The Fourth of July holiday weekend is almost here, and in Sarasota, that means sun, sand and fireworks. But it's important to remember that humans aren't the only ones using the beach at this time of year. Our shores are also home to colonies of nesting birds, including least terns and black skimmers, who rely on human decency to keep their eggs and hatchlings safe. Black skimmer and least tern nesting season runs from April through August, and both species are considered threatened, meaning they're protected by law. Tampering with the birds or their nests is a crime. 

"There are currently about 800 black skimmer adults and 300 chicks running around on Lido Key," says Evan Powers, Audubon Florida's Sarasota stewardship coordinator. Powers, 22, is an ecologist who worked with Save Our Seabirds and Mote's Sea Turtle Research and Conservation Program before joining Florida Audubon. "The least terns haven't been having the best season, but they've finally settled on Lido Key. There are about 120 least tern adults and 40 nests there." 

Those least terns were especially affected by last year's hurricane season, which wreaked havoc on South Lido Beach, their preferred nesting spot. "Our birds have a lot of site fidelity," Powers explains. "If they have a successful nesting season in one place, they'll return year after year."

After Hurricanes Helene and Milton tore through, destroying the dunes, the least terns—knowing their habitat had been destroyed—tried to settle down on Longboat Key instead. However, urban predators like raccoons and crows attacked the birds' nests, forcing them to relocate again. They eventually landed next to the black skimmer colonies on North Lido. 

"It's been rough for the least terns this year," Powers admits.

That's why it's especially important to be mindful of the colonies during the summer holidays. "At Audubon, we say 'share the shore,'" Powers says. Here are his tips for doing that.

How to Keep Nesting Shorebirds Safe Over the Fourth of July Holiday Weekend

Don't set off fireworks near bird colonies

Instead of setting off your own fireworks on the beach, Powers suggests attending a municipal fireworks display (find our list of where to watch them here). "Loud noises stress the birds and can cause a nest to fail," he says. "A lot of the black skimmer chicks that are running around right now are flightless." If the adult black skimmers fly away due to the noise from the fireworks, the chicks that are left behind are vulnerable to threats from predators and the intense summer heat.

Fireworks also disrupt skimmers' normal feeding behaviors. At this time of year, they're constantly fishing for their chicks. "If they're not catching food because they're disrupted by fireworks, those chicks could potentially starve," Powers says.

Pick up your trash

"If there’s trash left everywhere, it attracts predators that can get far too close to a colony," Powers explains. If those predators discover that there are hundreds of chicks nearby, they can devastate a colony. "Be responsible and clean up after yourself," Powers says. 

Don't "flush" bird colonies

We've all probably seen a child run excitedly into a group of shorebirds standing idly near the water, causing them to immediately take flight. (We may even have been that person ourselves at some point.) It's called "flushing," and while it creates a feathered spectacle, it also causes chaos for bird colonies.

"Birds standing by the shoreline are resting and cooling down, or catching fish for their chicks, who are flightless," Powers says. "If someone runs through the group, the adults fly away and the flightless chicks are left abandoned." You'll often see large signs asking beachgoers to walk around the groups of birds—that's why it's important to heed them.

Understand that bird colonies are affected by development and habitat change

While our shores are still home to nesting colonies of black skimmers and least terns, we used to be a safe place for birds like snowy plovers, American oystercatchers and occasionally Wilson's plovers to lay their eggs, too. That's no longer the case, says Powers.

"Siesta Key used to be known for snowy plovers, but the habitat there has changed a lot," Powers says. "Snowy plovers are solitary nesting birds, which means they have one nest and need a huge territory to roam. It's not something they can find on Siesta Key anymore." You might still see these birds on the beaches, but they've moved on to a safer space to lay their eggs. 

Remember that shorebird colonies help build climate resilience

"People often ask, 'Why should I care about shorebirds?'" Powers says. "It's not necessarily in a negative way; they're curious." His answer: More shorebird species means more biodiversity, which creates more complex ecosystems and climate resiliency. 

"Shorebirds who are nesting, eating and pooping for months are fertilizing our soil, causing seagrass to grow," he says. "That means the seagrass roots are getting deeper and stabilizing the sand. When the sand blows into the seagrass, the dunes get higher. On Lido Key, you can clearly see that within the posted colony area, the grasses are greener and the dunes are higher. That means the next time there's a hurricane or an intense storm, the dunes will act as a natural barrier and help prevent flooding. Plus, they're pretty. 

Ask questions

Powers stresses that he and his cohort of Sarasota volunteers are eager to educate the public about the importance of protecting shorebirds. Colonies are roped off and monitored by volunteers, who wear shirts that say "Ask Me About the Birds."  "It's such a fun community to be involved in," Powers says. "The birds need their habitat, and we want people to be able to enjoy the beach," he says. "Most people are so receptive and supportive of what we're doing. We can all coexist here."