Some early season nesters, like Brown Pelicans and Laughing Gulls, had already completed their nesting activities, and many likely survived by hunkering down on higher ground. Unfortunately, a number of Brown Pelicans that landed on the Galveston Causeway during the storm were struck and killed by vehicles. For actively and recently nesting birds, Beryl proved even more destructive.  

Based on our observations and reports from partners, we believe there was a nearly complete nesting failure for some species, such as Black Skimmers and Least Terns, from Corpus Christi north to the Texas-Louisiana state line. These species tend to nest on bare ground just above high tide lines. Arriving just 18 days after Tropical Storm Alberto had already generated a 2-4 foot surge along much of the Texas Coast, Beryl’s storm surge over washed and destroyed active nests on beaches and low-lying coastal islands, decimating an estimated half of these species’ Texas nesting efforts. Additionally, many herons, egrets, spoonbills, and ibis were still in the nesting period, meaning younger nestlings could have been lost to the high winds in and near the storm’s path — though less likely in areas with more dense tree cover.  

Hurricanes are part of life on the Texas Coast and our team actively works ahead of predicted storms to observe bird habitats before landfall, especially during nesting season. Unfortunately, climate change is worsening the impacts of tropical weather systems overall. Increasing intensity of storms and decreasing speeds at which they travel equate to more coastal flooding, putting low-lying rookery islands and other nesting habitats at risk. Coastal bird populations, especially those beach-nesting species, are particularly vulnerable during these extreme weather events. 

Audubon remains committed to working with partners along the Texas coast to implement coastal resilience projects and ensure nesting islands can continue to provide viable habitat for birds well into the future. And there are already a number of solutions we’re exploring to mitigate these effects. 

Audubon Texas has researched efforts to add elevation to our low-lying sites that are often over washed. We are also investigating the concept of a floating platform that could rise and fall with sea levels. Audubon partner organizations in Maryland have had some success with birds nesting on artificial habitats. It is also important to reduce the overall disturbance these birds face. 

If nests are lost early in the season, some species will try to renest, returning to the islands when waters recede or moving further inland. Regardless, when birds are disturbed during the nesting process, they are less likely to successfully hatch their chicks and fledge their young. Disturbance can come from people walking or boating near nesting sites, off-leash dogs, or natural predators. Reducing the overall stressors on bird populations means a better chance of rebounding after hurricanes and other significant weather events.  

As hurricane season continues, Audubon Texas will continue to closely monitor bird habitats and weather conditions in tandem with our partners across the Texas coast and beyond. We encourage Texans to follow Share the Shore best practices when they are enjoying the outdoors, and especially when they are near bird habitats and nesting sites. Through thoughtful actions and continued learning, we can help bend the bird curve and reverse the decades-long decline of bird populations across the Americas.