SHOREBIRD NESTING SITES DESTROYED

The shorebird program manager for Audubon Florida says most of the shorebird nesting sites on Pensacola Beach were destroyed by Tropical Storm Cristobal over the weekend. Caroline Stahala said before the storm, Audubon Florida was monitoring 12 different nesting sites along Pensacola Beach, the largest of which had about 100 adult birds. Pensacola Beach serves as a nesting home for the least tern and black skimmer species. Stahala said a few shorebird nesting areas remained intact and some of the chicks were able to get into the dunes and survive.