Fall Migration is Underway!

Many long-distance migrants nest in the Arctic and have only a short window to lay eggs and raise their young before they head south again. Florida coastlines provide critical habitat and opportunities for foraging and resting before birds continue on their long journey to Central and South America. For thousands of shorebirds and seabirds, Florida could be the last stop before they cross an ocean to their final destination. They need our beaches to rest and refuel for their arduous migration journeys ahead.

Which Birds Stop Here?

Florida's coastline provides resting, nesting, and foraging habitat for a variety of species, depending on the season.

Fall

“Fall” migration can begin for some species as early as the end of June, before the first pumpkin spice candle arrives on shelves each year. July is when we typically start to see migratory adult shorebirds in Florida, like Red Knots and Piping Plovers.

Winter

In the coldest months, our coastlines provide crucial stopover and wintering habitat for birds migrating south. Many species continue on their long journey to Central and South America, but some, like Sanderlings, Ruddy Turnstones, Red Knots, and Black-bellied Plovers, spend their winters in Florida. When they arrive, they are often mottled in appearance as they molt their breeding plumage into non-breeding plumage. Molting is an energetically taxing process that requires a lot of energy — another reason our beaches are important for resting and foraging.

Bird banding projects have helped us learn that Black Skimmers and American Oystercatchers from the Northeast fly south for the winter, with many making Florida's coasts their winter home.

Spring

Coastal habitat is used by migrants for a stopover to forage and fuel up for the rest of their journey north. It is also the start of breeding season for shorebirds and seabirds that nest on our coastline: Black Skimmers, Least Terns, American Oystercatchers, Snowy Plovers, and Wilson's Plovers.

Summer

Our beaches are like nurseries for Black Skimmers, Least Terns, American Oystercatchers, Snowy Plovers, and Wilson’s Plovers. As the breeding season winds down for these species, many others are beginning their migration south from their summer breeding grounds in the Arctic.

What Can You do to Help our Beach Birds Year-round?

When you’re at the beach, give birds space to rest and forage for food — yes, even the gulls. It may have only taken you 20 minutes to get to the beach, but some birds have flown thousands of miles in a short time, just to get here.   

Running through resting flocks of beach birds is harmful, as the birds expend unnecessary energy trying to fly away from the disturbance. Do the “flock walk” any time you’re at the beach and walk around resting or foraging birds: instead of walking directly through a flock, take the extra time to walk around.

Have little ones who love to run through flocks? Make walking around the beach birds the "cool" thing to do with your kids. Explain to them how they are resting and fueling up to continue on their journey.

If everyone shares the shore while visiting our incredible beaches in Florida, we can all make a difference for these vulnerable sea and shorebirds.