HELP PROTECT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA'S SHORBIRDS
Volunteer with the Audubon Shorebird Stewardship Program
Audubon of Southwest Florida has teamed up with the Florida Shorebird Alliance to form a community-driven Shorebird Stewardship Program. Our goal is to protect and raise awareness about Florida’s imperiled shorebird species and we need your help! By volunteering as a Bird Steward, you’ll play a vital role in educating beachgoers about these amazing birds and the importance of Sharing the Shore during nesting season.
Summer Shorebird Stewarding
Each summer, from May through August, shorebirds like Least Terns, Black Skimmers, and Plovers nest along our beaches. Bird Stewards are on the front lines, helping these birds succeed in one of the most challenging seasons of their lives.
Our stewards work weekends and holidays at two key nesting sites:
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Southern Fort Myers Beach (Carlos Pointe)
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Cayo Costa State Park
What Do Shorebird Stewards Do?
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Educate the public about the birds and how to avoid disturbing nesting areas
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Offer views through spotting scopes so people can safely watch natural behaviors like chick feeding and courtship displays
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Collect important data on nesting activity, banded birds, and disturbances
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Serve as ambassadors for shorebird conservation and help foster appreciation for native coastal species
All data collected is shared with our partners at the Florida Shorebird Alliance to guide ongoing conservation work.
We welcome new volunteers of all backgrounds, no previous experience needed. Free training is provided, and you’ll be supported by experienced stewards and Audubon staff. Shifts are flexible and can be scheduled online to fit your availability.
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Fort Myers Beach shifts: ~3 hours (morning or afternoon on Friday, Saturday, and Sundays, based at a shaded tent near the colony
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Cayo Costa shifts: Full-day commitment on Saturday and Sundays, provided boat access with our State Park partners, and a more remote, immersive experience
Summer Stewarding Contact
Megan Hatten
SW Florida Shorebird Project Manager
Audubon Florida
2025 Lee County Stewarding Training Video
SHOREBIRD UPDATES
Periodically, we will provide updates from our Shorebird Stewards, regarding bird and nest counts or providing any additional calls for action or assistance. Please go to "Our Birding Blog" (under the News Tab above) to get our latest updates.
inform - educate - observe - protect
OUR FLORIDA SHOREBIRD ALLIANCE PARTNERSHIP
VIDEO COURTESY OF AUDUBON NORTH CAROLINA
The Florida Shorebird Alliance (FSA) is a statewide partnership of government and non-government organizations committed to advancing shorebird and seabird conservation in Florida through coordinated and collaborative work that helps identify and address important needs with regard to research, management, education, outreach, and public policy.
Because the FSA is a partnership organization, it accommodates a wide range of views on the best strategies to conserve shorebirds and seabirds. However, all partners share the same overall vision of establishing areas where seabird and shorebird populations are viable and managed in balance with human activities.
