is needed. To help protect the nests and newly born chicks the St. Petersburg Audubon Society is seeking volunteers to guide beach-goers (the human kind) safely around nesting bird colonies especially on busy holiday weekends through Labor Day.

No experience is necessary. Audubon even instructs you what to say to beach visitors about steering clear of nesting areas. You will be accompanied by experienced bird stewards whose birding knowledge and enthusiasm sharing it will leave you with a rich appreciation of our treasured, feathered, and vulnerable friends on the beach.

Weekend volunteers are needed for Egmont Key State Park, Shell Key Preserve, Indian Rocks Beach, Fort De Soto Park, and Honeymoon Island State Park. If you’re selected to be a beach steward at Shell Key or Egmont Key, Audubon arranges boat transportation.

Life's a beach. Chick it out.