From Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary Member to Coastal Advocate: Rogerio DaSilva

It all started with an Audubon membership. Rogerio DaSilva, a Naples-area nature photographer, became a member of and donor to Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. While he loved photographing the wading birds and songbirds of the Sanctuary, he had a dream: to capture in his lens the impressive nesting behaviors of coastal Black Skimmers and Royal Terns. 

Florida's beaches and barrier islands are critical nesting habitat for this species, and the morning was alive with their energy— resting, preening, courting, and launching into the Gulf breeze. 

– Rogerio DaSilva, Photographer

In April, DaSilva got the opportunity to spend a morning with Director of Leadership Giving Anny Shepard and Southwest Florida Shorebird Program Manager Megan Hatten to see the nesting birds in action. They spent hours on the water, keeping a respectful distance and ensuring their presence did not change the birds' behavior—per ethical photography guidelines. DaSilva explains: “What unfolded was far more than a birdwatching excursion. It was a window into why this work matters, and why the people who fund it make a genuine difference on the ground.” 

For DaSilva, photographing a Royal Tern courtship dance became a trip highlight: “Crests fully raised, orange bills catching the Florida light, they circled and postured in a ritual that has played out on these shores for millennia.” The Black Skimmers also did not disappoint. “Black Skimmers dominated the shell flats in numbers that took the breath away,” says DaSilva. 

We must flock together to protect these vulnerable birds and their special nesting habitat now and into the future. Audubon has an ambitious plan to raise $1.5 million for Audubon’s coastal work by 2032. Together, we can ensure that Florida remains a place to see and admire sea and shorebirds for future generations.

This article was published in the Summer 2026 Naturalist.