For those planning on visiting one of Florida’s 1,100 miles of beaches in the coming weeks, Audubon of Florida has issued a warning to watch out for the birds who call these beaches home.
It is nesting season for many types of birds, and according to conservationists, if the mother bird is frightened away from the nest, her eggs can fry in the hot Florida sun in minutes.
Dave Kandz, conservation chair for the St. Petersburg Audubon Society, said Audubon volunteers, armed with telescopes, will be visiting some beaches to educate beachgoers about how to protect nesting birds.
“We’re not really out there to be enforcers, although it is illegal to harass a threatened species,” Kandz said. “We’re mostly out there to educate the public, and to show people through the telescopes what these beautiful nesting birds look like.”
Nesting birds find even leashed dogs to be a threat, said Kandz.
