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Give nesting birds space at the beach
oystercatcher
The American oystercatcher is one of the many beach-nesting birds that people should be on the lookout for during the late-spring, early-summer nesting season. - photo by Photo provided.

BRUNSWICK — Those getting ready for a summer vacation on Georgia’s coast should remember while enjoying the beach that many wildlife species depend on it.
Some coastal areas popular with people in late spring and early summer are important nesting habitat for protected birds, such as American oystercatchers, Wilson’s plovers and least terns. Examples include Little Tybee Island, Pelican Spit off Sea Island, Cumberland Island and the southern end of Jekyll Island. Among other species, black skimmer, royal tern and gull-billed tern also use beaches.
Beach-nesting birds nest above the high-tide line on wide, terraced beach flats or in the edge of dunes. In Georgia, the birds lay eggs in shallow scrapes in the sand from April through July. After hatching, chicks hide on the beach or in the grass. Disturbance by humans or pets can cause adult birds to abandon nests and chicks, exposing them to extreme heat and predators.
These birds depend on a thin ribbon of habitat squeezed between the ocean and the vegetated dunes, a habitat also enjoyed by thousands of beach goers. With care, these two sets of beach users can successfully coexist, but it will take people learning and observing some bird -friendly beach guidelines.
Tim Keyes, a Georgia Department of Natural Resources wildlife biologist, encourages beach-goers to avoid posted sites, walk below the high-tide line, watch beach birds only from a distance and back away from any nesting birds they accidentally disturb. Adults frightened from a nest often will call and exhibit distraction displays, such as dragging one wing as if it’s broken.
Human disturbance is a significant threat for these birds, which already face risks from predators and high spring tides. Pets also can be destructive, killing or scaring birds.
Georgia beaches provide vital stopover sites for species such as red knots flying from South America and the Arctic. Red knots flushed from feeding might not gain the weight they need to survive their more than 9,000-mile migration.
Beach goers are urged to leave their dogs at home or keep them on a leash when visiting a beach where dogs are allowed. Owners who let their dogs chase shorebirds can be fined for harassing federally protected species.
For more information, go to georgiawildlife.org/beachbirds.

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