Coastal Shorebird Stewardship

Sharing the Shore to Promote Coastal Bird Conservation 

Many beach-nesting bird species, such as the Wilson’s Plover, American Oystercatcher, and Least Tern, have suffered population declines in recent years. One of the major causes of these declines is human disturbance. Beachgoers and their pets, even if well-intentioned, can scare breeding birds off their nests, increasing the risk of eggs and small chicks overheating or being eaten by predators. Disturbance can even cause adults to abandon their nests altogether. Beachgoers and pets can also step on eggs or small chicks because they are so well-camouflaged in the sand. Therefore, beach-nesting birds need humans and their pets to responsibly Share the Shore to ensure that birds can nest, rest, and feed to survive. 

We come together as a community of diverse volunteers, scientists, and partners to protect shorebirds and their habitat from human disturbance  through our Shorebird Stewardship Program. In this program, volunteer shorebird stewards are trained to educate beachgoers about the importance of sharing the shore with our vulnerable coastal birds. Once  trained, they are deployed at several sites along the South Carolina coast, working hard to protect nesting and resting shorebirds and seabirds. Specifically, our stewards educate beachgoers about factors such as beach-nesting bird biology, impacts of human and pet disturbance, and local beach policies related to shorebirds, while also reinforcing protective fencing around nesting areas. Our staff and volunteers also help collect valuable monitoring data that are shared with conservation partners and help improve stewardship efforts.