FWC Seeks Public Input on Draft Beach-nesting Bird Guidelines

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is seeking public feedback on draft Species Conservation Measures and Permitting Guidelines for four state-listed beach-nesting bird species including the American oystercatcher, snowy plover, least tern and black skimmer. Once approved the guidelines will be part of Florida’s Imperiled Species Management Plan.

Species Conservation Measures and Permitting Guidelines are intended to provide information on rule requirements as they relate to permitting. They also provide information on the species’ range, survey methodology and voluntary practices that can benefit the species.

All four species of state-listed beach-nesting birds are included in one set of draft guidelines, which is now available for review and comment.

Three webinars were held in September that presented key information included in the guidelines. The webinars also offered an opportunity for public questions and feedback. Each webinar included the same information. A fourth, and final, webinar is being held on October 11, 12-1pm EST. 

Participation in the webinar will require access to a computer or access to a telephone for audio-only access.

To learn more about how to attend the webinar visit: MyFWC.com/Shorebirds. Once available, a copy of the webinar presentation and draft guidelines will also be available on the website.

The public commenting period runs September 17 -  October 17, 2021. 

Email comments to Imperiled@MyFWC.com. If you would like to comment but are unable to do so in the specified timeframe, or if you require an alternate format in which to comment or review the draft guidelines, contact Imperiled@MyFWC.com.

For more information about Florida’s shorebirds, go to MyFWC.com/Shorebirds.

2021 Shorebird Abundance Estimates are First of Their Kind in Florida 

The 2021 Florida Shorebird Alliance Monitoring Data at Work annual report features abundance estimates for American oystercatchers, snowy plovers and Wilson’s plovers that provide the baseline for assessing population trends and measuring progress towards species recovery goals outlined in the Florida Beach-nesting Bird Plan.  

In 2021, the FWC Shorebird Data Team finalized a process to calculate the most accurate abundance estimates possible with ranges for American oystercatchers, snowy plovers, and Wilson’s plovers based on information available in the Florida Shorebird Database (FSD). With this advancement, the FSD will serve as the data source to update statewide shorebird abundance estimates and to assess progress toward species recovery goals. 

To accomplish this task, the team developed a custom analysis strategy that uses all data reported to the FSD. The analysis produces an estimate of the number of breeding adults in Florida and overcomes analytical challenges related to the facts that birds move among routes during peak nesting season and nesting does not occur simultaneously across all breeding sites. 

Developing abundance estimates using data from the FSD has been a long-term priority for shorebird conservation partners. More than a decade of consistent monitoring by FSA partners has made this achievement possible. 

If you want to know more about the details of the analysis, join the FWC Shorebird Data Team for a recorded webinar on November 9, 10-11:30am EST.  

Register here for the webinar! 

Last Call for Data Entry!

Today is the final day to enter your 2021 breeding season data into the Florida Shorebird Database. All surveys contribute valuable information and help with long-term analyses, even if the surveys didn't occur during a count window.

Data entry checklist:

• Route surveys (even when I didn’t see nesting birds)
• Shorebird nests (plovers, oystercatchers, killdeer, stilts, willets)
• Seabird colonies (terns, skimmers, gulls, pelicans)
• Roving chick sightings for shorebird chicks out of their nests
  • Remember to enter flight-capable chick observations with natal nest information whenever possible!
• Roving chick sightings for seabird young away from their colonies
• All rooftop surveys (even those without birds this season)
• Double check that all sites (solitary, colony, and rooftops) have a final nesting outcome

In the coming weeks, the data quality control team will be reviewing records and reaching out for any clarifications needed. This is part of the annual process of making sure the team understands every observation entered. Our conversations with you help us understand site-specific context and ensure that the dataset is internally consistent. We appreciate your help!

If you have any questions or need assistance, please email us; we are happy to help! As always, if you experience any malfunctions with the FSD website, we encourage you to report them. Your feedback helps us create a better website.

Thank you for being an essential partner in the shorebird monitoring program!

In Case You Missed It

In August, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission published the 2021 “Florida Shorebird Alliance Monitoring Data at Work” annual report.

Led by the FWC Shorebird Data Team, this year’s report highlights some of the conversation success stories from the 2020 breeding season and introduces the abundance estimates for American oystercatchers, snowy plovers, and Wilson’s plovers.

The 2021 report features:

• Highlights of shorebird conservation efforts in the face of a global pandemic
• Abundance estimates for American oystercatchers, snowy plovers, and Wilson’s plovers
• Summaries of monitoring and posting efforts
• Rooftop-nesting habitat highlight
• Updated priority species fact sheets

THANK YOU to all shorebird monitors, stewards, and FSA partners. This report reflects your hard work, resilience, and dedication during an extra challenging season, and we are thankful to be your partner in shorebird conservation! Please email us with any questions.

Report cover photo by Britt Brown