Give birds their space on the beach
This year has been declared the “Year of the Bird,” most appropriately, because this is the centennial of the ratification of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
This statute made it unlawful, without waiver, to pursue, hunt, take, capture, kill or sell birds listed as migratory between countries.
Thomas Lovejoy, the professor who coined the phrase, “biological diversity,” aptly stated, “If you take care of birds, you take care of most of the environmental problems in the world.” That thought comes to mind often when I walk the beach on Hilton Head Island.
While beachgoers are walking, running, biking, chatting on their smartphones, or throwing balls for their dogs, one has to wonder why they don’t take a moment to stop and notice the shorebirds.
Besides being vital for “biological diversity” on this barrier island, these birds are amazing and beautiful creatures worth knowing. Many are on a migration path and have chosen our beaches to rest and fuel up to continue their journey. Two threatened species, the piping plover and red knot, stop here.
When humans (and dogs) repeatedly crash through the flocks of exhausted birds, it’s not only unnecessary and discourteous, but can be harmful to their survival. The beach is our playground, but it’s the shorebird’s home.
Coastal birds’ habitat and numbers have been declining. How can we help?
One way we can participate in the Year of the Bird is by detouring around the birds in our path, leaving them some undisturbed peace to which they are entitled.
Debby Boots
Hilton Head Island
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This story was originally published January 17, 2018 at 8:26 AM with the headline "Give birds their space on the beach."