Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/144898
A CONTINUING PLIGHT An adult Snowy Plover makes itself at home on Siesta Key in March. Photo courtesy of Catherine Luckner NEW INCIDENTS OF VANDALISM ON SIESTA PUBLIC BEACH APPEAR TO HAVE RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF FOUR LEAST TERN CHICKS AS WELL AS MULTIPLE TERN AND SNOWY PLOVER NESTS By Rachel Brown Hackney Editor Four recently hatched Least Terns — another endangered bird species — have disappeared on Siesta Public Beach and are feared dead after new incidents of vandalism in buffer areas designed to protect both the terns and Snowy Plovers, Sarasota Audubon volunteers have reported. This latest incident follows episodes of vandalism in early June near Beach Accesses 9 and 10. That area has remained relatively problem-free, Sarasota Audubon volunteers told The Sarasota News Leader this week. Early on the morning of July 6, volunteers found signs of someone having dragged lawn furniture through the buffers near Beach Accesses 3 and 4, according to witness reports. Sarasota Audubon volunteer Catherine Luckner told The Sarasota News Leader that They are a rare little bird … and people were able to identify a man who rewe don't want to lose the species. portedly pulled heavy Dr. Allan Worms beach chairs about Retired Wildlife Biologist 2,000 feet down the