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TIPS Follow Signage
Avoid beaches that have signs warning
to share of a bird colony or advises people
to avoid the area during nesting
season. Honor these closed areas and
the shore encourage others to do the same.
Keep Your Distance
with When you see a large number of
birds on the shore, stay at least 500
nesting feet away. Minimizing disturbance to
concentrations of birds is the key to
conserving them.
birds Leash Dogs
When visiting the beach, never
approach a bird colony with your dog.
One loose dog can destroy a colony of
beach nesting birds in minutes.
Do Not Force Flight
If you see birds on a beach, island
or sandbar, walk or steer your boat
around them. Avoiding disturbing them
is the best approach. If parent birds fly
Visit RookeryBay.org to learn away and leave their eggs or chicks, the
about upcoming events and babies will not survive in the Florida
programs at the Rookery Bay heat and sun, may be crushed or taken
Environmental Learning Center. by predators.
Also, Naturalist-led boat and
kayak eco-tours available!

Share the Shore with Beach Nesting Birds and Wildlife
ust like in other parts of the United
States, springtime equals nesting time Lives on the Line –
Jfor the birds and wildlife of Rookery Rookery Bay Reaches People on the Beaches
Bay Research Reserve in Naples. Made Most beaches in Southwest Florida remain open to
up of 110,000 acres of land and water, beachgoers during shorebird nesting season. That’s why one of
Rookery Bay’s beaches and small islands are Rookery Bay’s missions is to get the word out to community
the ideal natural space for some of Florida’s members and visitors about sharing the shoreline with nesting
most endangered bird species to nest and raise their chicks. birds and becoming more conscientious beachgoers and boaters.
Last month, Rookery Bay Research Reserve team members For the last two years, Rookery Bay's "Lives on the Line"
placed signage in the Reserve about beach bird nesting season outreach campaign has educated the community to never leave
and the closure of Second Chance Island Critical Wildlife Area any garbage after a day on the water or at the beach, and always
in the Southern end of the Reserve. This island plays a huge follow signage regarding nesting birds and other wildlife like
role in the survival of endangered migratory beach nesting birds sea turtles. It is important to note that wildlife and birds often
including Wilson’s Plovers, Terns and Black Skimmers. By mistake trash and fishing line for food. They may get tangled in it
closing the island to foot traffic and boat landings from March or ingest it.
1st to August 31st, the Reserve helps these birds, their fragile Rookery Bay volunteers and staff members hit the sand
eggs and chicks to survive and thrive in the hot summer months. each weekend at Reserve hot spots such as Keewaydin Island,
Many who live and visit Southwest Florida are unaware talking to beachgoers and boaters about sharing the shore with
that some shorebirds nest directly on the beaches, in the wide wildlife and taking their trash when they leave. Even the kids get
open. The eggs are extremely tiny and the chicks only as big as involved by playing the “Lives on the Line” fishing game with
cotton balls, blending in with the sand and shells – perfectly staff and volunteers. It’s informative, fun and what’s learned can
camouflaged. The barrier islands and sandbars (including Second very well help protect the lives of animals and birds in
Chance Island) offer nesting birds and chicks an extra layer of Rookery Bay Research Reserve!
protection from land predators including racoons, disturbance
from people and domestic animals (such as unleashed dogs).
Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center
300 Tower Road, Naples, Florida Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 239-530-5972 www.rookerybay.org

78 Life in Naples | April 2023