Nine Ways To Share The Beach With Shorebirds This Summer

To help shorebirds -- many of which are rare or endangered -- is to carefully observe them and respect them by giving them the space they need

A beach-nesting shorebird and her newly-hatched chick. (Credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife Service / Public Domain.)

Ah, it’s finally summer! Which of course means fun in the sun on the beach! Even though we’re all having fun chasing Pokémon, playing beach volleyball or flying kites, surfing, reading trashy novels, roasting marshmallows and drinking beverages festooned with colorful paper umbrellas, it’s easy to overlook those who live at the beach.

I am referring to birds -- beach-nesting and beach-feeding birds. Unfortunately, one moment of disregard by holidaymakers, Pokémon hunters, free-roaming dogs or volleyball players can be disaster for shorebird families.