Sullivan's Island Winter-Spring 2019-20

21 www.SullivansIslandMagazine.com | www.SullivansIslandHomes.com [ Feature ] which enlists a trained corps of citizen volunteers who visit areas from a list of important nesting sites in South Carolina and encourage people to pay attention to birds. The aim is that these stewards will foster awareness and appreciation of birds like the Wilson’s plover. “Volunteers that get into it can make a huge difference,” said Schillerstrom. The awareness expands beyond nesting to include migrating birds who stop here for a rest on their long journey to the Arctic. Anyone who is interested can join the Shorebird Stewards program (children under 18 require adult supervision). Contact Audubon South Carolina and plan to attend one of the next volunteer training workshops, which are typically held in February and March. So why should people care about protecting a Wilson’s plover? “If you have Wilson’s plovers on your beach, then it means you have a healthy beach,” explained Schillerstrom. “It’s a sign of balance. And your local town or community are being good stewards of the environment.” Tips to protect the Wilson’s plover and other threatened South Carolina shorebirds: • Avoid posted nesting and feeding areas. Entering these areas can result in a loss of eggs or chicks and can lead to civil or criminal penalties. • Keep your dog on a leash. Dogs can chase and harass shorebirds, which causes the birds to expend valuable time and energy. During the summer, dogs can destroy nests and kill chicks. • Avoid walking, biking or boating through large flocks of birds. The actions of one person can be detrimental to hundreds of birds when walking through a flock. Make every attempt to walk around the flock. • Teach others to appreciate South Carolina’s shorebirds, which are a vitally important part of the barrier island ecosystem and a sign of a wild and healthy beach. Atlantic and Gulf coasts and tidal flats from Virginia to Central America, the Wilson’s plover is named for ornithologist Alexander Wilson. The birds are identified by their brown backs and heads, white undersides and short, stout bills. Its thick black bill and larger size help distinguish it from other similar-looking plovers. Like most birds, coloration varies based on season and sex. The male has a single black band on its chest and a black brow on its head during the breeding season. In the non-breeding season, males have a brown chest band and all-brown heads, while females display brown colors year-round. Threats to breeding and habitat The factors most responsible for the Wilson’s plover’s decline ring a familiar tune: loss of beach habitat from urbanization and other human development pose the biggest threats, much as they do for the endangered piping plovers, and the federally-threatened red knot, which have both occasionally been spotted on the islands. Since the Wilson’s plover nests on beaches above high tide, dune areas and along the edges of lagoons, they are especially vulnerable and sensitive to disturbances from beach recreation and management. Additionally, as a shorebird inhabiting coastal areas, it is susceptible to climate change and rising sea levels. “There’s a difficult balance between human use and bird use,” noted Schillerstrom. He is hopeful though that our local beach-goers will become more aware of shorebird nests. Audubon South Carolina is aiding these conservation efforts by working with the community and attracting citizen volunteers to help protect birds in peril. They have helped educate students at Sullivan’s Island Elementary on shorebirds and their needs, and even collaborated on developing seasonal signs that Audubon places on Sullivan’s Island to inform people of Wilson’s plover nesting areas. Then there is Audubon’s Shorebird Stewards program, Nolan Schillerstrom (second from left), Town Administrator Andy Benke (third from left) and other volunteers work to protect the Wilson’s plovers’ habitat. Courtesy of Audubon South Carolina. Photo by Kathy Cline. A Wilson’s plover and chick find shelter in the dunes.