Other Beach and Dune Dwellers
The Perdido Key Beach Mouse isn’t the only endangered animal to call Perdido Key’s dunes and beaches home. Other species find the white sands attractive as seasonal h omes or for nesting before returning to sea. Two such visitors are the piping plover and the sea turtle.
The sea turtle is another endangered visitor to Perdido Key. Loggerhead,
Leatherback, Ridley and Green sea turtles arrive between May and
September to dig nest cavities in the sand into which 100 or more
eggs are laid. About two months later, provided the nest hasn’t
been washed away, uncovered by high winds, or disturbed by predators
or beach visitors, turtle hatchlings emerge. Following the brightest
spot in the sky, which is usually the horizon over the water,
hatchlings scramble for the sea. Unfortunately, as development
on barrier islands has occurred, lights of convenience stores,
hotels and businesses have made the trek to the sea a confusing
and dangerous challenge. Few hatchlings are successful in their
live’s first adventure. Less than 1% of hatchlings survive
their first year and grow old enough to return to Perdido Key
to begin the cycle again.
Shorebirds including black skimmers, gulls, terns,
and brown pelicans are among the many different species of birds
which rest on the island, nest, or feed offshore. Neotropical
birds, such as Warblers and Cedar Waxwings, live in the tropics
and travel to North America to breed, stopping-over to feed and
rest at Perdido Key. Monarch butterflies migrating to and from
South America stop-over, finding refuge on the swaying stalks
of sea oats growing within the dune habitat of Perdido Key.
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Home
The Nature of Perdido Key Beach Dune Habitat
The Perdido Key Beach Mouse
The Situation
Got Habitat?
Predation
Economics of Dune Habitat
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