Share The Shore With Birds

Nothing says summer like a day at the beach. Whether you’re lounging by a lake or enjoying a seaside vacation, listen to this episode to learn five things you can do to share the shore with birds.

BirdNote is supported by Jim and Birte Falconer of Seattle, Washington — and generous listeners around the world.

BirdNote^®
Share The Shore With Birds
Written by Ariana Remmel

This is BirdNote.

Nothing says summer like a day at the beach. Whether you’re lounging by a lake or enjoying a seaside vacation, here are five things you can do to share the shore with birds.

[Snowy Plover]

One: Give birds their space. Keep a respectful distance, especially if there are chicks present.

Two: Read posted signs and don’t enter areas that have been fenced off to protect breeding birds. Some beaches have shorebird monitoring volunteers who can share more information about how to safely access the shoreline.

[Least Tern]

Three: Keep your pets on leash. Even the best trained dogs can harass and hurt birds if left unsupervised.

Four: Watch your step! Shorebird eggs and chicks are highly camouflaged and often blend into the beach. Try sticking close to the water, since beach-nesting birds are more likely to lay eggs on higher ground where they won’t wash away with the tide.

Five: Pick up trash. Billions of pounds of plastic enter our global oceans every year with deadly consequences for marine animals. And leftover food attracts predators – like gulls and racoons – that may prey on vulnerable shorebirds.

[Least Tern]

Learn more about the difference you can make for birds when you visit our website, BirdNote.org. I’m Jonese Franklin.

This episode is brought to you by Jim and Birte Falconer of Seattle, Washington and generous listeners around the world.

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Senior Producer: Mark Bramhill
Producer: Sam Johnson
Managing Producer: Jazzi Johnson
Managing Producer: Ariana Remmel
Content Director: Jonese Franklin

Bird sounds provided by The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Least Tern ML658080203 recorded by Julia Plummer. Snowy Plover ML71563501 recorded by Paul Marvin.
BirdNote’s theme was composed and played by Nancy Rumbel and John Kessler.
© 2026 BirdNote August 2026
Narrator: Jonese Franklin

ID# actions-14-2026-08-27 actions-14

Reference:
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/marine-life-viewing-guidelines/share-shore-watch-marine-mammals-responsibly
https://www.audubon.org/california/news/10-steps-share-shore
https://www.fws.gov/story/share-shore-how-you-can-help-beach-birds
https://abcbirds.org/news/tips-for-bird-friendly-beach-visit/