“For Counting Terns and Building Community”
Chapter Broadens Scope to Monitor All Shorebirds

We also participated in an annual shorebird survey conducted in conjunction with Flagler Audubon held every year on the first weekend in February. This year the beach was surveyed from Nassau Sound all the way down to the Cape. The idea is to broaden our conservation efforts to include all the shorebirds that use our beaches and sandbars. Especially, we are concentrating on endangered and threatened species such as Red Knots and Piping Plovers.

Our chapter is glad to have Monique Borboen, Audubon of Florida’s Policy Associate, in the new northeast office. Monique is a big asset to our area and represents Audubon of Florida’s commitment to conservation in our region. She is leading the charge for the shorebirds in northeast Florida.  The location of her new office at Marineland indicates the importance of our area to Audubon of Florida’s conservation efforts.

Last year brought a record number of Least Tern nests to Matanzas inlet. At the peak we counted 238 nests. Matanzas had the only successful ground colony of Least Terns last year in St. Johns County. The birds attempted nesting again at Anastasia State Park. However, they were unsuccessful due to predation. We did locate two new rooftop colonies. One was on the St. Johns County jail and the other on a motel at I-95 and Highway 16.  We will be out looking for more rooftop nesting this summer.  Wilson’s Plovers and Willets nested at both Anastasia and Matanzas.

Our shorebird partners met in February to lay plans for the upcoming season. We had 30 people in attendance. All of our county, state, and federal partners were represented, as well as law enforcement.  This partnership is proving invaluable in sharing and up-dating information, and in coordinating all our efforts.

At our annual training session on April 4th, we plan to focus on our stewardship program. This is the education component of the project. Not only will we be counting birds, but we will have volunteers interacting with the public at the colony locations. Look for us. Our volunteers will be in the bright green vests. The stewardship program is a great opportunity for someone who just likes to spend a few hours at the beach to join our team, no experience necessary.

If you would like to join our team, you can participate as a surveyor, a steward, or both. Contact me at kq4sy@bellsouth.net . The training session will be held on April 4th from 8 am until noon at Audubon office in Marineland.

Ned Shuler, Shorebird Project Coordinator and Conservation Chair 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Goals:   

- To monitor and protect nesting beach nesting and their habitats in St. Johns County  

- To educate our membership and the general public about beach nesting birds and their plight  

- To energize and motivate our members through involvement in project activities  

- To coordinate our efforts with county, state, and federal agencies doing beach nesting bird monitoring  

- To enter data collected by our volunteers into the statewide FWC database  

- To expand our Beach Nesting Bird (BNB) Working Group to standardize and improve future efforts  

Thanks to all our volunteers!

Some have more time to help than others, but they have all done what they were able to do.  We know that these wonderful people will continue to make great contributions to our SJCAS nesting bird projects as they evolve over the next several years.  These are the wonderful grassroots people who make an Audubon chapter relevant. 

Volunteers:

Ned Shuler, Diane Reed, Peggy Cook, Fran Preston, Margaret Carver, Glenda Kelsey, Teddy Shuler, Ali Fulcher, Stephanie Kruger, Andrew Thornton, Charles VanderKolk, Joanna VanderKolk, Janet Koehler, Sarah Stanberry, Allan Altman, Diane Schleissing, Gina Burrell, Jen Hyde, Jim Novelly, Jo Hendrickson, JoAnn Simmons, Katie Brower Kelly Shuford, Marcella Matthaei, Peggy Barns, Peggy Friedmann, Tina VanGhent

Our Agency Partners:

St. Johns County:  Tara Dodson, Habitat Conservation Plan Coordinator 

State Parks:  Jason DePue, Regional Biologist; Paul Crawford, Manager, Anastasia State Park; Mitch Clark, Asst. Manager Anastasia State Park; Shelley Young, Park Specialist, Anastasia State Park.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission:  Alex Kropp, Regional Biologist; Amanda Sigman, Asst. Regional Biologist, Chris Burney, Shorebird Partnership Coordinator. 

GTMNERR: Andrew Thorton,Biologist: Linda Melching Shorebird Surveyor 

National Park Service at Fort Matanzas: Andrew Rich, Scott Galbraith  

Whitney Lab: Lynn Milstead      

For further information on the project and/or to volunteer contact Ned Shuler at 904-819-5860 or via email at kq4sy@bellsouth.net 

What a season!! After a strong nor'easter in which we lost the 227 Least Tern nests at Matanzas, we have had remarkable re-nesting. As of Friday there were 175 new nests. Porpoise Point also has a nice sized new colony, adding more birds each day. As of yesterday there were over 100 hundred individual birds with 17 nests that are visible. There could be that many, if not more, behind the dunes. We don't want to try and count them at this critical time. I can't help but think that stopping the driving during nesting has had an effect on this. Now we can see the importance of our data and monitoring over the last several years.
Super Job everyone!

Wilson's Plovers and chicks have been counted in all areas. The driving ban allows them a safer access to the water for feeding.

I would like to welcome our new stewards for Porpoise Point and especially thank the people at Guana for pointing them in our direction. They are Bradley Smith, Janet Zimmerman, Susan Stephens, Melissa Kunkel and Parrish Jones.

Thanks go out to Katie Brower and Melinda Clemons. They have been out to Porpoise Point on a weekly basis, monitoring and keeping twine and flagging repaired. Along with them, Teddy and I have been out with Alan Altman and Monique Borboen. Tina Van Ghent has stopped by after putting in a shift at Matanzas.

Speaking of Matanzas, Peggy Cook and her group have been very busy. We want to thank them for their great work, especially for the extra effort they made during the height of the storm. They are: Fran Preston, Alan Altman, Lynn Miller, Linda Martino, Carmen Martino, Tina Van Ghent, Summer Goldman, Ali Fulcher, Marcella Matthaei, Bob Hanna, Stephanie Krueger, Monique Borboen, and Peggy Cook.

Anastasia State Park has not had any Least Terns this year mainly due to habitat lost. However, Tina, Teddy and I continue to check.  There are several pairs of Wilson's with chicks. Boy, Tina is all over the place. Thanks!

The only activity reported on rooftops are, the jail and 4 birds on the American Inn by the outlet mall. Thanks to Amy Meide, Jan Brewer, and Diane Reed for your efforts. I've located some other possibilities and will be getting those to you soon.

Finally, we are scheduling for Matanzas and Porpoise Point. Peggy Cook is the contact for Matanzas. You can contact her at Irateparrot@aol.com . Contact me for Porpoise Point. kq4sy@bellsouth,net .

My plan for Porpoise Point is to set up a schedule for the rest of the season. I'll use this year's active volunteers but will also contact those of you who have not been out. If you haven't already given me your time preferences, send them to me. The dates are June and July, Saturdays and Sundays, 9-12, 12-3, 3-6.

The St Johns County Shorebird Partnership appreciates all you do. Thanks to each and every one of you.

Ned Shuler
Conservation Chair, St. Johns County Audubon Society
323 Arpieka Ave.
St. Augustine, FL  32080
kq4sy@bellsouth.net
904-819-5860