Headed to the Beach? Follow These Tips for a Bird-Friendly Visit

Watch where you step. 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. Encourage kids to learn about, and watch out for, birds. Ask them to play a safe distance away from nesting birds to avoid disturbing bird families. A good way to spot areas to avoid is to look out for “nesting area” signs posted along the beach, or areas with temporary fencing.

Pick up plastic. Birds can be killed by plastic pollution when they accidentally ingest it or become tangled in it. To cut down on plastic at the beach, discard fishing line appropriately, properly dispose of your plastic bottles and containers, and pick up any litter you find along the shore.

Don’t feed gulls. 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.

Know the cues. Beachgoers often can’t tell the difference between a bird that is simply sitting on the sand and one that is tending eggs, a nest, or chicks. But certain signals and behaviors indicate the presence of nesting birds. Nesting birds will often call loudly, dive-bomb perceived intruders, or feign injury to lead you away from the nest. If you see any of these behaviors, move away from the birds until they no longer seem agitated.

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 »