Georgia beaches are not only vacation destinations, they are prime spots for nesting shorebirds and seabirds and for migrating species feeding for long flights to the Arctic.
American oystercatchers, Wilson’s plovers and least terns use sites such as Little Tybee Island, Ogeechee Bar, East Beach on St. Simons Island, Cumberland Island and the southern end of Jekyll Island. Among other species, black skimmers, royal terns and gull-billed terns also nest on Georgia beaches, offshore sandbars and dredge spoil islands.
For these nesting birds, human disturbance is a significant threat. Shorebirds and seabirds also face risks from native predators and high spring tides. Pets can be destructive, too, killing or scaring birds.
Visitors to Georgia’s beaches can help beach-nesting birds and migrating species by:
- Avoiding posted sites. (Eggs and chicks are camouflaged and easy to overlook or even step on.)
- Walking below the high-tide line.
- Watching beach birds only from a distance.
- Backing away from any nesting birds they accidentally disturb.
Adults frightened from a nest will often call loudly and exhibit distraction displays, such as dragging a wing as if it’s broken. Sometimes the birds will dive-bomb people who get too close to their nest, said wildlife biologist Tim Keyes of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Paying attention to the behavior of birds will alert you are too close to a nest or chick.
Keyes also encouraged visitors to leave dogs at home or keep them on a leash when visiting a beach where dogs are allowed. “Dogs and beach wildlife are incompatible,” Keyes said.
Pets are excluded by regulation or law at sites including Tybee Island, Little Tybee Island, Satilla Marsh Island, Jekyll’s south end and St. Catherines and Little Egg Island bars. (The bars and Brunswick Dredge Island, another key nesting site, are also closed to people.)
Beach-nesting birds nest above the high-tide line on wide, terraced beach flats or on the edge of dunes. In Georgia, the birds lay eggs in shallow scrapes in the sand from mid-March through July. After hatching, chicks hide on the beach or in the grass.
Disturbance by people or pets can cause adult birds to abandon eggs and chicks, exposing them to heat and predators. On a hot day, “in as little as 10 minutes, the eggs can be cooked,” Keyes said.
The threats are similar for migrating seabirds and shorebirds. Georgia’s coast provides vital stopover sites for species such as federally threatened red knots flying from South America and the Arctic. Recent research lead by partners at the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources have proved that the Southeast is a terminal staging area for red knots: The birds fly directly from here to their nesting grounds in the Arctic. Prior to this discovery the assumption was that almost all red knots funneled through Delaware Bay. Red knots flushed from feeding in Georgia might not gain the weight needed to survive their more than 9,000-mile migration.
Consideration for these and other migrating birds is crucial, said Keyes, who works for the DNR Wildlife Resources Division’s Wildlife Conservation Section. “With a little bit of effort and concern, we all can enjoy the beach.”
The effort is worth it. Already this year, pairs of American oystercatchers and Wilson’s plovers are on eggs at several locations on the Georgia coast.
Meanwhile St. Simon’s East Beach, a Beach Stewards program powered by volunteers is helping monitor nesting least terns. Participants inform the public and steer dogs and beachgoers away from the roped-off colony. (Interested in being a Beach Steward? Contact Keyes at (912) 222-0424 or tim.keyes@dnr.ga.gov.)
As with all migratory bird species, shorebirds and seabirds in Georgia are protected by the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Some species, such as piping plovers and red knots, have additional protections under the Endangered Species Act.
Keyes urged people visiting Georgia’s coast to help protect shorebirds, seabirds and migrants. “Let’s all do our part to ensure these birds can make the most of the vulnerable habitat available to them.”
DNR’s Wildlife Conservation Section works to conserve Georgia wildlife not legally fished for or hunted, as well as rare plants and natural habitats. The agency depends primarily on fundraisers, grants and contributions. That makes public support critical.
Georgians can help by contributing to the state’s Nongame Wildlife Conservation Fund. Here’s how:
Visit https://georgiawildlife.com/conservation/annualreport to see how support is put to work for wildlife.
BEACH BIRD TIPS
How can you help birds when visiting a Georgia beach?
- Stay in high-traffic areas; birds are less likely to nest where crowds gather.
- Walk below the high-tide line or on wet-sand beaches.
- Avoid posted nesting sites. (Eggs and chicks are camouflaged and easy to overlook or even step on.)
- Observe beach birds only from a distance. Back away from any nesting birds you accidentally disturb. (Adults frightened from a nest will often call loudly and exhibit distraction displays, such as dragging one wing as if it is broken.)
- If you see people disturbing nesting birds, respectfully tell them how their actions can affect the birds. If the people continue, contact DNR’s Law Enforcement hotline, (800) 241-4113 or rangerhotline@dnr.ga.gov.
- Leave dogs at home or keep them on a leash when visiting a beach where they are allowed. (Owners who let their dogs chase shorebirds can be fined for harassing protected species.)
- Keep house cats indoors, and don’t feed feral cats. Cats often prey on birds.
- Help spread the word through family, friends and social media about the importance of giving beach-nesting birds the space they need to thrive.
Beach-nesting bird tips and video are available at https://georgiawildlife.com/conservation/birds (click “Share the Beach”).
PROJECTS ADD, ENHANCE NEST HABITAT
Because of damage caused at many of Georgia’s offshore bars by hurricanes, large storms and sea-level rise, Georgia DNR is also working to enhance and add nesting habitat. The small-scale restoration projects include creating dredge spoil islands in collaboration with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, an effort that has received funding support from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and Georgia Ornithological Society.
This winter, five elevated shell rakes were completed, one of which currently has a nest. Several others have territorial pairs that will likely nest. These sites are high enough that they should not flood and in locations where mammal predators haven’t been problematic. Any chicks at the five sites this year could help reach statewide productivity goals.
Work is being done, as well, with the corps to create a “bird island” with sediment dredged from the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway near Cumberland Island. The island should provide more nesting habitat for beach-nesting birds.
