About

Mission

The Florida Shorebird Alliance (FSA) is a statewide network of local partnerships committed to advancing shorebird and seabird conservation in Florida.  FSA partners collaborate to identify and address important needs regarding research, management, education, outreach, and public policy.  

Background

Shorebirds and seabirds face many challenges in Florida and protecting them is no small task.  Although the coastline stretches nearly 1200 statute miles, 13 million people live on or near the coast and another 50 million people visit the beaches annually on vacation.  Because of widespread coastal development, Florida’s shorebirds and seabirds have few places left to go.  Native coastal habitat is now largely confined to public lands where conservation is a high priority, but not the only one.  Even within these remnants, shorebirds and seabirds must regularly contend with multiple human-related challenges (e.g. pollution, pets, foot traffic).  Due to the multitude of pressures, some of Florida’s imperiled shorebirds and seabirds are management-dependent species.  If they are not actively protected, their populations may not thrive into the future.  

Fortunately, there are many dedicated organizations and individuals throughout the state diligently working to protect Florida's amazing diversity of shorebirds and seabirds.  Realizing that the conservation and management of these species is beyond the reach of any one agency or organization, in 2009 a network of local partnerships were created to make the most of limited resources.  The partnerships are comprised of individuals and groups from the public, the private sector, and a wide range of government agencies.   

By linking these partnerships and forming a statewide network, the FSA facilitates increased information exchange, better coordination of effort, and more consistency in monitoring and management at a statewide scale.  Partnerships meet regularly to coordinate monitoring and management efforts that ensure important sites within their respective areas are adequately protected.  

Banner Photo Credit: Britt Brown
Resources Photo Credit: Jack  Rogers