Sections of local beaches to close temporarily for nesting shorebirds
21.05.12
Sections of Big Marco Pass Critical Wildlife Area, known locally as Sand Dollar Island, will be closed as of Tuesday, April 3.
Caxambas Pass Critical Wildlife Area also will be closed on April 3.
Portions of Marco Island city beach (just south of Tigertail Beach) will be closed in mid-April.
Areas will remain closed until the end of nesting season in mid-August or until nesting is complete, whichever comes first.
The four species that nest in these protected areas are the least tern, black skimmer, snowy plover and Wilsons plover.
The least tern and snowy plover are listed as state-threatened and the black skimmer is a state species of special concern, and the three birds will be included in the FWCs shorebird management plan that is being written.
FWC biologists, with the help of volunteers, manage the nesting areas to maximize nesting success for these species.
Nesting areas will be closed off with symbolic fencing, which consists of signs connected by twine and marked with flagging.
Source: The News-Press