As a leading consulting firm, Miller Legg’s Environmental Department does extensive work with native Florida wildlife, including permitting, monitoring, habitat management, and mitigation. We provide consulting services associated with Florida’s protected species including Gopher Tortoise, Burrowing Owls, Sand Hill Crane, Indigo Snake, Bonneted Bat, etc. and the focus of today’s blog, beach nesting birds.
The South Florida Sun-Sentinel Monday, July 5, 2021 noted that a rare population of federally protected seabirds summered in Deerfield Beach last year, which they attributed to an empty beach because of the COVID-19 pandemic. And this year the threatened least terns have returned to Broward again to seek a safe space to birth their chicks just south in Pompano Beach, away from the public areas weeks after fleeing Deerfield Beach because the post pandemic crowds have returned
A 2010 survey by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission found 3,156 nesting pair of least terns on roofs, along with 103 pairs of black skimmers, 177 pairs of roseate terns and a few other species. These birds are migratory and from April through August, they land in North America. Development and people on or near the beaches have seemed to force these beach nesting birds to seek out areas where their nests, eggs and, or babies, won’t be destroyed.
Similarly at Port Everglades, a group of least terns made nests on the roof of a cruise ship terminal, which forced construction crews to work around them during a renovation.
Should you have more questions about shore birds and the implication to construction or roof top repair projects please contact our office. Miller Legg would be happy to assist you with any of your project needs including: project planning, pre-activity, approved surveys and permitting. Contact us at Miller Legg at 1-800 -980-0073 and ask for William Mohler. Or email at wmohler@millerlegg.com We have in-house wildlife professionals that can help.
Find more information on Protected shore birds here: https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/#!categoryid=1149&subcategoryid=16764&status=
