The relatively undisturbed miles of Gulf of America beach and dunes of the barrier islands provide essential habitats for a number of endangered and rare birds. Since 1985, Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve (ANERR) has concentrated most of its avian management efforts on several listed species, including least terns, black skimmers and American oystercatchers, which use habitats within the reserve for breeding and nesting. 

Stewardship staff serve as a liaison and partner in conservation for local shorebird and seabird activities. Listed shorebird and seabird monitoring within the Reserve focuses on many sites: Bird Island, a dredge spoil island located just south of the Apalachicola Bridge; the old St. George Island bridge causeway; several elevated oyster spits including Nicks Hole Bar, L-Bar, and Pilots’ Cove; the Eastpoint breakwaters; Flag Island; and the gulf and bayside beaches of St. Vincent Island, St. George Island and Little St. George Island. Species such as the state-listed threatened American oystercatcher, black skimmer, least tern, and snowy plover, as well as other key species including the Wilson’s plover, Caspian tern, royal tern, sandwich tern and brown pelican utilize these dynamic sites as both critical nesting and foraging habitat. Many of the species prefer sandy soil, rocky or shell substrates, and therefore habitat management strategies incorporate removal of vegetation down to shell hash by mechanical means or with use of prescribed fire. Since the Gulf Intercoastal Waterway continues to be dredged, and Bird Island is an active spoil site, ANERR works with the USACE to appropriately place material on the island, maintaining the best substrate and habitat for the species utilizing that area. Before nesting season, Audubon, FWC, and ANERR staff temporarily post precautionary signs at all active nest locations or sites, notifying potential users that those areas are closed for the nesting season. March – September shorebird nesting site awareness is also pushed in kiosk content and boat launch signage. Audubon, FWC and volunteers conduct breeding and nonbreeding surveys of nesting sites. Additional protection status has been designated to Flag Island and St. George Causeway as Critical Wildlife Areas, with closures year-round and March - September, respectively. Over the last several years, Audubon has been conducting surveys specifically as part of a project funded by Deepwater Horizon restitution funding.

Last Modified: Wednesday, Oct 14, 2026 - 01:08pm