along the surf zone or in sandflats or mudflats depending
on which invertebrates (crustaceans, polychaete worms, or
bivalves) they are targeting.
Recommended buffer distances between human activity
and shorebirds range from 200–600 feet (⅔ of a football field
to two football fields) depending on the species. Keeping this
much of a buffer between people and shorebirds on the beach,
particularly at high tide when there is even less beach, may
not be possible for many reasons. Therefore, it is important to
teach beachgoers to recognize shorebird behavior. Roosting
birds will let you know if you are too close by exhibiting
one or more of the following behaviors before they flush
(fly away). When birds are resting, they tend to close their
eyes all o r part of the way as if they are getting sleepy. If they
open their eyes, start looking around, and hold their necks
or bodies in an alert posture, something has gotten their
attention. If they start walking or running, they are reacting
to a perceived threat. If they start vocalizing, they are alerting
each other to a perceived threat. If they start stretching their
wings, they may be getting ready to fly.
All of these behaviors indicate that something is getting too
close. If it is you, the best thing you can do is slowly back off
and put a little more distance between you and the flock. They
should settle back in once given more space. Foraging birds
will run or fly away from you once you get within a certain
distance, so try to give them plenty of space as well. NK
Kiawah Island,. The data suggest that piping plovers wintering
at more disturbed sites had lower body weights and lower
annual survival than individuals wintering at less disturbed
sites. Since piping plovers spend the majority of their annual
cycle on their wintering grounds, management to reduce
recreational disturbance in important shorebird areas (inlets,
washover areas, sparsely vegetated areas above the high tide
line) at winter sites could go a long way towards conservation.
In the meantime, education of beachgoers about the
implications of disturbance is an essential component of
shorebird conservation efforts.
Sharing The Beach Means
Giving Shorebirds Space
Sharing the beach with shorebirds is possible, but we have to
teach beachgoers how to do it. The first step to sharing the
beach is understanding what shorebirds need, and the main
thing they need is space. A few hours before and after high
tide shorebirds will fly in from feeding areas to rest (known as
roosting). They like to congregate in flocks of mixed species
in open areas with sparse living vegetation. They typically
roost in or near wrack (organic material typically made up of
dead marsh grass) in dry sand above the high tide line. They
will rest and preen here while their feeding areas are under
water. After the tide turns and feeding areas start to uncover,
they will fly back to these areas. Shorebirds typically feed
• • Educate others. If you see others disturbing shorebirds,
How You Can Help
please politely let them know. Chances are they are
unaware of the consequences of their actions.
Any recreational activity (walking/running (with or
without dogs), biking, fishing, kite boarding, bird
watching, wildlife photography) has the potential to
disrupt normal shorebird behavior if the activity occurs
too close to shorebird flocks. You can help minimize
disturbance to shorebirds by doing the following:
• • Go around large flocks of resting or feeding
shorebirds. Give shorebirds plenty of space. If birds
run or fly away from you, you were getting too close.
• • Leash dogs when shorebirds are present. Even if dogs
• • Respect closures for wildlife. If areas of the beach are
closed to dogs, please respect the closure and take your
dog to another section of the beach. Do not enter
roped-off areas for nesting or resting birds.
SUMMER/FALL 2017 • VOLUME 38
are allowed to be off leash during certain times of the
day or in certain areas on the beach, please leash your
dog when you see flocks on the beach. Never allow
dogs to chase birds. Remember, shorebirds are afraid
of dogs and view them as predators.
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