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Shorebirds

HELP PROTECT SOUTH CAROLINA'S SEABIRD COLONIES

UPDATE!
Audubon members responded and South Carolina's seabird nesting islands now have regulations that adequately protect them! Bird Key Stono and Crab Bank are both closed to humans and pets from March 15th of each year to October 15th of each year. Deveaux Bank, because of its large size, will have some recreational uses below the mean high tide line, such as sportfishing.

As part of its initiative to protect seabirds and restore South Carolina's nesting populations to their former size, Audubon south Carolina has agreed to help fund an educational and monitoring position with the Department of Natural Resources to educate the public about the new regulations and monitor seabird and human activity on the islands. DONATE NOW to help support this effort.

BACKGROUND
Despite South Carolina’s multitude of barrier islands (an estimated 3,000 on the lower coast alone) only five are known to support seabird nesting. Among them are Bird Key, Crab Bank and Deveaux Bank, properties under the protection and ownership of the Heritage Preserve System and Audubon Important Bird Areas.

These properties were brought into the ownership of the Heritage Preserve System due to their critical nature to seabirds. Current regulations close nesting areas on these properties during the nesting season. Each year DNR staff post warnings and set up rope barriers to protect the nesting sites. However, these attempts at controlling intrusions into the nesting areas have failed. Footprints and dog tracks literally criss-cross the nesting sites.

Evidence is showing that disturbance is having an impact on nesting seabirds – birds that nest in large groups and are extremely vulnerable when even one of these sites are impacted. They have literally put all of their eggs in one basket. In the early 1990’s Bird Key was the largest Brown Pelican rookery in the entire United States, boasting over 4,000 nests each year. There were no nesting Brown Pelicans on Bird Key in 2005 and signs point to disturbance as a major factor. Our state’s total population of Brown Pelicans is reaching a low level not seen since the days before the ban on DDT.

The Heritage Trust Advisory Board and the Board for the Department of Natural Resources have taken steps to reverse this decline in nesting success and overall populations in South Carolina. They have recently passed a Motion closing the preserves entirely to human visitation during the nesting season and banning dogs from the preserves year-round. The regulations will allow boat landing below the high tide mark only from October 16th through March 14th, when the birds are absent.

This matter will now come before the state Budget and Control Board, as they are the technical owners of the islands. Take a minute to CONTACT the BCB and your state Senator and Representative and show your support for protecting this critical habitat and South Carolina's seabirds.

Also, please THANK the Heritage Trust Advisory Board and the DNR Board for their stance on this issue.