Audubon: 2,414 people reached and burrowing-owl monitoring shows high mortality; committee approves $2,500 invoice

Britney Piercema, Audubon Western Everglades, told the Marco Island Beach Advisory Committee that Audubon’s shorebird stewardship and burrowing-owl programs continue year round and that volunteers surveyed and educated residents across several island sites. “We educated 2,414 citizens, we did a 139 surveys,” Piercema said, and reported 44 bird species and 970 banded bird observations over the season.

Piercema also reported burrowing-owl field totals and concerns about mortality: “We had 373 naturally dug sites and a 173 starter burrow sites,” she said, and added that the group recorded 47 deceased owls this season and is seeking funding to run necropsies that cost about $500 per liver test. She said Audubon is working with NOAA and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) on necropsies and that a summary report of the one‑year monitoring effort should be available by November or December.

Committee members praised the presentation and moved to approve an Audubon invoice for $2,500 to support the shorebird and burrowing-owl work. Member Quinlan moved the funding; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote as unanimous. Committee members said they want Audubon to return with the necropsy summary and recommended the group prioritize finding grant or third‑party funding to cover testing costs.

Why this matters: the Audubon program provides the committee with season-long monitoring data and on‑the‑ground education that the committee relies on to assess nesting success, causes of mortality, and whether changes in beach management or outreach are needed.