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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