FWC IBNB Permitted Monitor Experience Interest Form 

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is gathering interest in IBNB Permitted Monitor Experiences across the state. The Experiences typically consist of three days of surveying for imperiled beach-nesting birds alongside FWC biologists and other experts from partner organizations to fulfill the requirement for obtaining an IBNB Permitted Monitor permit. IBNB Permitted Monitors are dedicated individuals with proven shorebird and seabird identification skills and avian survey experience. They are qualified to assist FWC Incidental Take Permittees with minimizing and avoiding harm or harassment of imperiled beach-nesting birds during project activities. More information can be found on the FWC IBNB website. If you are interested in attending an experience for the summer of 2027, please fill out the survey above with your contact information, and we will email you if an experience is being hosted in your area.    

In the October Wrack Line issue, we celebrated some of the seabird successes documented across Florida, highlighting how persistence and partnership can yield remarkable wins. This month, we are spotlighting a selection of shorebird stories from the 2026 breeding season, representing just a portion of the positive outcomes recorded statewide. While solitary bird numbers are modest compared to Florida’s seabird colonies, we know that every bird counts towards recovery, especially for imperiled species like the American oystercatcher, snowy plover, and Wilson’s plover. Each nest protected, each chick fledged, and each small conservation gain represents meaningful progress for species populations that rely on our continued efforts. 

Drought conditions created an unexpected opportunity for Wilson’s plovers in Wakulla County. At St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, receding water levels exposed habitat in Mounds Pool 3 that previously had long-term flooding, creating favorable nesting conditions and supporting over 50 fledglings. 

Lanark Reef in Franklin County had an exceptional season for American oystercatchers, fledging multiple chicks for the first time since monitoring began in 2011. As part of protection efforts, chick shelters were used to offer shorebird chicks shade, reduce heat stress, and provide hiding cover that helps prevent predation.  

St. George Island Causeway Critical Wildlife Area had a notably productive season for American oystercatchers as well, with nearly every nest successfully producing a fledgling. This one‑mile stretch of the old causeway is closed to the public from March 1 to September 30 and provides essential protected habitat where thousands of birds nest and roost each year.  

Fort De Soto County Park had a strong season for Wilson’s plovers, with multiple fledglings documented throughout the park. One of the season’s standout successes was the protection of a family group at the park’s "East Tip", where park staff and Audubon stewards worked together to help chicks stay safe as they navigated a busy roadway. This marked the second consecutive year chicks were produced in the area following storm-related road closures, demonstrating how shorebirds can quickly take advantage of new opportunities when disturbance is reduced. 

Anastasia State Park stood out this season, hosting nearly 70 percent of all Wilson’s plover nests documented within the St. Johns Shorebird Partnership. For just a four‑mile stretch of beach, this high concentration of nesting activity reinforces the park’s importance as a breeding site for this species.  

Data entry in the FSD has closed for the 2026 breeding season and now the FSD quality control team is diving deep into data review season. Over the next several months, the quality control team will reach out to partners for clarification as needed. Please be on the lookout for emails from the quality control team and know that this is a normal part of the quality control process! These conversations ensure your data will most effectively guide conservation, research, and management of these species. Additionally, partners can provide site-specific context regarding the shorebirds & seabirds that are breeding within a given region. This is invaluable information! Thank you in advance to all partners involved in the data review process.  

If you have any questions, need assistance, or have additional information to provide about the data you’ve entered for 2026, please email us at FLShorebirdDatabase@MyFWC.com. 

The 2026 American Oystercatcher Working Group Meeting will be held December 2-3 at Saint Christopher Camp and Conference Center on Seabrook Island, South Carolina. There is also a virtual option via Zoom. Register here! 

Important registration deadlines: 

The mission of the American Oystercatcher Working Group is to support range‑wide research and management efforts that advance the conservation of American oystercatchers and their habitats. Through collaborative initiatives and guidance from its membership, the group works to strengthen both individual and partnership-based conservation actions.