Shorebirds at Risk
The Impact of Human Activities on Shorebirds on Punta Banda Beaches
Beaches along the “spit” in Punta Banda (AKA Lengueta Arenosa), near Punta Banda Estuary, provide a vital ecosystem for migratory and resident shorebirds and portions of it are part of a regionally important site within the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) established in 2017. Annually, more than 20,000 birds rely on the reserve for feeding, resting and breeding. However, increasing human activities, particularly the use of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) on the beaches, pose a significant threat to shorebird survival.
Recent studies indicate that shorebird populations have declined by 37% since 1970 due to habitat loss and degradation. Human disturbance, especially in coastal areas, negatively impacts them. Recreational activities such as pedestrian traffic, unleashed dogs, and motorized vehicle use on beaches can displace birds from their feeding and resting sites.
A study conducted in Bahía de Todos Santos found that bird abundance decreases in areas with high human activity and that shorebirds alter their behavior in response to different stimuli.
One of the most vulnerable species on the Punta Banda beaches is the Snowy Plover, a threatened species that nests in the sand dunes and whose nesting season lasts from early April to September.
Snowy Plovers build their nest in the sand.
Snowy Plovers lay their eggs directly on the ground, making them extremely susceptible to trampling by pedestrians and destruction by ATVs. The disruption of their nesting areas can lead to significant declines in their populations.
Snowy Plovers rest on the sand, in which they camouflage themselves.
ATVs: A Major Threat That Must Be Stopped
The use of ATVs on beaches is a severe source of disturbance for shorebirds. These vehicles not only compact the sand and destroy essential microhabitats for shorebird foraging, but they also directly crush nests and eggs, which are often camouflaged in the sand. Research in New Zealand has shown that in high-traffic areas, over 90% of nests were destroyed. Additionally, ATVs generate noise and vibrations that scare birds away from their feeding and resting sites.
Even at low levels, vehicle traffic can significantly alter the physical environment, compacting sand and disturbing fragile habitats. This disruption leads to declines in species diversity, reduces food availability, and prevents natural recovery. Restricting the access is the most effective way to maintain ecological balance and protect wildlife dependent on these coastal areas.
A Call to Action
The conservation of shorebirds is not just a matter of environmental concern, it is an urgent necessity. Allowing the continued use of ATVs in the Punta Banda Estuary may lead to further decline of shorebirds populations. Authorities, conservation groups, and the community must come together to implement an immediate and permanent ban on ATVs in this critical habitat. It is time to protect this fragile ecosystem before it is too late.
References
Andres, B.A., Smith, P.A., Morrison, R.I.G., Gratto-Trevor, C.L., Brown, S.C. & Friis, C.A. 2012. Population estimates of North American shorebirds, 2012. Wader Study Group Bull. 119(3): 178–194.
Brown, S., C. Hickey, B. Harrington, and R. Gill, eds. 2001. The U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan, 2nd ed. Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences, Manomet, MA
Davies, R., Speldewinde, P. & Stewart, B. Low level off-road vehicle (ORV) traffic negatively impacts macroinvertebrate assemblages at sandy beaches in south-western Australia. Sci Rep 6, 24899 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/srep24899
Heredia-Morales, A., Palacios, E., & Reiter, M. E. (2024). Evaluating the Response of Nonbreeding Shorebirds to Rate and Agents of Human Disturbance. Waterbirds, 47(2), 1-11.
Orchard, S., Fischman, H. S., & Schiel, D. R. (2021). Managing beach access and vehicle impacts following landscape reconfiguration by a natural hazard event.
Rosenberg, K. V., Dokter, A. M., Blancher, P. J., Sauer, J. R., Smith, A. C., Collins, B. P., et al. (2019). Decline of the North American avifauna. Science, 366(6461), 120-124.
Saiz-M, Olivia, Heredia, Abril; Eusse-González, Diana; Gates, River; Palacios, Eduardo y Reiter, Matthew. 2024. Conjunto de herramientas para el manejo de la perturbación humana hacia las aves playeras en el América Latina. Iniciativa de Conservación de las Aves Playeras del Pacífico y Proyecto de Aves Playeras Migratorias.
