St. Pete Beach is again home to a large colony of Black Skimmers, a state-threated seabird species that nests directly onto the sand in large numbers. This year, the colony is reaching close to 500 individuals that are laying their eggs in shallow “scrapes” they dig with their mate. Three to five well-camouflaged eggs are laid, and both the male and female take turns incubating for almost 4 weeks. Fluffy, sand-colored chicks then hatch, and they depend solely on their parents to bring them fish to eat. It will take another month or so for the chicks to become “flight-capable” and ready to move away from the colony. In order to have another year of success, the Black Skimmers need our help. Share the beach, and follow these steps to create a safe habitat for the skimmers and their chicks:
- Keep your distance. If the birds become upset, walk away and give them space.
- Respect posted areas and walk around large flocks. Adult skimmers that are disturbed can fly away, leaving their eggs and chicks vulnerable to the hot sun and predators. Avoid flushing the birds by staying out of a colony and avoiding running through groups of skimmers.
- Keep pets away from nesting areas. Even well-behaved pets, such as dogs, can look like a predator to the skimmers. Taking pets to designated beaches will help avoid a colony abandoning their nesting site.
- Keep the beach clean. Leaving trash on the beach can attract animals that are predators to the nesting skimmers, such as crows and gulls.
- Become a bird steward and help educate the public about the Black Skimmers! Contact Holley Short at hshort@audubon.org for more information about volunteering with Audubon Florida.
Information courtesy of Audubon Florida.