Millions of shorebirds migrate through southern California each year. Colorful Marbled Godwits, and Long-Billed Curlews with their long curved beaks. Cormorants sunning themselves on jetties, Pelicans diving for fish in the surf. These birds travel up to 2,000 miles each way. Many make a stop or stay at beautiful Newport Beach, and these birds are constantly threatened by humans. Unknowingly, the thousands of people that descend on the beach as a refuge from the summer heat are displacing birds and indirectly threatening the ecosystem. Walkers, runners, children and dogs are the main stressors. They unintentionally chase off birds that are feeding, resting and preening, causing unhealthy levels of stress which if escalated can be fatal. Over 95% of birds will flee their nesting, feeding, or preening site when chased by dogs (Serrano-2020). 

The main goal of this petition and study is to get the city of Newport Beach, California to place signage educating the public about the shorebird species present in the area and the human behaviors that pose threats to them. Essentially a modest reminder to “Share The Shore.” 

A study is being conducted to help provide more local evidence of such events. This is also in addition to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (1918-Present) and the California Migratory Bird Protection Act (2019-Present) both of which make it the job of the federal, state, and local governments to protect the target species of this study. We are trying to educate the public about this issue and to help prevent them from activity that is harmful to the birds. Our goal is not to prevent humans from going to the beach, just to educate them how to share the beach with all creatures. By changing the habits of humans here in Newport Beach we can make a small but important dent in the threats to shorebird populations, and set a precedent for beachgoers everywhere.