This is the time of year that shorebirds begin nesting along the coast which means that people should take extra care while wandering the beaches. Florida's shorebirds generally begin nesting in April.
Many birds nesting in Franklin County build their nests on the old St. George Island bridge causeway – which can only be reached by boat. The St George island causeway as well as the Bird Island off the high hump of the Apalachicola Bridge are both off limits to people through nesting season which ends august 31st.
But there are also nesting sites along local beaches and in state parks which are still vulnerable to humans.
To help protect shorebird nests, State and federal wildlife biologists recommend that visitors maintain a minimum distance of 300 feet from nesting colonies. Keep pets on a leash and away from posted areas. And avoid flying kites around nesting colonies, which can be mistaken as predators" by the adult birds, leaving nests exposed to extreme heat from the summer sun.
All nesting shorebirds are protected by state and federal law so if you find a disturbed nest, an injured bird, or some other wildlife violation report it to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 1-888-404-3922.
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