Sanderling Plan - Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network

identify shorebirds, how to manage habitat for shorebirds, and how to better manage human and
other disturbance (e.g., vehicles, joggers, fishers, walkers, photographers, bird watchers, watersport
recreationalists, pet owners, etc.), especially through outreach and effective partnerships.
Several examples of suggested educational opportunities for visitors (e.g., in the North
Atlantic Region; Clark and Niles 2000), some of which may also reduce human disturbance,
include: providing viewing platforms (informative plaques, spotting scopes); providing onsite
outreach at shorebird concentration areas (to minimize impacts by recreational viewers and
wildlife watchers); and providing educational information on shorebirds, including links to
online information (e.g., to Western Atlantic Shorebird Association, WASA – a website for
shorebird-based info; or to the Shorebird Sister Schools Program (SSSP)). Other ways of
addressing the community in general include informational flyers, birding trips, presentations
within the community, outreach at local environmental fairs, and articles in newspapers and
newsletters.
In all of these cases, it is most meaningful when the public is actively engaged in
activities that involve caring for wildlife and wildlife habitat – such as inviting the public to help
keep track of shorebirds (i.e., citizen science), helping clean up local beaches, facilitating schools
in coastal areas to establish “sister school” relationships with children in other coastal
communities (or states/countries) based on sharing Sanderlings, and so on. Although passive
information is beneficial and has the advantage of reaching a wider audience, active investment
of one’s time and energy can shift attitudes on a deeper level and build a more permanent
support base for the temporary inconveniences managers must ask the public to endure (such as
beach closures). Annually organized shorebird-related events (e.g., shorebird/waterbird festivals,
during migration) are excellent opportunities for raising awareness and building public
involvement in and support for wildlife. This is also a good opportunity for connecting people
and spreading interest/values across a diverse community, as well as connecting people that
might not ever attend a bird festival). For example, organizers could invite businesses that might
benefit from a temporary increase in visitors (e.g., book stores, photographic equipment store,
latte stands, etc.) to highlight or associate their products with an upcoming or ongoing bird
festival.
WHSRN – Sanderling Conservation Plan, February 2010, v1.1 52