Bird Nesting Season
The Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch is also involved in shorebird monitoring. The bird nesting season on the island is a bit different than the turtle season and it runs from March through August. There are a few tips to observe during that time.- Never touch a shorebird chick, even if it is wandering outside a staked nesting area.
- Teach kids not to chase birds. Bird parents may abandon their nests if they are disturbed.
- Don’t feed birds. It encourages them to fly at people aggressively.
- If birds are screeching or flying at you, you are too close.
- Avoid posted bird nesting areas and use designated walkways to the beach.
- Keep pets away from bird nesting areas. Dogs are not allowed on the beaches of Anna Maria Island.
- Keep the beaches clean. Food scraps attract predators like racoons or crows and litter can entangle birds and other wildlife.