Birding from Fifty Yards Away
Roseate Spoonbill nestlings and parent.
This is Passport to Texas
The Texas Gulf Coast buzzes with bird life year-round. And while it’s tempting to get close to them when visiting the beach…
Fish, swim and play from fifty yards away. It’s an idea that we want to relay to folks.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Ornithologist, Cliff Shackelford says this slogan is a catchy reminder to keep your distance from our feathered friends.
Especially in the nesting season. You want to keep your distance when you’re fishing, birdwatching, boating—keep fifty yards between you and the birds.
Fifty yards is considered a safe distance so that you don’t spook birds from their nests.
When people get too close they notice—oh, all the adults are flying off the nests. And the hot sun cooks the little nestlings. Well, that is bad stuff.
Cliff adds that while it may be fun to bring your dog to the beach, keep it fifty yards away and on its leash.
That dog might love running after those flocks of birds, but in migration, some of those birds like red knots, could have flown hundreds and hundreds of miles and that’s their resting spot. That’s their refueling spot. And that’s disruptive on a bird during its long journey. So, keep the dog leashed, and remember to fish, swim and play at fifty yards away.
That’s our show… Funding provided in part by Ram Trucks. Guts. Glory. Ram
For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti
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