A Season in the Life of a Coastal Biologist: Parenting is Hard - Even for Birds!

Shorebirds nesting in Florida confront a unique set of challenges, from natural forces like storms and predation to the growing threat of human disturbance. As the Pinellas County anchor steward, I saw firsthand the distinct difficulties faced by these avian parents as they attempted to keep their offspring safe and healthy this summer. American Oystercatchers, Snowy Plovers, and Wilson’s Plovers everywhere share similar struggles for different reasons.

Nest Location

As any human parent knows, location can determine how we raise our children. We generally seek the same basic necessities for raising our families, including a supportive home, a school nearby, and a place to hang out and eat. For birds, vegetation, proximity to a water body, human activity levels, and the presence of other species all play into choosing a nest site. 

During the past breeding season, I witnessed firsthand the importance of several birds' nest location choices. Some species, like the oystercatchers, prefer a good vantage point in an open area or on a small dune or mound. Vegetation is a critical factor for all these species, especially for Wilson’s Plovers, which nest within thick vegetation to better conceal their eggs. The right spot can significantly reduce the risks of nest predation with camouflage or by providing a good view of potential predators. 

A first-year breeding pair of Snowy Plovers learned this lesson the hard way this season. Because development and disturbance has shrunk available habitat, tthey chose a nesting location right next to a walking path on the beach, which is also an area that floods frequently. Unfortunately, their nest was unsuccessful. However, this experience has hopefully taught them where not to nest next year.

Waiting for Eggs to Hatch

When a suitable spot has been chosen and the eggs are laid, it is a game of patience and vigilance. For some birds, like the plovers, the female is in charge of the day shift, incubating her eggs all day, while the male tends to incubate at night. This can be a good strategy for keeping the eggs from getting too cold or hot while providing more protection from anything that would take the eggs. It might seem that this is the easy part…wrong! Despite constant care and vigilance, there is still the chance that a predator or an object, like a ball or frisbee, will fly over the nest, roll right towards it, or create loud noises that flush the parents off their nest. What happens then?  Birds usually have two options: fight or flight. Depending on the disturbance, shorebirds will most likely flush off their nests to attract the potential predator away from the nest and to themselves. These parents are selfless, am I right? 

Sometimes, when faced with sneakier opponents, like Fish Crows, American Oystercatchers have a good chance of successfully chasing them a few away from the nest. However, during any of these situations, the parents risk leaving the developing eggs exposed to threats - a major one being the Florida heat. If a nest is exposed to the heat for even 15 minutes, there’s a risk that the eggs will not hatch.

Caring for Chicks

Once the eggs hatch, the job is nowhere near over. Like in human families, youngsters tend not to listen to their parents and may even run off, especially if something excites them. Shorebird parents are always running after their flightless chicks, keeping them safe, calling to them to follow their lead, and ensuring they are fed. This job becomes harder for the birds on a public beach. Not only do they have to protect their hyperactive young from their natural tendencies and predators, but they must also be on the lookout for people and pets walking nearby. It is a constant battle for these birds to teach their young how to be adults by showing them how to forage and defend themselves while being interrupted and endangered by oncoming beachgoers. They are sometimes left with two options: stay in safer areas for their babies, which have less food available, or risk expending extra energy by chasing their chicks in areas with better grub. 

Being a parent means raising your kids to become functional adults out in the real world with the hope they are successful and able to contribute to society. A shorebird’s job is done when its chicks can fly and fend for themselves. After a month or so, the chicks fledge and leave their parents to head off into the bird world, with the goal of raising their own chicks in future seasons. I compare this to the relief that human parents feel when their child has graduated college or has moved out of the house to go out and become their own person as an adult.

Ways You Can Help 

• Be mindful of nesting locations and put some distance between you and the posted areas: Some areas on the beach are marked off to give the birds an undisturbed space to nest and lay eggs. After the chicks hatch, however, they wander outside the posted areas, so always watch for flightless chicks around these postings. 
• Pick up trash: Trash is frequently left behind on the beach, but it poses threats to small birds. If you see some, pick it up to not only keep the beach clean but to protect wildlife as well.
• Keep your pup on a leash or at home: Dogs pose significant threats to beach-nesting birds. Their presence alone can flush parents off the nest, exposing eggs to weather or predators. Dogs tend to chase birds, which is dangerous for flightless chicks!
• Beach toys may be fun, but they can be dangerous, too: If you have a kite, ball, or frisbee, stay mindful of how close you are to the beach-nesting birds. Stray toys can land near or even on nests, and kites can look like predators to nesting shorebirds.
• Stewards provide crucial assistance: During the breeding season, Audubon Florida stations volunteers near nesting sites. They have a wide array of information about the birds and their nests and provide opportunities to see these bird families up close. Always talk to any Audubon stewards you see to stay informed about the beach nesting happening around.

Are you interested in becoming a bird steward? Click here to learn more!