Winter Shorebird End-of-Season Summary

The Audubon of the Western Everglades (AWE) team, including biologist Brittany Piersma, winter shorebird steward JJ aka Jeanene Jewett, and an incredible team of dedicated volunteers, has compiled the results of the winter shorebird season and research on migratory shorebirds. According to Piersma, this data is from seven months of incredible work, which helps to understand the movement of birds, especially the banded ones that are tracked. 

2024 Winter Shorebird Season Stats: 

4,245 citizens educated 

182 surveys 

62 total species observed 

1,157 banded birds re-sighted 

71 birds rescued in Collier County 

Piersma is very appreciative of the volunteer hours committed to helping with this vital education. Additionally, a big thanks to our partners, the Marco Island Police Department and the Conservancy of Southwest Florida for the combined efforts in the wildlife rescues!  

Shorebird steward JJ had been involved in bird rescues on Marco Island such as the two Double Crested Cormorants. Double Crested Cormorants are year-round residents here in Florida. 

“It’s difficult to say what was wrong with them other than they were not acting like they should.” Both were taken to Von Arx Wildlife Hospital. 

As a Winter Shorebird steward and on the beach during the early mornings, the weather can swing from being too warm in long sleeves and long pants. According to JJ, “The next day, I’m freezing with a ski jacket, two shirts, leggings, pants and boots while standing on our beautiful beaches. Visitors from up north walk past the volunteers wearing barely a shirt.” 

“ A recent question visitors have asked me, other than ‘why are you dressed as if it's snowing,’” said JJ, “is why doesn't Audubon of Western Everglades doesn’t rope off the beach where the birds are resting and have signs that say, "Do Not Disturb the Birds?" It's a great question and the answer is simple. AWE believes by educating people, most will do the right thing and respect the resting birds. Education makes the overall experience positive for all. One of our long-time volunteers has a great approach to the unaware beach walker. She simply asks, "Can I tell you about the birds?" It typically works well to start a conversation about the resting birds. 

For the 2024 Winter Shorebird Season the volunteers have re-sighted 1157 banded birds. One highlight for JJ and the team was re-sighting a Brown Pelican banded in Tampa in October 2023. JJ hopes to see this bird again in future years. Brown Pelicans are here all year and make their nests predominantly in nearby mangrove trees. Here in Florida, abandoned fishing lines are a huge threat to the Brown Pelicans, and it is estimated that more than 700 Brown Pelicans die each year from fishing line entanglements. 

If you see a banded seabird or shorebird, feel free to report the band details to the bird band lab at the website listed below. They will send you a certificate of where the bird was banded and other pertinent information. The website for the Bird Banding Lab (https://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBL/bblretrv/). 

A flock of Lesser Black-Backed Gulls has been seen on Marco Beach, Dickman's Island, and Clam Pass. JJ and her group of volunteers have been awed each time they see one of these birds. According to JJ, there have been no Lesser Black-Backed Gull nesting pairs reported in North America since 2019. 

Time flies when you are having fun and as we moved into the summer nesting season, Matt Minio will be the nesting bird steward for AWE. If you are interested in volunteering for the nesting season, please email Brittany Piersma at: bnpiersma@gmail.com.