If you are a beachgoer in the State of North Carolina, it is imperative that you remember that we share the shores with a multitude of creatures that identify this area as “home”. In particular, we share them with shorebirds; which are birds that nest and raise their brood on the shorelines.
The Wildlife Commission of the state is encouraging visitors to watch where they step and to be attentive to their activities while at the beach. Shorebirds are extremely sensitive to even the smallest of disturbances caused by humans.
The eggs and the chicks of shorebirds are camouflaged within the sand and natural debris that is part of the North Carolina beach environment. Each year, many are stepped on in an unintentional manner by both humans and their pets.
This results in many injuries and deaths each year. Furthermore, if we get too close to the nesting area of the shorebird, it may fly away – which leaves the eggs or the chicks it leaves behind highly vulnerable to both predators and the natural elements of the environment.
There are many types of shorebirds that may be found on and around the shorelines of North Carolina. This include – but are not limited to – oystercatchers, skimmers, plovers, and terns. In recent years, there has been a significant decrease in the tern populations.
This is believed to be from the loss of their natural habitat and disturbances caused by people and their pets. An increased effort has been made in terms of protections and monitoring for oystercatchers. As a result, this has increased the number of this species in and around the beach.
The Wildlife Commission has posted several black and white signs along the beaches to warn of potential nesting and brood-raising areas. They request that all beachgoers pay particular attention to these signs and these areas.
This will help even those that do not know what a bird habitat or a nesting habitat looks like around the beach. Additionally, it is advised that boaters pay special attention to birds that are nesting on and living on various islands near the shores of the state’s beaches.
Furthermore, it is advised that all dogs are kept away from vulnerable areas as they may wipe out an entire colony in just a matter of minutes.
If you take your dog to the beach, be certain to keep them on a leash the entire time. Also, you should follow all of the regulations pertaining to driving on the beach. When leaving the beach, take all of your trash – including baits and scraps from any fish that you have cleaned.
Do not leave fishing lines or kite strings on the shore. While it may prove to be tempting, do not feed any seagulls. These are a predator of the eggs and chicks of shorebirds. If you have a drone or fly a kite, avoiding doing so around the nesting areas as the shorebirds may mistaken them for a predator and abandon their eggs or chicks.
If you have shorebirds on your beachfront property, you may contact us here at Palmetto Wildlife Extractors to determine the best course of action: 855-465-1088