Tropical Storm Debby Destroys Nesting Colonies

Small groups of Black Skimmers on Lido Beach. Note how deep the sand is at the lifeguard tower. The stand is about six feet high and on skids.

Story and Images by Lou Newman, Sarasota, Aug. 8, 2024

Tropical Storm Debby impacted the Tampa Bay area in early August, dropping up to 20 inches of rain in some areas. It also brought gusty winds and beach erosion at a sensitive time for nesting bird colonies. Lou Newman shares the heartbreaking story with words and photos:

The Black Skimmer nesting colony on Lido Beach is no more. Rain, storm surge, surf and sand resulted in massive overwash and sand accretion. Adult skimmers are on the beach in small groups, perhaps 400 total (of 1160). Only six feathered chicks remain (of 260 fledged chicks, 120 downy and feathered chicks and 13 scrapes/nests). Those that could not fly were washed out to sea or buried by sand. Many of the adult skimmers and fledglings flew inland during the storm. Instead of returning to Lido Beach, they have started their journey to winter sites.

A surviving feathered chick in his safe spot (a scrape next to a sign post).

The Least Terns on South Lido Beach seem to have fared somewhat better than the skimmers, even though there was severe storm surge, flooding and sand accretion. Several of the tepee-like chick shelters, which are two feet high, were completely buried by sand. None of the 80 non-flight capable feathered and downy chicks survived. Many adult terns and fledglings are present on the beach, and I did see many adults and fledglings returning to normal behaviors, such as diving to catch fish and bathing.

I should mention that the many Royal Terns, Sandwich Terns and Laughing Gulls that are on these beaches with their fledglings appear to have successfully weathered the storm.