Anna Maria Island is known as a Bird Sanctuary. Five Years ago the County of Manatee & the State of Florida approached AMITW about monitoring for nesting shore birds on Anna Maria Island. In the past we had documented Nesting Least Terns, Black Skimmers, Snowy Plovers & American Oyster Catchers.  This year we have a confirmed sighting of Piping Plovers.

Many other birds feed and rest on our shores early in the morning. AMITW has incorporated monitoring for nesting shore birds along with daily surveys of sea turtles. When nesters are located we rope off area with the help of officials from FFWCC Shore Bird Program. We conduct daily surveys of those areas and collect the data. We tend to any sick or injured and transport them to the proper authorities.