Florida’s beaches are home to a unique and vulnerable group of shorebirds known as Imperiled Beach-Nesting Birds (IBNBs), including the American Oystercatcher, Black Skimmer, Least Tern, Snowy Plover, and Wilson’s Plover. These species rely on open sandy habitats to breed and raise their young, making them especially susceptible to disturbance from human activity, coastal development, and predation. As a Florida-based ecological consulting firm, we are proud to be authorized monitors through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to support the protection of these species during critical nesting periods. Our team is trained and permitted to identify, monitor, and report on beach-nesting bird activity, ensuring compliance with state regulations and contributing to the conservation of these declining populations.
The American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) is a striking bird with a bright orange bill, often seen probing mudflats for shellfish.
The Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger) is known for its unique foraging style, flying just above the water’s surface with its lower mandible slicing through the waves.
Least Terns (Sternula antillarum), Florida’s smallest tern, form dense colonies on beaches and rooftops, and are fiercely protective of their nests.
Snowy Plovers (Charadrius nivosus) are small, pale shorebirds with a preference for wide, sparsely vegetated beaches, while Wilson’s Plovers (Charadrius wilsonia), though similar in size, are more commonly found near tidal flats and oyster beds.
Construction, beach nourishment, shoreline stabilization, habitat restoration, utility installation, and even recreational events near suitable nesting habitat can all trigger the need for IBNB monitoring. Our services help landowners, local governments, and developers understand when a permit is needed and ensure that all work proceeds responsibly and legally. By conducting early-season surveys, nest monitoring, and disturbance minimization strategies, we help projects stay on schedule while safeguarding these at-risk species. With in-house FWC-permitted monitor staff, we are ready to support projects across Florida’s coastal counties with expertise rooted in science, compliance, and conservation.