Wintering Shorebirds Return to Brevard: Long-Distance Travelers Touch Down on Space Coast Beaches

Sharing the Shore: How Brevard Residents Can Help Wintering Migratory Birds Thrive

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA — The fall migration season is in full swing along Florida’s Space Coast, and that means one thing for nature lovers: the wintering shorebirds have arrived.

From Playalinda Beach and the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge to the sandy stretches of Melbourne Beach and Sebastian Inlet, Brevard County’s coastline is once again hosting some of the world’s most remarkable feathered travelers.

More than 25 species of shorebirds either spend their winter months in Florida or use the state as a critical migratory stopover.

While many species push farther into Central and South America, a significant number settle into Brevard’s rich coastal habitats for the season, taking advantage of the county’s extensive beaches, tidal flats, and conservation lands.

Among the most extraordinary visitors are the American golden-plover and the red knot, both of which may journey thousands of miles from breeding grounds in the Arctic before touching down on Florida’s east coast.

The red knot is especially known for one of the longest migrations in the animal kingdom—some individuals fly from the Canadian Arctic all the way to the southern tip of South America. For these birds, Brevard’s nutrient-rich shoreline is a life-saving refueling station.

Other species seen this time of year include whimbrels, western sandpipers, ruddy turnstones, sanderlings, and black-bellied plovers. Some stay for only a few days before attempting the most dangerous leg of their journey: a nonstop flight across the Caribbean Sea. That trek requires enormous energy, making uninterrupted feeding and resting time absolutely essential.

Local wildlife experts stress that residents and visitors can make a meaningful difference in helping these birds survive migration.

How to Help Shorebirds in Brevard County

• Give them space. When birds flush or fly off, they burn calories needed for long-distance travel. Walk around birds that are resting or feeding on the beach, and avoid approaching flocks.
• Leash your pets. Even gentle, well-behaved dogs are perceived as predators by shorebirds. Off-leash pets can prevent birds from feeding, resting, or caring for young.
• Share the shore. Brevard’s beaches are home not only to people but to wildlife that depends on them for survival. Small actions from beachgoers help ensure these species continue to return year after year.

Brevard County’s unique position along the Atlantic Flyway makes it one of Florida’s most important coastal habitats for wintering and migrating shorebirds. As these resilient travelers settle in for the cooler months—or make a brief but crucial stop on their way south—local conservationists encourage everyone to enjoy their beauty while helping protect the delicate balance that keeps them coming back.

This winter, as flocks gather along the Space Coast’s sandy edges, residents have a front-row seat to one of nature’s greatest journeys—and an important role in ensuring it continues.

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