LI beaches chosen for wildlife disturbance study, effort to 'share the shore'

Hempstead officials and aviary aficionados want Long Islanders to know that this summer, the beach is for the birds.

Town officials are partnering with Audubon New York to encourage beachgoers to “share the shore” as part of a three-month study of bird habitats on the coastline in Lido Beach and Jones Beach.

The Audubon Society is examining whether beach nesting birds can raise more chicks when given space to nest and rest.

The Long Island portion of the study follows a look at disturbances of shore birds since 2018, in conjunction with Virginia Tech, that found birds were most often bothered by people, dogs, cars and airplanes, said Shelby Casas, the project lead for Audubon New York.

“The main point of our project is to change behavior,” Casas said. “All organizations work to protect shore birds in their breeding and winter habitat. They’re taking part in finding different disturbances that affect their nesting abilities and … where they winter or stop for migration.”

Hempstead is home to more than 1,000 birds on its beaches, including several threatened or endangered protected species, such as the piping plovers. The town received New York Audubon’s “Share the Shore Award” for its conservation efforts.

At Hempstead Town beaches in Lido Beach and Point Lookout, dogs are prohibited on the sand year-round and banned at Jones Beach from April through August.

Hempstead has tended to more than a dozen piping plover nests, more than 50 American oystercatchers and the largest colony of black skimmers in the Northeast, totaling more than 1,000. Town officials have even used GPS tracking to follow bird migration patterns to the Caribbean or Central America.

The town held its annual beach cleanup on Saturday, a day that town biologists also led nature walks and photo tours to safely view the birds.

“All of us take pride in our beaches, and we live and want to coexist with Mother Nature, and there is a passion for the environment and we want to protect our beaches,” said Hempstead Supervisor Don Clavin. “This gives a real connection for the residents who live here and appreciate it. By doing this, we can help educate people.”

The town is responsible for protecting 3.2 miles of shoreline from Lido Beach to Point Lookout. Officials have fenced off certain habitats, such as for the federally protected piping plovers. The town has redirected walking paths around nesting areas, paths to access the beach and has limited surfing on certain beaches that are protected habitats.

“We’re part of a regional study across the Atlantic flyway with Jones Beach to give a pipeline of information,” said Hempstead Town biologist Tara Schneider-Moran. “The goal from the study is what kind of improvements can we do to reduce disturbances to shore birds and give a space for them to nest with their chicks.”

Town officials said they hope the community interactions and study working with beach volunteers will create future stewards to take care of the environment.

Audubon New York’s study is grant funded, Casas said. Experts said the best way to protect bird habitats is to stay about 100 feet away.

“These habitats are important and these nesting areas are in danger from other activities, not just active disturbances, but beach erosion and storms,” Casas said. “We have an active role to play in their success.”

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.