April 22 is Earth Day, and this year there are more ways to participate than ever. From mangrove plantings and coastal clean-ups to Ecofests and more, everyone can find a way to make their conservation mark. There is even a lionfish derby for those who want to fight invasive species. For more information about events in your area, check with local news outlets or Eventbrite. In addition, Earth Day is the perfect time to make or renew long-term commitments to conservation, such as using less plastic, recycling, reducing your carbon footprint and eating less meat. If you would like to take action to conserve coastal wildlife and habitat as part of your Earth Day pledge, contact the CWCI Coordinator for ideas and opportunities.

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Last year a new method was tried — Conditioned Taste Aversion. CTA involves the use of emetic eggs (eggs injected with a substance which will make crows quickly vomit, but does not harm them) in order to teach the crows to avoid eggs. CTA has been used successfully in other areas when deployed before the onset of shorebird nesting. This study was trying to determine if egg predation could be decreased once shorebird nesting begins. Results showed that areas where the emetic eggs were used had fewer real eggs taken by crows. However, the cost and complexity of getting the chemical licensed in the state for large-scale use is prohibitive.

This year Forys and her team are trying to re-educate the crows by using electrified eggs placed in nest scrapes and accompanied by decoys.  When a crow tries to grab or peck one of the treated eggs, it gets a mild shock that appears to startle the unsuspecting birds. Preliminary results indicate that the crows quickly learn to avoid the decoys and eggs. The crows’ response to the mild shock appears to be one of surprise followed by a healthy suspicion of the nests and eggs. The study will be replicated at five additional sites. Researchers will continue to monitor fake nests as well as real ones at these sites to see how long the effects last and crows remain wary of shorebird nests. Results from this study will be reported in The Wrackline, the newsletter of the Florida Shorebird Alliance.

Photographs courtesy of Dr. Beth Forys

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Spring begins the annual influx of people recreating on Florida’s beaches, and this coincides with breeding season for many species of coastal wildlife. Many endangered or threatened coastal species are subject to predation by other wildlife such as ghost crabs, crows, laughing gulls, raccoons, foxes and coyotes. Even domesticated dogs and cats can be potential predators.

The risk of predation is high for eggs or defenseless young, and it grows even higher when trash and other predator attractants are present on or near the beach. For example, raccoons are often found rummaging through trash cans for food scraps.  If trash cans are on the beach near a nesting area, raccoons could more easily find shorebird eggs. Crows and gulls also frequent areas where picnickers leave food scraps at the beach, and both will take shorebird eggs and young.  Outdoor housecats and feral cats can eat beach mice and birds. Dogs that are not on a leash can dig up and eat sea turtle eggs. Some predation is natural, with ghost crabs, for example, being major predators of shorebird eggs.

However, it is important to realize that human food sources effect coastal predators in two ways. First, food sources such as trash cans routinely attract predators to areas where they otherwise only may have gone occasionally.  Secondly, regular availability of human food over time can cause predator populations to become higher than they would be otherwise, because more available food means they can reproduce more successfully.

Help prevent human-subsidized predation on the coast:

• Throw away all trash in covered containers or – better yet – pack it out and dispose of it away from the beach (for example, at home). Trash includes food leftovers and packaging, charcoal, fish scraps and pet waste.
• Do not leave food out for feral cats or other animals. If you must feed your pets outside, promptly remove bowls and other materials associated with food when they are done eating.
• Do not walk your dog where it may present a disturbance or threat to wildlife — this includes designated Critical Wildlife Areas, roped or flagged areas, dunes and anywhere that shorebirds are present.
• Keep your dog as far away from wildlife as possible. Do not allow a dog to disturb or chase birds or dig near turtle nests.
• Avoid walking your dog on the beach at night during the March-October sea turtle nesting season.

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1.  What is your title?  Professor of Environmental Science & Biology 

2.  What organization do you work for? Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, FL 

3.  What type of work do you do? I am a professor who teaches Conservation Biology, GIS and Ornithology at a liberal arts college. In addition, I do research on shore/seabird conservation.    

4.  What projects have you recently been working on? Since 2009 I have been banding least terns and black skimmers in Pinellas County (working with master bander Marianne Korosy - Audubon Florida). This data is being used to measure survivorship and movements of these imperiled species. In addition, I've also been doing research to determine the best method of discouraging fish crows from taking shorebird and seabird eggs (see “Featured Project” for more information).   

5.  How does your work relate to the CWCI? We are trying to protect coastal wildlife populations.   

6.  How long have you been working in the coastal environment, and what are some lessons you have learned? I have been doing research in coastal environments for 29 years. One important lesson that I have learned is that while it is very important to protect more pristine areas, more human-impacted areas can also play a role in conservation of coastal ecosystems and populations. I have seen populations of shore and seabirds thrive even in urbanized areas, provided we have a strong public education component, enforcement and predator management. These species enhance the experience of beach visitors because they are beautiful and interesting to watch.   

7.  What do you think is the greatest threat to coastal ecosystems, and what action(s) should be undertaken to address it? The two greatest threats that I've experienced:

1. Global environmental change has resulted in sea-level rise and an increase in storm frequency and intensity. This has led to an increase in over-wash events of shore and seabird nests, often resulting in mortality of eggs and chicks. I'm not sure how to address this at a local level, but clearly steps need to be taken to decrease greenhouse gases at a global scale.  
2. Increase in human activity on beaches impacts shore and seabirds in terms of direct disturbance of the birds and an increase in native and nonnative predators. When people get too close to bird nests, they often scare the adults off the nests, leaving the eggs and young susceptible to predation and overheating. Human trash increases predators. Environmental education through various methods (including bird steward) is helpful to protect nests and colonies. Working with local municipalities and law enforcement on trash removal and citing people for having fireworks and dogs is also key.  

8.  What is your favorite coastal animal, and why? I honestly do not have a favorite animal. I've been fascinated by every species I've studied, so I'm the perfect person to study species that need help, but are not getting much attention.  

9.  Do you have a message you would like to share with readers of this newsletter? I would like to mention that none of the conservation or research I've done would be possible without amazing volunteers and partnerships with nonprofits, county, state and federal biologists and managers. I think the integrative approach that the CWCI takes is the best way to protect our valuable coastal ecosystems.  

Florida’s coastal areas are world renowned and attract millions of visitors each year. These habitats and Florida’s moderate climate provide numerous recreational opportunities, including boating and fishing, hiking, wildlife viewing or just soaking up the sun on the state’s beautiful beaches. These pleasant activities can be painfully interrupted by one of Florida’s most ubiquitous but unseen denizens, the no-see-um. Also known as biting midges or sandflies, these flies, relatives of mosquitoes, are often felt but not seen. They leave their victims with painful and irritating bites, which can lead to long-lasting wounds.

Florida is home to more than 47 species of biting midges, mostly in the genus Culicoides (Insecta: Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). Salt marshes and mangroves are major habitats for no-see-ums in Florida, although they can also utilize areas with wet, organic soils that are not inundated. For this reason, biting midges are often associated with livestock operations.

As their name implies, no-see-ums are very small, usually less than 1/8th of an inch long. They have a relatively short reproductive cycle of between two to six weeks from egg to larva to pupa to adult. Biting midges utilize anautogenous reproduction, which means females require a meal of blood to begin their reproductive cycle. Only females have a proboscis (elongated mouthpart) that is adapted for blood-sucking. The number of eggs produced, usually between 50 and 110, depends on the species and the size of their last blood meal. Larvae are not aquatic but require moisture for development.

Through their blood-sucking, no-see-ums are sometimes vectors for disease-causing organisms, including filarial worms and viruses. The pain and itching associated with no-see-um bites are an allergic reaction to proteins in the fly’s saliva. Topical antihistamines may bring some relief, but the reaction may last as long as a week.

The University of Florida’s Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences recommends installation of screens with smaller mesh for windows and patios to exclude no-see-ums and avoid the painful effects of their bites. Due to their small size, midges can pass through standard mesh “mosquito” screening. Additionally, fans can help deter no-see-ums, which are weak fliers. Most repellents for flies and mosquitoes also work well for no-see-ums and should be applied before outdoor activities, but one should always follow the directions on the label. 

For more information on these seldom seen but often felt members of Florida’s fauna, please visit the following sites:

http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/aquatic/biting_midges.htm

http://freshfromflorida.s3.amazonaws.com/arthropods-of-florida-vol-10.pdf

Photograph courtesy of Dr. Roxanne Connelly, Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, University of Florida