Audubon's Monique Borboen explains to fourth graders how Least Terns will poop on anybody getting too close to their nest! Effective at keeping predators at bay, isn’t it?

Thumbs up: yes, people and birds can share the beach if beach visitors respect nesting areas and walk around flocks of birds. Wide eyed faces and surprised looks: the Audubon presenter lifted the Least Tern decoy revealing three eggs – yes not all birds nest in trees, some lay their eggs right on the sand of the beach!

Over 100 St. Johns County 3-5 graders learned about shorebirds and seabirds at the Audubon Florida booth during Scenic A1A Kids Ocean Day. For 15 minutes, each class learned the beach is vital habitat for birds and, thanks to the Audubon Adventures Sharing our Shores unit, discussed the dos and don’ts around birds of the shore.

A test of their knowledge during a thumbs up/thumbs down (true/false) session revealed that, like so many adults, they didn't know parent beach birds stayed on their eggs and chicks to keep them cool - the Florida sun is so hot that it can kill in twenty minutes of exposure. Many did not realize that birds standing on one leg at the water’s edge with their head tucked under their wing were actually sleeping, but the students left promising to walk around the birds to let them sleep (and feed) undisturbed. Trash on the beach was a unanimous don’t but it took some explanation to convince all that cleaning up the seaweed (wrack) was also a don’t. Everyone agreed that following a few simple guidelines we can “share the shores” with the birds.

Education is the first step in conservation so please help us spread the word. And do not be concerned: the eggs in the sand box model of a beach-nesting bird site weren't real, just jelly beans with dots added!

A great day on the beach with young learners!