Restoring Florida’s Beach-nesting Birds

Janell M. Brush

Avian Research Scientist

Fish and Wildlife Research Institute

Florida Fish and Wildlife

Conservation Commission

Shiloh Schulte

Oystercatcher Recovery

Coordinator

Manomet

Species Action Plan

• 4 shorebird species listed as Threatened in Florida.

• FWC developed a recovery plan

Species Action Plan - Objectives

• Meet/Sustain a target number of breeding birds

• Manage suitable habitat to support the birds

• Monitor annual productivity to predict trends

Snowy Plover American Oystercatcher

Black Skimmer Least Tern

Shorebird Program – Infrastructure

Challenges

• Huge coastline

• Geographic and site-specific needs • Capacity and site-level limitations

• Visibility of monitoring

• Recruitment and maintenance of partners

• Provide feedback and allow for input

• Adaptable protocol

• Ongoing training

• Lack of paid staff

Opportunities

• Many people - Boots on the ground

• Minimum standards for data

• Immediate usefulness of data

• Reduce the opportunities for noise in the data

• Bird monitors become influential

• Maintain enthusiasm and efficiency to continue to gain ground

• Training

• Implementation and advocacy

• Develop partnership network to improve data quality

Funding

• Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund

• NFWF fund from BP/Transocean criminal settlement

• Florida partnership submitted a major proposal to fund BNB species recovery

• NFWF looking for a business plan approach to species recovery

Conservation Outcomes

Bachman’s Sparrow

“30% increase in the oystercatcher population (42% marginal

increase over that predicted without increased funding) over a 10-

year time period”

“Business” plan for Florida beach-nesting

birds

• Time-based

• Well-defined goals and outcomes

• Tied to specific funding levels

• Compatible with Florida’s Species Action Plan and the Atlantic Flyway Shorebird Initiative

• Created by the large and diverse set of conservation partners and stakeholders in the state

“Business” plan for Florida beach-nesting

birds

• Collaborative, multi-partner process

• Review of existing data on population status and productivity of focal species

• Setting time-based species population goals

• Strategies and actions linked to AFSI, but Florida-specific

• Included Wilson’s Plover as a focal species

Shorebird Program - Goal

Black Skimmer

Least TernSnowy PloverAmerican OystercatcherWilson’s Plover

Increase the statewide population of breeding pairs of five focal species by 10% by 2029

November 15, 2016……

Reduce Human Disturbance

Habitat Management

Predation Management

Address Management Information Needs

Ensure Effective Monitoring for Focal Species

Improve Conservation Regulations

Strategies

Monitoring is necessary to track progress toward

recovering 10% of the population over 10 years

Reduce Human Disturbance

Habitat Management

Predation Management

Address Management Information Needs

Ensure Effective Monitoring for Focal Species

Improve Conservation Regulations

Posting and Stewardship

Strategies

Reduce Human Disturbance

Habitat Management

Predation Management

Address Management Information Needs

Ensure Effective Monitoring for Focal Species

Improve Conservation Regulations

Developing Ecosystem Centric Plans

Strategies

Reduce Human Disturbance

Habitat Management

Predation Management

Address Management Information Needs

Ensure Effective Monitoring for Focal Species

Improve Conservation Regulations

Developing real-time reporting and locally appropriate

strategies

Strategies

Reduce Human Disturbance

Habitat Management

Predation Management

Address Management Information Needs

Ensure Effective Monitoring for Focal Species

Improve Conservation Regulations

Data analysis support at the local level to support/facilitate on-the-ground near real-time

response to management issues

Strategies

Reduce Human Disturbance

Habitat Management

Predation Management

Address Management Information Needs

Ensure Effective Monitoring for Focal Species

Improve Conservation Regulations

Identify data gaps, test strategies for obtaining accurate information,

implement efficient and effective monitoring strategies

Strategies

Reduce Human Disturbance

Habitat Management

Predation Management

Address Management Information Needs

Ensure Effective Monitoring for Focal Species

Improve Conservation Regulations Developing and ensuring compliance with sound,

enforceable regulations and mitigation supported by science and local data

Strategies

2017-2020

Proposed Work

Reduce Human Disturbance

# of nests protected (including only focal species) 6,500 nests/year

# of sites protected 60 sites / yr

# of stewardship volunteers 750 / yr

# individuals reached by: outreach, training, technical assistance 47,000 people

Critical habitat protected 250 acres / yr

Educational workshops - Law enforcement 150 officers / yr

Conflict resolution activities 25 resolved / yr

Manage Habitat

Secured rooftop nesting sites 33 sites / yr

Improve management, enhancement, and habitat for BNB 13,600 acres

# of Critical Wildlife Areas managed 9

Seek funding for habitat enhancement projects 2 sites proposed

Informed Predation Management

# of sites with predation reduction goals met with NFWF funding 10 sites / yr

% of predation mgmt performed in an adaptive mgmt framework 75%

Improve Regulatory Coordination

% of dredging/nourishment permits including shorebird protection conditions 60%

Information Management and Tracking Outcomes

Miles monitored 600 mi / yr

# Statewide monitoring plans for focal species 5 species

# Developed site-specific adaptive management plans 1

# Established population trend estimates 5 species

Increase the size of the Florida Shorebird Alliance 5% increase

Florida Shorebird Database Enhanced and Expanded

Annual Budget ~2.9 million

Conservation Outcomes

Expanded Shorebird Program - FWC

Species and Habitat Management Adaptive Management