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Home My WebLink About00 - Non-Agenda - CorrespondenceReceived After Agenda Printed February 22, 2022 Non -Agenda Item Newport Beach Shorebird Signage Presented By Nicholas Earnhart Millions of shorebirds migrate through southern California each year. Colorful Marbled Godwits, and Long -Billed Curlews with their long 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 and built up levels of lactic acid, which if escalated can become fatal to these important indicator species. The main goal of this petition and study is to get the city of Newport Beach, California to place educational signage 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." 183 people have signed the petition calling for this action. I am also conducting a study to help provide more local evidence of such events with the help of Sea and Sage Audubon, and several local birders.. So far, in the 700 recorded interactions between shorebirds and humans we have found the following. 1. 86% of shorebird encounters with children resulted in prolonged flight 2. 74% of shorebird encounters with Adults resulted in prolonged flight 3. 100% if shorebird encounters with dogs resulted in prolonged flight 400 N O_ m 300 `v a v P 200 v O d E 100 z' Shorebird -Stressor Interactions Dog Child Adult 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 (a key indicator species) and set a precedent for beachgoers everywhere. What I ask of you today is that we can at least gain permission to go forward with this plan and figure out funding and sign placement. This project is not centered on the Cal. Least Tern and Snowy Plover, however there is a precedent for this type of project. A decaying sign, asking people to avoid the area entirely, is located at Balboa Pier. Once again this project is NOT asking for people to leave the �rhn�i numncs na;'�• - •, �. , . y 6wmmcied• in Boas, a' +- .- . Sydfarta. tes good eed ng, �yivinuaxs ara def:. mese [hac: n is ?ace . • r�dured Pabi[a1, noavccna<«ons r Aervays pares°. d • the chm)e of 6110" Pradators afrm:ed rP the 99Ct age d� biaen9ve+s ieaue�$hinC. Laugh[ Cerwern a crew and a 'h;aea[n perry.' tne:Wesc& +Snowy Pfovt•r ryas 3 nerdtime;' �., ia!sing irs young.^" Share the heath: ~tcygatod spot on she twarh. - beach, but trying to educate nr.tirc rna:[al b'e�elonrnVn[ uungep.[4°}a(itl[[ape Z" ww them on how to do so more responsibly. �r CPast thu�n^ �rhn�i numncs na;'�• - •, �. , . y 6wmmcied• in Boas, a' +- .- . Sydfarta. tes good eed ng, �yivinuaxs ara def:. mese [hac: n is ?ace . • r�dured Pabi[a1, noavccna<«ons r Aervays pares°. d • the chm)e of 6110" Pradators afrm:ed rP the 99Ct age d� biaen9ve+s ieaue�$hinC. Laugh[ Cerwern a crew and a 'h;aea[n perry.' tne:Wesc& +Snowy Pfovt•r ryas 3 nerdtime;' �., ia!sing irs young.^" Share the heath: