As America celebrates its 250th birthday, Georgia’s seabirds and shorebirds are also thriving. Seabird and shorebird chicks are incubating, hatching, and fledging along Georgia’s coast, with over 50 Least Tern chicks already hatched and over 120 more about to hatch on Cumberland Dividings Bird Island in Camden County.

Conservation Efforts

Thanks to the newly updated Bird Island Rule and predator control on the island, this year’s birds are having more success than ever. The Georgia Ornithological Society (GOS) has been funding weekly trips to census the island, counting all nests, eggs, chicks, and adults from May through September.

Other islands protected by the updated rule include Little Tybee Island Natural Area, Ogeechee Bar, St. Catherines Island Bar Natural Area, Little Egg Island Bar Natural Area, Brunswick Bird Island, Satilla River Marsh Island Natural Area, and the Cumberland Dividings Bird Island.

Sharing the Shore

As summer heats up, residents and visitors are reminded to share the shore and obey all signs and posted areas. When birds are disturbed from their nests, their eggs and chicks are exposed to danger from extreme temperatures and predators.

Volunteers with the Georgia Shorebird Alliance are patrolling the beaches during the holiday weekend to help keep the birds and nests safe. Manomet Conservation Sciences is also looking for volunteers to join the Georgia Coastal Bird Ambassador program on Tybee Island and St. Simons Island.

Coastal Bird Ambassadors spend a few hours on the beach walking important nesting areas, talking with visitors, answering questions, and sharing simple, positive ways to help shorebirds and seabirds thrive along Georgia’s coast.

Original reporting: SaportaReport — read the source article.