JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – It might seem strange, but some of those shorebirds and seabirds you see on Northeast Florida’s beaches actually prefer not to nest on our sandy shores, if they have a choice.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, species including black skimmers, least terns, roseate terns and American oystercatchers increasingly use gravel rooftops to nest and raise chicks.
Gravel resembles sand as far as comfort for the nesting birds, but the rooftops offer them more protection from predators.
The FWC said it is grateful for businesses that make their roofs available for the birds rather than having the birds removed from their property, because most of the species that are using the rooftops are considered imperiled.
The FWC also encouraged those with birds nesting on their rooftops to delay any routine maintenance or nonemergency repairs until after shorebird nesting season ends in September.
The FWC said if shorebirds or seabirds are nesting on your roof, you can help them succeed by giving them space. You can also coordinate with your FWC Regional Shorebird Biologist . To find a regional shorebird biologist near you, go to MyFWC.com/Shorebirds and click on “Shorebird Nest Dates and Contacts.”
Dwindling options
Elizabeth Filippelli, the conservation director for Duval Audubon Society, said that, unfortunately, in Northeast Florida, the birds are running out of those rooftop options as a lot of businesses change their roofing style.
“Because of a lot of the development that we have in our state, the shorebirds are having a hard time finding a great place to nest, and they like to nest in gravel,” said Filippelli, who has been with the Duval Audubon Society for three years.
Filippelli said these birds are crucial for our environment.
“Birds in general have a symbiotic relationship with humans,” Filippelli said. “They help with biodiversity, they help with seed distribution, they help with cleaning up. Vultures and turkey vultures clean up things that we do not like to clean up.”
Nesting season
The timeline varies by county, but now until Sept. 1 is nesting or breeding season for the birds in our News4JAX viewing area.
Because of the dwindling option of gravel rooftops, more of the shorebirds and seabirds in Northeast Florida nest on the coastline — anywhere with sand.
Filippelli said some of those places where people may see those birds the most include Huguenot Memorial Park, and the Little Talbot Island, Big Talbot Island and Anastasia state parks.
Since more of the birds are expected to be visible at ground level instead of rooftops in Northeast Florida, Filippelli said people need to be aware of their surroundings.
“Our eyes might not even see the eggs,” she warned.
She encouraged shore visitors to keep a distance between themselves and the birds.
“You definitely do not want to fluster the birds because they are already taking care of their kids,” she said. “Just like us, when we are taking care of kids, we do not want to be interrupted.”
If the birds get spooked and have to fly away from their nests, their young are left vulnerable to predators and the elements, Filippelli warned.
She said the Duval Audubon Society aims to connect people with nature, while working with communities to protect birds and educating people on the dangers of light pollution and window reflection for birds.
To educate more people about this, the society is hosting training sessions for volunteers, starting Friday. If you sign up, Filippelli said, you will learn how to protect the birds and other critical wildlife.
