Conflicting Reports on Black Skimmer Nests at Big Marco Pass

Attachments

Sea Turtle Activity Update June 20.docx.pdf

On May 23rd, The City of Marco Island sent out an update on the Tigertail Lagoon and Sand Dollar Island restoration project which stated: “The bird habitat created at the north end of Sand Dollar Island has been well received by Black Skimmers with 300 to 400 pairs already utilizing this area.”

I reached out to FWC for more information and received this reply: “FWC has been monitoring around early April and yes, Wilson’s plovers and Least Terns have started nesting. However, there are not 300 to 400 pairs of Black Skimmers. That would mean there are about 600 to 800 individuals. We have never had that many skimmers.” 

On Monday, June 19th, Jean Hall, a shorebird volunteer shared these observations of the shorebird colony at Big Marco Pass: “At low tide, as I neared the posting, I counted only about 400 BLSK (Black Skimmers)?? I’ve read in emails from Collier Shorebird Stewards and the count has been over 900? They were split into two groups when I first got there, one along the water and one inside the posting. It sure looked to me like no Black Skimmers were incubating. All the birds would lift up when the Fish Crows came in. None stayed on scrapes. Did all the nests/eggs wash out?”

On Wednesday, June 21, according to Collier County Shorebird Stewards, “on Friday and Saturday, (June 16 and 17) the Skimmer numbers seemed pretty normal with 754 to 857 skimmers. Then on Sunday (June 18th), between high winds and thunderstorms throughout the day, there were only 482 skimmers and they seemed to flush very easily.”

“On Tuesday, June 20th, and this morning (Wednesday June 21st) there was NOT a single black skimmer in the posted area either day. Although the Skimmers abandoned the main posting at Big Marco Pass the Least Terns, Wilson’s Plovers have been spotted nesting.”

Concerned with the observation of abandonment to the Black Skimmer nesting colony, on Saturday, June 24th, I reached out to Brad Cornell of the Audubon of the Western Everglades who replied, “This abandonment of the tip colony is very disheartening. The 900 figure is incorrect – there are about 400 birds and 50-60 nests. Seems possibly (to) have been coyotes and overwash and there are lots of crows. We are waiting to see what the skimmers will do. Biologists will continue to monitor all these developments.”

Let’s Make it a Wildlife-Friendly Fourth of July Weekend

As we head out to the beach be mindful that Florida’s beaches are host to nesting shorebirds and sea turtles. Both rely on our sandy beaches for nesting. We can all help by following these tips:

• Pick up and Pack Out. Trash and food scraps attract predators and just a little on beaches can entangle birds, sea turtles and other wildlife.

• Please Keep Fido at home. Even well-behaved dogs can cause wildlife to abandon their eggs and chicks in the boiling sun. 

• Don’t Feed wildlife. It is tempting to share our snacks with gulls and crows but it is not their natural diet and could make them ill.

• Knock down sandcastles and fill in holes. Hatchlings will soon be heading out to the open ocean and even a hole the size of a golf ball can trap a hatchling.

• Be respectful of beach birds by keeping a safe distance and avoid flushing a flock resting by the water’s edge.