Watch out: Tiny shoreline chicks are growing up on some Southwest Florida beaches this summer

If hand-sized birds start dive-bombing you while you're walking the beach, you're probably too close to a shoreline nest. 

That's one of the best ways to know when a group of least terns are raising the next generation on a Southwest Florida beach. 

"Lee County beaches are home to nesting Wilson’s plovers, snowy plovers, least terns, black skimmers and American oystercatchers," said Michelle Vandeventer, with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. "Least terns and black skimmers are seabirds, meaning they nest and rest on the beach but forage for fish on the water. These types of birds are found nesting in colonies, or groups, typically from May through August." 

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Now is the middle of the shoreline nesting bird seasons, and some parents can be super aggressive during this time of year.

"The nesting behaviors of the least terns are definitely my favorite," said Susie Derheimer, with Charlotte County Natural Resources. "They're very territorial and protective during the nesting season."

Their ping-pong-ball-sized young are extremely vulnerable because these birds nest on the bare beaches at places like the south end of Fort Myers Beach. 

Nesting areas are often marked with signage and roped off to warn people away.

The chicks are camouflaged and blend into the background beach habitats. 

"Once nesting areas are found, they are posted with signs and string boundaries to alert beach visitors to the nesting area and the importance of keeping a safe distance," Vandevernter said.

Derheimer said the eggs are easy to miss. 

"It's very hard to see these eggs and it's actually easy for walkers to crush the eggs," Derheimer said. 

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Shoreline nesting season runs through Aug. 31. 

Other common shoreline nesting birds found in Southwest Florida include: black skimmer, American oystercatcher, Wilson's plover and willet. 

Different species display different behaviors when approached by humans or predators. 

"Plovers are solitary nesters, but those birds have a broken wing display," Derheimer said. "So if you see a plover and he or she is acting like they've gotten a broken wing, you're near a nest. They're not aggressive. They act like they're in distress."

One of the largest nesting sites in Southwest Florida is the south end of Fort Myers Beach and the Little Estero Island Critical Wildlife Area. 

"This is the biggest coastal bird nesting site in the state this year," said Brad Cornell, with Audubon Florida. 

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Derheimer said she's also seen Wilson's and snowy plovers on local beaches. 

"You'll know when there's a nesting tern in the area because the others will circle you and dive-bomb you," she said.  

Many of the local shoreline birds stay in Southwest Florida year-round while others migrate up the U.S. East Coast or to the panhandle or Texas. 

Derheimer said beachgoers should be wary of the tiny eggs and slightly larger hatchlings as the nesting season progresses. 

"They're going to let you know," Derheimer said "I think that's the best way (to safely avoid nesting areas). With the terns they're going to get very agitated. Once you see that behavior always look down and be cautious and move out of the area the birds are warning you about."

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