St. Simons Island
Wildlife Beaches Have Dogs on Leashes
Even well-behaved dogs can look like predators to shorebirds. Threats, such as an unleashed dog, can scare off shorebirds and prevent them from getting food and caring for their eggs and chicks. By keeping your dog on a leash, you can help shorebirds safely feed, nest, and rest.
Sharing the Shore
Help keep birds safe by staying off of the dry sand! Activities that may seem harmless, such as walking your dog on the beach, can scare shorebirds who need these areas to feed and care for their young. We can ensure that birds have quiet, protected places to raise their young by giving birds space and leashing our dogs on the beach.
Wildlife Zones
Here on St. Simons Island, we have designated specific zones for wildlife to give our coastal birds safe places to feed, nest, and rest. Within these areas, we ask you to walk on the wet sand and away from nesting shorebirds.
An Important Place for Birds and People
Beaches are important nesting, feeding, and roosting sites for local shorebirds. Our Georgia coast is internationally recognized as an Important Bird Area that provides habitat for at least 300,000 shorebirds every year, including threatened Red Knots, endangered Piping Plovers, and rare Wilson’s Plovers.
Our active nesting areas and established bird stewardship program provides the opportunity for our local community to get involved with protecting habitat for shorebirds, seabirds, and other wildlife.
Least Tern with chick
Wilson’s Plover photo by Ray Hennessey
Home Sweet Home
Reducing dog disturbance of shorebirds
Shorebirds face many threats, including habitat loss, predation, climate change, and human disturbance, that prevent them from tending to their young and getting the food they need to survive.
Get Involved
Useful Links
Contact Information
Lydia Thompson
Shorebird Patrol Coordinator
St Simons Island
birdjekyll@gmail.com
Allie Hayser
Shorebird Technician
Georgia Bight Shorebird Conservation Initiative
ahayser@manomet.org
Abby Sterling, PhD
Director of the Georgia Bight Shorebird Conservation Initiative
asterling@manomet.org
