Florida Panhandle Shorebird Working Group
About
The Florida Panhandle Shorebird Working Group (FPSWG) was originally formed in 2007 and now includes partners from federal, state, and local governments as well as non-governmental organizations and individuals.
The goal of the FPSWG is to promote effective management for shorebirds on public and private lands along the coast and barrier islands of the Florida Panhandle, from Escambia to Jefferson Counties. The FPSWG works towards its goal by engaging in the following efforts:
- addressing and filling in information gaps, particularly by providing public and private land managers of important shorebird sites with information about pertinent shorebird issues
- enhancing understanding of and concern for shorebird management issues by law enforcement officials
- enhancing coordination, networking, and communication with biologists, land managers, volunteers, law enforcement, and the public involving pertinent shorebird issues. These efforts are achieved through extensive networking, communication, and appropriate actions taken between partners (biologists, land managers, volunteers, law enforcement, etc.).
The primary mechanisms by which information is exchanged between partners of the FPSWG have been through biannual meetings held in the Panama City area, a user group website, and regular e-mail and phone.
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 Raya Pruner, or Nick Vitale.
Focal Species
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
|---|---|
| American Oystercatcher | Haematopus palliatus |
| Black Skimmer | Rynchops niger |
| Caspian Tern | Hydroprogne caspia |
| Gull-billed Tern | Gelochelidon nilotica |
| Least Tern | Sternula antillarum |
| Royal Tern | Thalasseus maximus |
| Sandwich Tern | Thalasseus sandvicensis |
| Snowy Plover | Charadrius alexandrinus |
| Sooty Tern* | Onychoprion fuscatus |
| Willet | Haematopus palliatus |
| Wilson's Plover | Charadrius wilsonia |
Fun Facts about FPSWG
- The Deepwater Horizon spill had a galvanizing effect on our partnership, and the partnership has proven invaluable as we move into Gulf Restoration post-spill (both for planning and group therapy).
- Because our region is so large, many members have to drive 2-3 hours one-way just to attend the meetings. As a result, our meetings are generally a full day event to make to make it worth it the drive. Our members are devoted, because despite this time commitment, our ranks continue to grow. Currently, we have more than 50 active members!
- Westward ho! We have hosted visitors from Alabama and Mississippi at our past meetings, in the hope of spreading the FSA model to other Gulf states.