Dogs on beaches and wetlands: scientists warn of declining shorebird breeding success

Throughout the Americas, shorebirds are one of the most threatened groups of birds. In Chile, 49 species of these birds have been documented regularly, of which 20 have been assigned conservation status. Surprisingly, about 40% of these are in some category of threat.

According to the National Plan for the Conservation of Birds 2021-2030, free-living dogs (off-leash or stray dogs) are one of the main threats to birds in Chile. Records of these animals, with and without owners, attacking birds, chicks, and nests in coastal areas, such as beaches and wetlands, abound in social media as a means to complain and increase, especially in summer.

The mere presence of dogs stresses and scares the birds, and even the most docile dogs may catch and kill chicks. These threatened birds then move away from their nests and leave their eggs and chicks vulnerable to aerial predators, such as seagulls or birds of prey, and exposed to high or low temperatures.

 Alert from the scientific world: how to face this situation?

The discussion to avoid the serious consequences of dogs on beaches is full of controversy. It is something that Audubon knows well. It has a long history of working for the conservation of birds and their habitats at the hemispheric level, where Chile is one of the strategic countries for the conservation of shorebirds.

Between 2022 and 2024, together with Fundación Bandada, Audubon Americas monitored the reproduction and abundance of the American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) at the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) site of Playa Isla de los Reyes Rocuant, in the Biobío Region. This species, a resident of the Chilean coasts, is classified as Near Threatened (Chilean Ministry of Environment, 2020), and its reproductive success does not exceed 10%, even reaching the unfortunate figure of 0% in some cases. Through this monitoring, during the 2022–2023 and 2023–2024 breeding seasons, periodic visits were made to the nests of these birds in the area, where various threats that caused the failure of the reproductive attempts of this species were evaluated.

Regarding predation by dogs, a notable increase was observed in the second period as a cause of reproductive failure, reaching 41%, compared to 11.3% recorded in the previous season. This trend revealed the urgent need to implement additional measures to control the presence of domestic animals in the nesting area, reducing their negative impact on reproduction.

Along the same lines, clutch size (i.e. number of eggs) and reproductive success of the evaluated seasons showed marked differences. During the 2022–2023 season, a higher clutch size and reproductive success was recorded, 8.2%, contrasting with a worrying 4.1% in 2023–2024. These data allow us to estimate bird population trends and lay the groundwork for implementing strategies to effectively address the main threats to this species or others with similar characteristics.

 A call to the authorities

In 2023, Audubon Americas, in collaboration with Fundación Bandada, presented the handbook "The Beach Belongs to Everyone: Coastal Conservation for Birds." This document provides notions on how to address the complex situation, as well as concrete principles and tools.

Many of these actions require the support of local authorities. For example, the first aspect addressed in the manual is the prohibition of the presence of dogs on beaches and nesting islets and, in the case of beaches where pets are allowed, they must always be kept on a leash and at a distance of 100 meters, which is safe for the birds. 

This is a key initiative for the healthy coexistence between wildlife and domestic animals, however, it would require the action of the municipality, through an ordinance, as well as the supervision of the Navy.

The role of information and education in addressing this problem is also important. For example, additional signage explaining responsible ownership laws and pet restrictions would help visitors with pets not only to comply with the restrictions but also to understand why.

These tools generate greater impact with the presence of volunteers or other knowledgeable people who can, in turn, communicate to dog owners about how harmful pets can be to birds.

Some actions that can be taken

Is there a dog at a coastal site where it is not allowed? Politely, tell the owner that dogs are not allowed, or suggest that taking the dog to the beach is inappropriate. Often, people respond well if it appears that a volunteer is doing them a favor by helping them avoid a costly fine.

Volunteers can also generate signage that includes purposeful and informative messages such as "Did you know that birds nest on this beach?" or "By staying away from nesting areas, picking up your trash, and leaving your dogs at home you can help these endangered birds survive."

Another option, in case you see any irresponsible action or one that endangers the birds and their nests, is to locate the designated emergency contact and document the scene.

We invite you to download our manual on how to be a change-maker in bird welfare and how to be a coastal volunteer:  https://shorturl.at/4ayMM  (Spanish-only text).