Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring has verified a nesting least tern colony on Anna Maria Island.
Four nests and 10 individual birds comprise the colony as of May 6. It is the first least tern colony observed by the organization since 2021.
Least terns are a state and federally-protected species, and previous colonies on Anna Maria Island have failed due to the presence of cats and crows, which are predators of least terns.
Volunteers will be attending the site, which has been posted with signs to alert beachgoers to avoid the nesting area over the next several weeks, as it takes least terns eggs about 21 days to hatch.
People can help by respecting posted areas — do not tread in the nest area — keeping pets away, and keeping the beach clear of litter, especially food scraps which attract predators of least terns.