¿Vas a la playa? Sigue estos consejos para una visita amigable con las aves.

Mira dónde pisas. Beach-nesting birds lay their eggs directly on the sand, and those eggs are camouflaged to blend in with their surroundings. ABC recommends that beachgoers avoid areas where large congregations of birds occur.

Pay attention to signs. Visitors should respect areas that are roped off or marked with signs indicating that beach-nesting birds are in the vicinity.

Teach children to play responsibly and avoid shorebird nesting areas. Anime a los niños a aprender sobre las aves y a estar atentos a ellas. Pídales que jueguen a una distancia prudencial de las aves que anidan para evitar molestar a las familias. Una buena manera de identificar las zonas que deben evitarse es buscar señales de "zona de anidación" en la playa o zonas con cercas temporales.

Recoge plástico. Las aves pueden morir por contaminación plástica Cuando lo ingieren accidentalmente o se enredan en él. Para reducir el plástico en la playa, deseche el sedal de forma adecuada, deseche correctamente las botellas y envases de plástico y recoja la basura que encuentre en la orilla.

No alimentes a las gaviotas. Gulls like the Ring-billed and Laughing Gull are observant opportunists, and feeding them will soon draw in even more of these seaside scavengers. That’s bad news for shorebirds, because gulls are after more than just your fries — they will also eat eggs and vulnerable chicks on the ground when given the chance. Human food is also a choking hazard and lower in nutrients than gulls’ natural diet; eating it can make them more susceptible to disease.

Keep your dogs on leashes — or at home. Free-roaming dogs mimic natural predators in the eyes of a bird, causing stress and even direct harm to nests, chicks, and adult birds. Dogs can also overheat and/or become dehydrated at the beach, so for their safety as well as that of the birds, consider keeping them at home.

Conozca las señales. Los bañistas a menudo no distinguen entre un ave que simplemente está posada en la arena y otra que cuida huevos, un nido o polluelos. Sin embargo, ciertas señales y comportamientos indican la presencia de aves anidando. Estas aves suelen graznar con fuerza, lanzarse en picado sobre intrusos percibidos o fingir estar heridas para alejarte del nido. Si observas alguno de estos comportamientos, aléjate de las aves hasta que dejen de parecer inquietas.

Stay close to the water. Most nesting birds tend to use higher parts of the beach, away from the surf. It should be possible to avoid conflict with beach nesters so long as people remain close to the water and away from the dunes or areas behind dunes.

Taking these actions will do far more than allow these beach-nesting birds to survive. They will profoundly improve your beach-going experience with an increased awareness of place and appreciation of nature.

Different regions have different species nesting on the beaches, but many have similar behaviors and reactions to being disturbed. Knowing what species you might encounter will help you avoid harming the birds, and it can make your beach trip even more fun.

Least Terns, our smallest tern species, and Black Skimmers nest in colonies along the Gulf Coast. Least Terns are known for their tendency to fly low and hover over prey in the water, and Black Skimmers have a remarkable foraging strategy, using its longer lower mandible to skim the water for fish. Wilson’s and Snowy Plovers maintain single-pair territories, but can often be found within Least Tern colonies. Best spotted as they scurry along the waterline in search of food, both plover species are small, but the Wilson’s is a bit larger, and also boasts a larger bill. American Oystercatchers, unmistakable shorebirds of considerable size with prominent orange bills and orange-ringed eyes, tend to be more spread out and favor both beach habitat and islands covered with oyster shells (especially along the upper coast of Texas). Beaches along the Gulf Coast also serve as important migratory staging areas where hundreds of birds gather as they make their way north to breed.

Federally Threatened Piping Plovers can be found on Atlantic Coast beaches extending from North Carolina to Maine. They are especially concentrated along the northeastern coast, notably along the beaches of Long Island, New York, and the southern Delmarva Peninsula. Other species you might encounter include the Least Tern, Black Skimmer, American Oystercatcher, and Wilson’s Plover. The Red Knot, a chunky migratory shorebird, times its journey to its Arctic breeding grounds to coincide with the spawning of horseshoe crab eggs in the Delaware Bay. In May and June, knots gather by the thousands to feast on the crab eggs to fuel the last (and longest) leg of their travels. Knots stopping by the Bay have already endured a grueling migratory journey, with some coming from as far away as Tierra del Fuego.

Inland beaches are also crucial habitats for shorebirds, and the Great Lakes area shouldn’t be overlooked. Federally Endangered Great Lakes Piping Plovers are making a comeback and expanding their range to include historic nesting areas, including places like Illinois and Ohio. Other shorebird species, such as the Killdeer, also rely on these areas. The beaches of the Great Lakes are important stopover sites for many shorebird species during migration.

You can help American Bird Conservancy conserve shorebirds and seabirds throughout the Western Hemisphere by making a tax-deductible gift now!

Find ways to take action on bird-friendly legislation via the ABC Action Center »