Nesting shorebirds have again forced the cancellation of a planned July 3 fireworks show.
The display, traditionally held on Independence Eve at the Beach House Restaurant, 200 Gulf Drive N., was canceled due to a colony of protected shorebirds nesting nearby on the shore.
“It’s in the best interests of our community and nesting shorebirds to cancel the July 3 fireworks,” said Patti McKee, special events director for the Chiles Restaurant Group, three restaurants owned by Ed Chiles.
This is the second consecutive year the July 3 fireworks were canceled at the Beach House due to nesting shorebirds.
Least terns, snowy plovers and black skimmers have taken to the beach for the summer to lay eggs and raise chicks. The birds, which are legally protected, are highly susceptible to loud noises and stress that can cause them to abandon their nests and chicks.
“Eggs or no eggs, no one should let off fireworks around these animals,” said Suzi Fox, executive director of Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring. “It’s illegal and they’re in a tender state right now.”
Fox said the males sit on the bird nests at night while the females sit on the nests during the day. When a loud noise startles the birds, they take flight, leaving the nest. If noises frighten the birds too much, they may abandon the nests and the yet-flightless chicks, leaving them vulnerable to predators and the sun.
Eggs left exposed to the sun can bake in moments. The sun’s rays also can kill chicks if left exposed for too long or abandoned.
Fox suggested people who want to observe fireworks on Anna Maria Island journey to the north end July 4.
The Chiles Group plans to host its annual July 4 party at the Sandbar Restaurant, 100 Spring Ave., Anna Maria.
The Anna Maria fireworks will begin shortly after dusk and are free to view from the beach.
For more information about nesting shorebirds, contact AMITW at 941-778-5638.
For more information about the fireworks, call the Sandbar at 941-778-0444.