Treasure Coast Partnership
About
Formed in 2012, the goal of the Treasure Coast Shorebird Partnership is to conserve shorebird and seabird populations from Martin to Indian River counties through collaborative efforts between government agencies, non-government organizations, and individuals.
Get Involved
Our needs are seasonal based but the peak of activity occurs during the breeding season. Here are a few ways to get involved:
- Attend partnership meetings in the spring and fall
- Become a Rooftop Steward
- Become a Beach-nesting Bird Monitor
- Become a Bird Steward
- If you hook a bird, don’t cut the line! Reel. Remove. Release.
- Report any wildlife violations to the FWC Wildlife Alert or call the Hotline 888-404-FWCC (3922)
Local Contact
To learn more about the partnership and to get involved, email Niki Desjardin, Hailey Dedmon, Ricardo Zambrano, or Alex Kropp.
Focal Species
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
|---|---|
| American Oystercatcher | Haematopus palliatus |
| Black Skimmer | Rynchops niger |
| Least Tern | Sternula antillarum |
| Wilson's Plover | Charadrius wilsonia |
3 Fun Facts about the Treasure Coast
- We have ~65 miles of coastline with an average of 3 ground nesting sites and 25 roof nesting sites to survey. There are also colonies and solitary sites that pop up on spoil islands and storm water treatment areas. All of this is monitored by a core group of about 20 active participants!
- In 2013, several barrier islands were constructed in front of the Ft. Pierce Marina and downtown area for storm water protection. The southernmost island, Tern Island, is designated as a nature preserve and has already attracted a colony of Least Terns during the 2014 nesting season! The city restricts human access and manages vegetation during the off season to continue to attract nesting shorebirds.
- In 2014, the FWC designated Bird Island in Martin County as a Critical Wildlife Area. This designation protects nesting and roosting shorebirds and wading birds year round from human disturbance by restricting access within a 30-150 foot buffer zone around the island.
Photo Credit: Britt Brown