Are black skimmer birds endangered?

Black skimmer birds (Rynchops niger) are a unique species of bird found along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of North America. They are known for their unusual bill shape which allows them to skim along the surface of water to catch fish. Black skimmer populations have declined in recent decades, leading many to wonder if they are endangered.

Quick Answer: Are black skimmer birds endangered?

Black skimmer birds are not currently listed as endangered at the federal level in the United States. However, due to declining populations, they are considered a Species of Special Concern by many state wildlife agencies along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Their conservation status does vary by state.

Overview of black skimmer birds

Black skimmers are medium-sized coastal birds measuring around 18-22 inches in length with a wingspan of around 45-50 inches. They are slender with long, pointed wings and a deeply forked tail. As their name suggests, they are mostly black in color with white feathers on their forehead, underside, and edges of the wings.

The most distinctive feature of black skimmers is their uniquely shaped bill. The lower mandible is longer than the upper and is knife-thin. This allows them to skim just above the water surface with the lower bill partially submerged to snap up small fish.

Black skimmers nest in large colonies, often with other beach-nesting birds like terns. Nesting areas are typically open sandy beaches, sandbars, islands, and rooftops. Clutch size is usually 3-5 eggs. The eggs are cream colored with brown spotting.

These birds feed almost entirely on small fish like menhaden, anchovies, killifish, and mullet. They will also eat some crustaceans and insects. They forage mainly at night or early morning by flying back and forth over the water scooping up prey.

Population status and threats

The global population of black skimmers is estimated to be between 78,000-93,000 individuals. In the United States, population estimates range from 25,000-49,000 breeding pairs. Breeding populations are centered in coastal areas of the Southeast (especially Florida) and the mid-Atlantic.

Black skimmer populations have declined significantly since the late 19th century, though have been fairly stable in recent decades. The major threats facing black skimmers include:

• Habitat loss – Development of nesting beaches for human use
• Disturbance – Human recreation on nesting beaches
• Predation – Natural predators and invasive predators like fire ants
• Climate change – Rising sea levels reducing nesting habitat
• Pollution – Oil spills, pesticide runoff

Control of predators and protections for nesting beaches have aided stabilization of populations in some regions. However, habitat loss and disturbance remain significant threats to black skimmers across most of their range.

Legal protections

Black skimmers are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in the United States, which makes it illegal to harm or harass the birds, their eggs, or nests. They are not listed under the Endangered Species Act at the federal level.

Their status under state regulations includes:

Some other Atlantic and Gulf coast states, such as Georgia and New Jersey, designate black skimmers as state Species of Special Concern or Species of Greatest Conservation Need.

Conservation efforts

Many wildlife agencies and conservation groups along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts are engaged in efforts to protect and manage black skimmer populations. Some key conservation actions include:

• Protection and management of nesting areas – Access restrictions, predator control, habitat maintenance of beaches and rooftop colonies
• Monitoring and research – Regular surveys to track populations, banding studies
• Education programs – Outreach to reduce disturbance and increase awareness of conservation status
• Oil spill response – Rescue and rehabilitation of oiled birds

For example, Florida’s state wildlife agency has an extensive management program focused on protecting breeding colonies. Virginia restricts access and manages predators at the seaside breeding site of Fisherman Island National Wildlife Refuge. North Carolina monitors over 20 colonies across the state. Conservation groups in Texas place protection signs around nesting sites and work to maintain suitable remote beach habitat.

Factors influencing future outlook

The future outlook for black skimmers will depend on several key factors:

• Habitat availability – Protection of current breeding areas from development/disturbance and maintenance/creation of new habitat will be crucial.
• Climate change – Sea level rise reducing nesting beaches is a major long-term threat that will require creation of new habitat in some regions.
• Predation pressures – Continuing predator management will be needed in nesting areas.
• Pollution – Preventing oil spills and reducing pesticide/contaminant impacts in key coastal areas will help reduce mortality risks.
• Food availability – Sustaining fish populations that skimmers rely on will be important to support breeding.

Conclusion

Black skimmer birds have undergone significant population declines over the last century, primarily due to habitat loss and disturbance of nesting colonies. They face a variety of ongoing threats to their long-term viability.

While not currently federally endangered, black skimmers are designated as threatened, endangered, or species of special concern in many Atlantic and Gulf coast states. Intensive conservation efforts are underway in many regions to protect key breeding colonies and track populations.

Maintaining suitable remote beach nesting habitat, controlling predators, preventing oil spills, managing human disturbance, and adapting to climate change impacts will likely be key factors influencing the future of black skimmer populations. If current conservation measures can be sustained and expanded, the outlook for black skimmers can remain fairly stable, though they likely will require continued active management efforts.