Location: 9601 Oceanshore Blvd in Marineland. It’s a one story flat roof building on the west side of A1A, just south of pedestrian crossing. Sign says Coastal Policy Center. If you get lost, call Monique at 904-813-5115.
Note: Please bring yourCALENDARfor scheduling posting activities 1:00 – Sign In/Introductions – All
Attendees: DEP: Jason dePue, Cristy Leonard, Tonia Creamer; St. Johns County: Mike Golubovich (works with Tara), Sidney Lindblad (works with Billy); Fort Matanzas National Monument: Kurt Foote; GTM NERR: Diane Reed (for Scott Eastman); Alligator Farms: Julie Farrington; Audubon: Teddy Shuler, Peggy Cook, John Brice, Linda Avery, Susan Killeen, Chris Farrell, Laura Ostapko (Flagler Audubon); Audubon Florida: Monique Borboen.
Law Enforcement: Federal (Fort Matanzas National Monument): Matt Elliott; FWC: Steve Zukowski,Darryl Thornhill; County (Natural Resources deputy): Keith Oke 1:10 – Summarize Regional Needs/Issues – All (5-10 minutes each)
GTM NERR: Diane Reed presented findings from the Shorebird Survey conducted in February. It was noted that one area south of the Gate Gas Station was not covered this year, but Diane did survey from the Gate Gas Station to the North Boundary of the GTM and has also entered the data on the spreadsheet. Diane presented the Shorebird Diversity poster and explained that the surveys are done all year around, once a week during low tide including counts of people on the beach, dogs (leashed and unleashed). GTM staff enter the data into (Cornell Univ) eBird. Monique Borboen requested that it is equally important to have the nesting data in the shorebird database and that negative data can be vital.
Porpoise Point – Billy, Tara (both not able to attend): Michael G. discussed the changing beach profile with the jetty being exposed and the inability to drive around the jetty. Tara Dodson is collecting data and will be meeting with Alex Kropp to assess the area for nesting pre-posting. The habitat looks good.
Summer Haven – Alex, Billy, Tara (all three not present): Michael G. and Sidney L. discussed the possible re-dredging of the river and there was continued discussion on the upcoming plans. There was also discussion about the continuing efforts to address the dogs off leash that are endangering the nesting habitat.
ICW/Julia’s Island – Monique: The Florida Wildlife Research Institute (part of FWC) had a grant for research on oystercatchers. On the Tolomato River, 17 pairs of American Oystercatchers (AMOY) were monitored with 22 nests. There were several washovers and 4 chicks fledged. The AMOY chicks were banded and one juvenile bird was observed at the Weff Rd docks post banding (in January). There was good productivity on the rakes in the Matanzas River with several fledglings being banded. Monique reminded everyone to be on the lookout for banded AMOYs and to report them when observed.
Anastasia State Park – Jason, Teddy, Christie: Approximately 200+ least tern nests were documented at ASP this season near the beach access areas. The terns kept settling to nest onto the newly deposited dredged sand, and it took good collaborative work to keep them posted and protected. Jason reported that at least one sea turtle wandered into the least tern colony and got trapped by the dredge pipe, and had to be moved back to the beach. Jason discussed issues with pre-nesting predator control and some traps set up. Animals trapped were opossum, house cat, raccoon, armadillo. Tracks were seen indicating canine predation, possible coyote. Jason also made mention that he is in need of volunteers to help monitor and survey the beach. The habitat looks good for nesting.
Matanzas NM and CWA – Kurt, Peggy: Two Law Enforcement Officers are now based at Ft Matanzas. Kurt, Peggy and some more volunteers have conducted monthly wintering bird surveys, with results entered into eBird. They will start weekly surveys for the nesting season. Predation issues continue with discussion of trapping of predators. The sands on the west side of the bridge have moved and the bar is now connected to the park. It only overwashes at really high tides. The habitat looks good on the east side of the bridge where the winter storms brought new sand in. Peggy and John’s (with assistance from Kurt for historical accuracy) bird house – Fort Matanzas – won the Anastasia Island Library contest for the Great Backyard Bird Count!
Rooftop Colonies: CJ McCartney monitored the rooftop at the Betty Griffin House. She worked with staff there and had their assistance. One Killdeer was observed nesting on the rooftop. The terns that were monitored there did not remain and seemed to have left the area. Laura Ostapko from Flagler County checked her county’s historic nesting rooftop sites and found only one active rooftop, a residence in Flagler Beach that had 40 Least Terns on the roof. The owners have informed Laura that they were replacing their rooftop, which made it no longer good tern nesting habitat.
Law Enforcement Activities – Natural Resource Deputies & FWC & Fort Matanzas: County Sheriff’s Dept was well represented and described the new leash laws which are now in effect. The good news is the increased fines (1st offense, $93; 2nd offense $150; 3rd offense $500; 4th offense Court appearance.) The bad news is that the new law allows that dogs can be off leash if they are in the water at the time they are unleashed. This means that a pet can be running along the shoreline, untied, as long as it is “in the water”. The Sheriff’s dept also announced that it will make a stronger effort to “push north” on the beach patrols. They will have a forth Natural Resources Deputy joining them in April.
FWC Lt Steve Zukowsky also announced that they will be patrolling the beach for state violations (gopher tortoises, shorebirds, fisheries). The FWC will address any harassment and/or disturbance. These violations are considered a misdemeanor. FWC will now have a code under which to record their interventions about shorebirds. FWC now has ATVs to patrol the beach. In January, FWC has a squad meeting with other law enforcement department and county staff to discuss coordination of efforts. County Sheriff’s dept should always be contacted first when incidents occur and the group is reminded not to approach a person who is in violation. Ft Matanzas: Law Enforcement Officer M. Elliott reported that with now two law enforcement officers, they will be providing 7 day/wk coverage. Any offenses at Ft Matanzas will be considered a Federal Offense (Federal Court in Jacksonville). The officers might issue more warnings than citations for dogs off leash: federal judges will not appreciate seeing their court filled with leash law cases, so citation will be issued only in cases of really bad offense. Federal officers also enforce closure violation and wildlife harassment. Request was made to provide more information about the importance to keep dogs on leash away from the birds. Suggestion was made for the county to provide educational materials at the pay stations at the beaches (or on their website) and with the fireworks pamphlet they distribute to all condos, especially for tourists and visitors to the area. Extra suggestion was a joint press release. 2:10 – Summary of Winter Shorebird Surveys/Piping Plover Workshop – Monique: Good coverage was provided for the survey this year with only one area not covered (Gate Station south to Vilano ramp). The county offered to provide staff and vehicle if there is a need for coverage for this area. There seemed to be less birds than usual and there was thought that maybe the above average high tide on that date and the rough weather contributed. Red Knots (8) were observed at one of the survey points (Crescent Beach area). Monique attended a PIPL workshop in Beaufort, SC and gave a presentation from her trip. The USFWS is recommended some measures to better protect the birds on their non-breeding grounds. These measures were compiled in a Comprehensive Conservation Strategy http://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/pipingplover/pdf/CCSpiplNoApp2012.pdf and include site stewardship, posting of roosting/feeding habitat and no dogs, raking or vehicles within 1.5 km of unstabilized inlets: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/pipingplover/pdf/CCSpiplApp2_2012.pdf 2:20 – BREAK 2:30 – Overview of Revisions to Protocol/Data Sheets – Alex (unable to attend) Monique: The FWC nesting database is open and there are webinars available for the slight changes to the database.
First shorebird window survey in March 18 – March 24
Survey coordinators and volunteers for the different sites are as follow:
GTM NERR: Diane – weekly surveys
Porpoise Point: Monique to coordinate. Volunteers: Dan, Margaret and Jim, Janet, Chris Farrell, Susan Killeen
Anastasia SP: Jason coordinating. In need of new surveyors as Ned and Teddy will be travelling this summer. Volunteers: Tina VanGhent, Susan Killeen, Julie Farington, Diane Reed. Will need orientation to drive park’s vehicle
Fort Matanzas: Kurt and Peggy coordinating. Other volunteers: Julie Farington and others from the winter surveys. First survey will be March 21.
Summer Haven: Linda Avery and Greg Lepera. Linda will enter data and contact Soledad and Leif.
Rooftops: CJ will coordinate with Tom Pitchford to monitor the Betty Griffin roof. Laura O. will coordinate Flagler county and is planning to ask Audubon members to search for occupied roofs all over the county. We will only monitor the roof where killdeer have been seen during the March survey window as Least Terns are not back yet.
3:00 – Schedule Posting Events – Alex (Monique) and All
Porpoise Point – Alex, Tara and Billy to coordinate.
Anastasia State Park – Jason coordinating. Tentative date: Monday March 18th.
Fort Matanzas NM – Preposting on Friday March 15th. Meet at 9am at the beach driving ramp (ocean side, across from the entrance going to the visitor center). Contact Teddy with any question.
Summer Haven – Alex, Tara and Billy to coordinate.
GTM NERR – Diane Reed and staff to coordinate.
3:20 – In-the-field Training/Shorebird Monitoring – Alex: Alex has offered to do field training and provide practice for using the database. In the field training session will be held at a nesting site, probably in late April-early May 3:40– Wrap-up/Action Items – Monique: Special thanks to all staff personnel and volunteers who continue to make this program a success. Extra thanks to law enforcement officers for taking the time to attend and to present at the meeting: all agreed that this is very beneficial.
