Mar 20, 2026 - News

A guide to Tampa Bay's nesting beach birds

Kathryn Varn

Beach scene crowded with hundreds of white birds along the shore and in shallow water; one bird is flying as turquoise sea and foamy waves roll in. — Willets, black skimmers and several kinds of terns. Photo: Tim Graham/Getty Images

On a recent morning at Fort De Soto's North Beach, the parking lot looked like a tourist convention, with license plates from a dozen states.

A motorized paraglider hovered over the shoreline, the fan's droning buzz a potent reminder of humanity's disruptions.

It's hard to believe thousands of birds brave the chaos to birth fuzzy little miracles year after year.

Why it matters: Yet, nesting season is once again underway in Tampa Bay, and the sea and shorebirds that frequent our beaches need our help.

Threat level: Our beaches and coastlines are nesting sites for numerous birds, including black skimmers, American oystercatchers, terns and plovers.

State wildlife officials consider several of those to be threatened species, based on population trends, breeding data, and threats to their survival like habitat degradation, hurricanes and human disturbance.

How it works: Well, when two birds really love each other ... just kidding. But it is important to understand where and how they nest.

Sometimes in pairs or small groups, sometimes in larger colonies, these birds typically lay their eggs on the sand in shallow holes called scrapes, which can be difficult to see (as can newly hatched chicks).
With less and less undisturbed coastline available, some birds have moved to nesting on flat gravel rooftops. That introduces new problems, like predators drawn in by open dumpsters, or chicks toppling over the edge.

A person with a backpack stands on white sandy beach, reading a book in a blue long-sleeve shirt and white shorts, under a clear blue sky; orange marker flags dot the distant shore. — Audubon Florida shorebird and seabird biologist Abby McKay takes notes during a survey at Fort De Soto. Photo: Kathryn Varn/Axios

While state wildlife officials and groups like Audubon Florida monitor beach birds and mark off nesting areas, it's on beachgoers to pay attention.

That means keeping a close eye on children and dogs, staying out of posted nesting sites, and leaving the birds alone.
Disturbing them — which can be as simple as getting too close — is illegal and can make them flush, or fly away from their nests. That leaves eggs and chicks exposed to predators and direct sunlight.

👋 Kathryn here. The more I learn about birds, the more I care about their well-being and survival. (Plus, birdwatching makes beach days even more fun.)

I recently joined Audubon Florida shorebird and seabird biologist Abby McKay for a survey at Fort De Soto, where I learned some important terminology:
Breeding plumage = "sexy feathers." Chilling on the sand, gabbing or resting = "loafing."

Zoom in: McKay also pointed out several avian celebrities by name.

There was LL Cool J the snowy plover, who scientists banded on Sanibel Island to keep track of his whereabouts. He's named after the two light blue (LL) bands.
Another snowy plover, SOYO (silver, orange, yellow, orange), nested in front of a snack bar a few years ago and decorated his and his mate's scrape with shell pieces.

And flying over for a brief appearance from a distant mudflat was AE, an iconic American oystercatcher mother who's had eight chicks over the last three years.

An oystercatcher with a black head and bright red bill stands on a sandy beach beside a small chick; pink legs, brown wings, shallow water, and a blue sky on the horizon. — AE with one of her chicks. Photo: Abby McKay/Audubon Florida

Black skimmer

A large flock of black-and-white seabirds with bright orange beaks and legs stand on a sandy white beach, many facing different directions. — Photo: Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Between their larger size and long, two-tone bills — used to plow across the water to catch fish — these guys are some of the easiest to pick out in a crowd.

An elegant white bird with a black head and black-tipped wings glides low over a calm blue lake, its bright red beak dipping toward the water, creating a clear mirror reflection. — Photo: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

American oystercatcher

Two black-and-white oystercatchers with bright orange beaks stand on a white sandy beach as blue-green waves roll in behind them. — AE with her mate. Photo: Abby McKay/Audubon Florida

These large shorebirds are also easier to spot, with their orange-ringed yellow eyes and vivid, knife-like bills used to pry into oysters, clams and mussels.

Willet

A small shorebird with a long black bill and brown-gray plumage walks along the shallow shoreline, white belly visible as greenish-blue water and gentle waves lap the sand. — Photo: Tim Graham/Getty Images

These stocky, sand-colored shorebirds dart along the shore and in shallow water, eating fun coastal delights like crabs and marine worms.

Plover

Look out for several species of this type of bird, known for its rotund body and short, sunflower-seed-like bill.

Wilson's plover

Small shorebird on a sandy beach, brown and white plumage; blue sea in the background with two blurred people in shorts near the water. — Photo: Jean Hall/Audubon Photography Awards

An adult shorebird with brown and white plumage stands on sand with two fluffy chicks. A softly blurred pastel background creates a calm, beachy scene. — Photo: Jean Hall/Audubon Photography Awards

Snowy plover

Small shorebird, likely a plover, with white underparts and brown-gray back, standing on a sunlit sandy beach. Black bill, dark eye, and a leg band on one leg. — Photo: Bethany Kilzer/Audubon Photography Awards

Killdeer

A bird with brown wings and white underparts stands on rocky gravel; it has two black chest bands, a white throat, and a red-orange eye ring, with a blurred green background. — Photo: Mary Ellen Cross/Audubon Photography Awards

Close-up of a brown and white shorebird with a bright red eye ring and black bill, resting on a rocky surface with wings folded and a chick tucked in one of its wings. — Photo: Darlayne Coughlin/Audubon Photography Awards

Tern

OK, here's where it gets tricky, because, by my untrained eye, terns kind of just look like seagulls (of which there are also multiple types, with the laughing gull the most common in Florida).