Beach Crowds On Long Island Could Threaten Nesting Of Birds

LONG BEACH, NY — Beachgoers are expected to maintain social distancing at beaches on Long Island for the holiday weekend.

But Audubon New York, a state office of the National Audubon Society, wants people heading out to the sand and surf to think about the birds too.

They want birds to get 100 feet of space to nest and raise their chicks, a spokesperson for Audubon New York said in a statement.

Most vulnerable in hot weather, piping plover and oystercatcher chicks (federally and state-threatened species) can die within two minutes if their parent flies away due to a disturbance like an unleashed dog or a person getting too close.

"These birds travel each spring from as far as the Bahamas and Cuba to nest and raise their chicks on our shorelines," Shelby Casas, coast program associate in charge of Audubon’s shorebird stewardship program, said. "Everyday beachgoers should know that they play a big role in the success, or failure, of these populations. Approaching the birds or their nesting space can cause undue stress to both the adults and chicks; this wastes precious energy that they need to incubate their eggs and forage for food."

While Audubon does its part to steward beaches, including Lido and Point Lookout, they encourage everyone to keep a lookout.

Every May through August, vulnerable species like the Piping Plover raise chicks on Long Island beaches and offshore islands — and these chicks weigh less than a single scoop of ice cream, New York Audubon said.

Because it is peak hatching season, New York Audubon said beaches will be filled with tiny, cotton ball-sized chicks just in time for July 4 fireworks.

"We are thrilled that these vulnerable birds depend on our coast to survive, but keeping them safe amidst crowds and fireworks will require some extra community love and support," the Audubon spokesperson wrote.