Tragic Week for Black Skimmers on Marco

Friday the 13th marked the end of a tragic week for the Black Skimmers on Marco Island. This bird, which can skim the waves to feed in almost total darkness, is a wonder of evolution/intelligent design, and should be treasured as such. Alas, the opposite is true.

Five Black skimmers were intentionally mowed down by an employee of the JW Marriott. FWC has charged the employee five misdemeanor charges; the employer promises an “internal investigation” and the City holds their tongue.

The Collier County Coastal Zone Advisory Committee that recommends expenditures using tourist taxes unanimously voted to fund - in excess of $600,000 - the Hideaway project, “dredging” what used to be a Critical Wildlife Area for Hideaway’s pleasure and removing over six acres of a known Black Skimmer nesting area. 

Because “Hurricane Ian moved our sand north.” Wasn’t the problem too much sand in the first place? The tax money should support tourism, not favor a group of wealthy insiders. The presence of two Hideaway residents on the Coastal Zone Committee able to vote and the vocal support of a Commissioner got the job done. 

Note that Barefoot Beach and Caxambas Boat Park remain closed, so we see where priorities lie. This dredging project is permitted for 15 years with no information on future sources of funding and frequency of dredging. 

The fact that this destruction is “permitted” means nothing. Deepwater Horizon had all the permits. The explanation offered that the project is “to help the wildlife” is positively Orwellian.

Skimmers are used to the shoulder-shrugging philosophy succinctly expressed by a City Councilor: “they’re birds, they fly.” Sadly, they’ve run out of places to fly to.