
Least tern in courtship mode Photos by Jean Hall
On Sand Dollar Island, while some least terns are busy incubating their eggs others are still in courtship mode. Nearby, the black skimmers were observed panting under the harsh sun as they sat on their eggs. The birds have returned to their favorite strand of sand to rest, nest, feed and breed.
Across the lagoon at the Hideaway Beach side, a large flashing “No Dogs on the Beach” sign warned boaters as they unloaded their cargo of day trippers on Sand Dollar Island. The presence of two of the state’s newly-designated threatened species nesting on Sand Dollar Island added a sense of urgency to the warning sign.
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FWC Law Enforcement Officer Ricardo Zambrano reminds a boater that there are “No Dogs Allowed” on Marco’s beaches.
During the Memorial Day weekend the shorebird stewards got a big assist from the Marco Island Police Department (MIPD), FWC Law Enforcement and the Collier County Sheriff’s department. Their presence sent a strong message to beachgoers to respect the birds and leave their dogs at home.
Team Ocean also set up an information tent on Sand Dollar Island, complete with chairs and a cooler filled with water.

Black skimmer adult sitting on an egg.
According to Brad Cornell of Audubon of Western Everglades,
Sand Dollar Island and the Second
Chance Sandbar
Critical Wildlife
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