Girl Scouts Band Together to Protect Sea and Shorebirds

The “Coastal Schooling Crew,” made up of Woman Scout Cadettes from Troops 328 and 446 of the Woman Scouts of Gulf Coast Florida Council, is working towards their Silver Award. For his or her “Take Motion” mission, the ladies set their sights on Florida’s coast, asking a easy however highly effective query: How can we assist?

They discovered their reply within the Least Tern, a small, charismatic shorebird whose nesting success has declined throughout a lot of its vary attributable to habitat loss and human disturbance. Relatively than being assigned a mission, the ladies selected to guard this species after connecting with workers at Delnor-Wiggins Move State Park to study the place assist was most wanted.

“My group selected this particular mission as a result of DelnorWiggins reached out to us and instructed us about their Least Terns,” stated Katherine J. “We thought that it was a really distinctive and enjoyable mission to do. I personally hope to study management expertise and extra details about the sorts of birds and find out how to educate others about sharing the shore.”

For Develynn S., the mission opened the door to a brand new understanding of coastal wildlife: “After I was knowledgeable about it, I used to be very intrigued. I by no means knew that shorebirds had been so necessary, and I instantly needed to be concerned,” she stated. “Shorebirds are key species in our ecosystem, so we should always make certain we do our greatest to maintain them secure.”

The chance got here at a important second for the park. After a collection of hurricanes in late 2024, and whereas nonetheless recovering from 2022’s Hurricane Ian, park workers made the forward-thinking resolution to guard newly shaped seaside habitat. They posted the not too long ago reshaped space with indicators and fencing to offer shorebirds house to forage throughout winter with the hope that nesting birds would return this summer time. In keeping with park workers, Delnor-Wiggins has not hosted nesting shorebirds because the Nineteen Eighties. The brand new habitat provides a uncommon alternative.

The challenges dealing with shorebirds had been one purpose Iris S. felt drawn to the mission. “I selected this mission as a result of shorebirds preserve leaving nesting websites due to boaters approaching sandbars and due to habitat loss,” she stated. “I hope to study extra about shorebirds, particularly Least Terns, from this expertise.”

To encourage Least Terns to reclaim the location, the Coastal Schooling Crew designed a decoy mission modeled on confirmed conservation strategies. With assist from park workers and steering from Audubon Florida, the ladies discovered how decoys can entice nesting terns by signaling that an space is secure and already occupied.

Neighborhood companions shortly stepped in to make the concept a actuality. Rick Schalk of the Thomas Riley Artisans’ Guild donated his time, supplies, and woodworking expertise to create the decoys. Kathy, Carey, and Amy Slavin of Household Interest Middle provided paints and supplies. The women painted every decoy by hand, reworking uncooked wooden into lifelike fashions designed to attract actual birds again to the seaside.

On February 13, the mission got here collectively on the sand. Joined by their grownup Woman Scout mission adviser, Delnor-Wiggins workers, and Audubon Florida workers, the ladies rigorously positioned the decoys throughout the posted space whereas studying how beachgoers can assist shield nesting birds just by respecting posted areas, leashing pets, and giving birds house.

These small actions are central to the message the crew hopes to share. “We will do issues which will appear easy to us however are big for shorebirds,” stated Develynn S. “The following time you’re on the seaside throughout nesting season, ensuring you avoid nesting areas could make an enormous distinction.”

Schooling is on the coronary heart of the Coastal Schooling Crew’s Silver Award mission. With assets and recommendation from Delnor-Wiggins State Park and Audubon Florida, the ladies at the moment are making ready to share what they’ve discovered with their group and educate others how small actions can shield coastal wildlife.

Abi N. says the expertise has proven the crew how necessary these efforts might be. “On this mission we now have discovered about how shorebirds are necessary to the shoreline and why we should always assist improve their numbers,” she stated. “Everybody can contribute to sharing the shore by giving the birds private house and never coming into their properties.”

In a spot formed by storms and restoration, the mission provides one thing lasting: proof that conservation works greatest when communities come collectively. From Woman Scouts and park workers to conservationists and native companies, this “Share the Shore” effort reveals that stewardship isn’t nearly defending birds, it’s about empowering the subsequent era to cleared the path.

This text initially appeared within the 2025 Coastal Report. Click here to read the full report.