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Audubon Florida
Summary of 2024 Beach-nesting Bird Season
a Wilson's Plover and chick standing on sand with grass in the background
bio photo of audrey derose-wilson
Letter from Director of Bird Conservation Audrey DeRose-Wilson
The 2024 summer beach-nesting bird season ended in dramatic fashion, with not one, not two, but three named storms reshaping the Gulf Coast between September and October. Our thoughts are still with the communities that are trying to rebuild after Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton. The Audubon Florida team has fanned out across our shoreline sites to study the impacts of the storms on the birds and will continue to work to remove debris and trash ahead of the 2025 season.

Large storms underscore how important our living shoreline project has become in the Tampa Bay region. Just a few weeks ago we finished our newest shoreline installation initiative, 1,800 additional feet of pH neutral living shoreline that will protect habitat for 18 bird species that depend on small islands to nest, rest, and feed.

Overall, 2024 proved to be a mixed year for nesting sea and shorebirds— some successes and some failures. We thank our team and dedicated volunteers for protecting these avian families on our busy beaches. As National Audubon Society seeks to “bend the bird curve” and reverse bird population declines across the hemisphere, every successfully fledged chick is important.
Aerial view of a living shoreline.
New Segments of Living Shorelines Completed
Audubon Florida has worked with local, state, and federal partners to protect these iconic species and their habitat at the Florida Coastal Islands Sanctuaries since 1934.
Aerial view of a living shoreline. Photo: Sydney Walsh/Audubon
group of sea and shorebirds standing on the sand
2024 Audubon Florida Beach-nesting Birds Nesting Season Summary
See a region by region as well as a species by species summary of the 2024 beach-nesting bird season.
Willet, American Oystercatcher and Black Skimmer. Photo: Walker Golder/Audubon
people standing on the sand
Partnership on Dog Island Becomes Bright Spots for Birds
Nestled between the Saint George Sound and the Gulf of Mexico, Dog Island is a haven for both birds and people. Audubon has recently strengthened partnerships with residents on the island, as the beaches act as a critical nursery for nesting sea and shorebirds, especially Snowy Plovers.
Volunteers post protected bird areas on Dog Island. Photo: Collette Lauzau/Audubon Florida
backpack full of binoculars and bird guides
Audubon Florida Coastal Stewardship Volunteer Highlights
We highlight Penny Murnane, Library Technician at Mary Esther Library, for her work as a beach steward and birdy backpack leader, making backpacks for kids with binoculars available for Panhandle library patrons.

We also highlight Jamey Binneveld, a dedicated bird steward, taking shifts throughout the summer and on busy holiday weekends. She also uses her exceptional photography skills to educate and inspire locals and visitors. In 2024 she captured photos of a motorized paraglider that flew too low over the colony. Because of her photos, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission tracked down the owner of the tour group to help prevent that from happening again.
A birdy backpack put together by Penny Murnane
an infographic
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Audubon Florida
4500 Biscayne Blvd., Suite 350, Miami, FL 33137
(305) 371-6399 | fl.audubon.org

© 2025 National Audubon Society, Inc.

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