ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. — Florida beaches are home to seabirds who might need a little space this Fourth of July weekend.
Black skimmers are like sea turtles — they return to the same beaches every year to raise their young.
And Audubon Florida is helping humans and birds co-exist today.
“So the black skimmers are a special bird because they are threatened in the state of Florida. And they are an imperiled species,” said Kara Durda, manager of the Audubon Florida Shore Bird program. “So we are here to protect them and get their numbers up.”
There are several skimmer colonies along the Pinellas County barrier islands, and three different seabird species are currently nesting on Ft. Desoto Beach.
Volunteers are working near all the colonies to help explain the seabird and what it needs to raise healthy babies.
Black Skimmers nest on the beaches of Pinellas County in several large colonies, including St. Pete Beach. (Spectrum News)
Fourth of July festivities add another layer of potential danger to the skimmers.
“Fireworks can be really scary for these birds. And they will sometimes abandon their nests or their eggs completely. And it can actually literally scare the chicks to death,” said Durda.
Extra signs encourage a more serene setting for these seabirds during the holiday weekend.
Durda suggests people leave their pets and personal fireworks at home — along with avoiding walking through the colonies — some babies are hard to spot and birds lay their eggs right on the beach in shallow nests.