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VSP: NestFest – A Coastal Cleanup for Beach-nesting Birds and Turtles
March 14, 2023 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Free“WHAT IS NESTFEST?
SPLASh, Gulf Coast Bird Observatory, Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research, Surfside TX, and the Galveston Bay Area Chapter – Texas Master Naturalists teamed up to host NestFest! This large-scale cleanup event will remove marine debris from important coastal habitats that are used by beach nesting bird and sea turtle species. Texas beaches are critical habitats for these animals and we want to make sure they are ready for the incoming females to lay their eggs!
THE BIRDS
Our beaches are important nesting areas for birds that lay their eggs right on the sand. These beach-nesting birds include species like the Wilson’s Plover, Snowy Plover, Least Tern, Black Skimmer, and Willet. They use all sections of the beach, from the water’s edge to the dunes, to lay their eggs and raise their young. This cleanup will help provide a safe, clean beach for the birds and their chicks before the nesting season kicks off.
The Sea Turtles
Texas is home to 5 out of 7 sea turtle species in the world, several of which nest on Texas beaches. From April through July, the most critically endangered species in the world, and the Texas state sea turtle, the Kemp’s ridley, will come on shore to lay their eggs along our dune line. They will quickly return to the water, leaving the eggs behind. Marine debris on the beach has had significant impacts to our nesting sea turtles, so keeping our shorelines clean is one of the most important things we can do to help this species recover.”
Who:
SPLASh was launched in 2020 through a partnership between American Bird Conservancy, Gulf Coast Bird Observatory, and Black Cat GIS
What: Beach Clean Up
When: Tuesday, 3/14/2023; 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Where: Sites along Galveston Island, Follets Island, and Bolivar Peninsula
Why: That’s what Texas Master Naturalists do!
Registration: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd6a-S8xz9quX2-14tGM-egzzMwWnkUuno41GrNbMAwAOFDBg/viewform
[VSP hours to be recorded in VMS under: “Keep America Beautiful Events: TMN Report Hours”]