Thanks to your voices, the wildlife of Fort Matanzas is a step closer to be better protected. Courageously, local Audubon advocates spoke for the birds at public meetings in front of National Park staff and the board of county commissioners. Nearly 2,000 people from around the country sent in written comments to help protect the nesting sea turtles, Least Terns, Wilson's Plovers, and a variety of shorebirds, seabirds, and wading birds that call this National Monument home.

Audubon Advocates supported keeping the one mile long park’s beach car-free and encouraged increased natural resources protection and interpretation. Now, thanks to you, a majority of people have expressed their support of Fort Matanazas' stated purpose to “conserve … resources … for the benefit of future generations …” and “to permit recreational opportunities … which do not impair park resources.”

Audubon Florida and our valued supporters have been working on this issue for four years, but it will still take a little while longer for the management plan to be finalized. Conservation achievements take patience and endurance - thank you for staying the course for our magnificent coastal wildlife!

Let’s hope that soon this beach will get the protection it deserves forever, giving Wilson’s Plovers and sea turtle babies the safe habitat they need to survive.