Members of AYLUS Syosset and advisors from the Stewardship Saturday program gathered at Jones Beach on the day of the annual Jones Beach Fireworks Show to ensure that the safety of the important native shore birds is protected. As there are many designated areas on the beach just for marine birds to live on, find food in and most importantly to use as a breeding ground and a place to incubate eggs, it is important that on days where large crowds of people are present, that these areas must remain undisturbed.
On American Independence Day, many families gather to watch fireworks, however Audubon Florida bird conservation director Audrey DeRose-Wilson says that fireworks produce noises and lights that disorient the native birds.
There are a variety of vital shorebirds native to Jones Beach. The piping plover, a shorebird that is endangered on Long Island and arrives on beach grounds for breeding season starting in early-mid March. Between May and June, an average of 4 eggs are laid per clutch and are incubated for roughly a month. Piping plovers forage for food on the beaches, dunes in the tidal wrack, feeding on mainly invertebrates and crustaceans. This species has been protected since the 1920s. It is important that visitors are aware designated areas of the beach are closed off to them in order to ensure safety and conservation for birds like this one, especially the nests are hard to spot to most people.
Members participated include:
Alyssa Huang (5 h), Thea Chen (5 h), Sui Wai Li (5 h), Sui Ying Li (5 h), Rachel Zhang (5 h), Tommy Haotian Tang (4 h), Aaron Wong (5 h), Tracy Xu (4 h), Guangli Yang (5 h, advisor).
