Huguenot Memorial Park Adapts to Protect Nesting Birds

Huguenot Memorial Park is a critical Northeast Florida nesting site for coastal birds, including Royal Terns and Laughing Gulls. Thousands of birds nest here each year, typically at the north end of the park. Popular for beachgoers as well, park managers usually close some of the beach to vehicles during nesting season to allow chicks safe access to the water.

2024: A PROBLEM EMERGES

In 2024, nesting shifted significantly south of the traditional closed area, which meant the birds moved into areas where vehicles drive and park as they moved from the dunes to the water. Tragically, more than 40 birds perished as a result of vehicle strikes. Additionally, the situation highlighted limits of relying on historic nesting patterns to guide protections.

2025: A TURNAROUND

 “The park staff and city employees deserve huge kudos as they worked on different strategies to help the bird families,” explains Northeast Florida Policy Associate Chris Farrell. They worked with Audubon and employed adjusted management strategies to protect the birds where they decided to nest. Another huge shout out to our Audubon volunteer stewards — you played an important role in both safeguarding the birds and talking to beach users about how to share the shore.

The protected area was expanded to include new nesting locations, reaching roughly 450 feet beyond the traditional closure. Plus, a seasonal protective “box” was added along the dunes to extend protections to the south using a “moving box” approach — especially on weekends — so protection could shift as birds and chicks moved. Law enforcement partners actively intervened when needed, stopping traffic to allow chicks safe passage to the shoreline. Additional posted areas were created when flightless chicks moved outside designated zones.

The result? Better protection for the birds. Monitors and stewards recorded only 17 bird fatalities in 2025 from vehicle strikes.

LOOKING AHEAD

 The goal, of course, is to reduce these fatalities to zero. “The 2025 approach will be repeated and refined moving forward,” explains Farrell. “We look forward to continued cooperation between Audubon, the City of Jacksonville, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office — all of which meet as part of the park’s Shorebird Management Team.”

This article originally appeared in the 2025 Coastal Report. Click here to read the full report.