Protected Birds Back on Beach
Photo by Mike Odom courtesy of Navarre Press.
Next time you’re driving over the Navarre Beach Bridge, look twice for some of Navarre’s newest residents: black skimmers and least terns. Black skimmers are nesting shore birds and they return to Navarre from the Caribbean to nest from May through August. Their nesting sites are located near the state park and causeway. Least terns, which are small, white-bellied birds with a black patch on top of their heads and yellow bill also nest on Navarre Beach during this time. They protect their nests using dive bomb techniques and can be avoided by staying out of restricted nesting areas. Black skimmers are considered a species of special concern by the state of Florida and the terns are classified as threatened species. Visitors and those driving over the bridge should use caution around marked nesting sites and watch for baby chicks on the road.