Texas Audubon: Predator Control at Colonial Waterbird Nesting Sites
The purpose of this agreement is to
provide funding to support the management of waterbird colonies on the Texas
Gulf Coast. Funds will be used to increase productivity of waterbird colonies on
the Texas Coast by removing
predators from colonial waterbird colonies and
taking active management measures on islands as necessary. Funds will be used to
monitor Texas coastal waterbird colonies for predators and remove predators
using appropriate management techniques when necessary. Efforts will focus on
island sanctuaries along the coast, including North Deer, Rollover Bay, Smith
Point Islands in Galveston Bay, Sundown Island in Matagorda Bay, and Green
Island on the South Coast.
Unfortunately, erosion and subsidence have greatly reduced the number of islands in our bays and colonial waterbird populations are now concentrated on just a few islands. Too Often, mammalian predators are able to swim out to these islands and greatly reduce nesting success or cause colonial waterbirds to abandon the site entirely. The Coastal Program funds and a match will be used to monitor the colonial waterbird colonies during the breeding season, and initiate management practices.
Partners: Houston & Texas Audubon, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and the Texas Coastal Program