Group works to educate beachgoers on protecting wildlife

Marilyn Parker
·2 min read

ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. (WFLA ) — While thousands were out on beaches enjoying the Fourth of July, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission sent a reminder that we share the beach with the state’s endangered and imperiled sea turtles, shorebirds, seabirds, and wading birds.

“Skimmers have been nesting here since before any of us was born,” said Ginger Goepper, a volunteer with the St. Petersburg Audubon Society.

The group, along with professors and students from Eckard College, were on St. Pete Beach Thursday fencing off sections where skimmers were nesting eggs. They placed signs along the fence, and wore shirts that said “ask us about the birds.” Their goal is to educate beachgoers while protecting the birds.

Ellie Almand is a timeshare resident and every year for the Fourth of July, she stays in a resort near where the fenced off birds are. She said the organization is putting the needs of animals over people.

“I think it’s awesome that they want to protect nature. But it’s a little, a little bit over the top,” Almand said. “I understand there’s a respect, I get it. But I think that it’s just a little bit too restrictive for residents that are paying good money to be able to stay and enjoy the Fourth of July on the beach.”

Almand said the birds leave a smell in the morning and take up a chunk of the beach.

We asked the Audubon Society if there is a way to compromise.

“It’s against the law for us to go and try to move them,” said Beth Forys, a biology professor and Audubon member. “You can’t. We don’t have a good way to alter where they want to nest. It’s hard, yeah. But if we want to have wildlife left, species like this, the black skimmer, 300 pairs left in Florida, we’ve got to do something.”

Forys said the fewer disturbances, the faster the nesting goes. She reminds people these birds are federally protected.

FWC offers these tips to beachgoers:

  • Give beach nesting birds at least 300 ft of space to avoid causing them to fly away leaving vulnerable eggs and chicks exposed to dangerous elements and predators.

  • If you see a sea turtle nesting on the beach, keep at least 50 ft away. Remember it’s illegal to harm or disturb nesting sea turtles, their nests and eggs, or to pick up hatchlings.

  • Never enter the posed areas.

  • Properly dispose of your trash and fill in all human made holes in the sand before sunset.

  • Leave the fireworks to the professionals. Keep fireworks off the beach.

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