Naturally Kiawah Magazine Volume 38 | Page 65

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. 63