IBNB Frequently Asked Questions

The guidelines are a tool for landowners, consultants, agency partners and other stakeholders on protections and permitting options for IBNB species as well as strategies for IBNB conservation. These guidelines include definitions of “take” (“harm” or “harass”) for IBNBs, options for avoidance of take, and options for permitting that minimize and mitigate unavoidable take. Recommended conservation measures and survey methods are also included to promote actions that benefit these four species.  

Four state-listed beach-nesting bird species, consisting of the American oystercatcher, snowy plover, least tern and black skimmer, are included in the IBNB Species Conservation Measures and Permitting Guidelines.  

Permits issued for State-designated Threatened species, including imperiled beach-nesting birds, reduce impacts to the species and counterbalance those impacts with beneficial conservation actions. The FWC evaluates permits and works with applicants to minimize impacts from project activities to the best extent possible and mitigate any impacts that cannot be avoided.

The FWC typically does not issue permits for take of Active Nests or for direct killing or injuring of adults or young, except in situations involving health and human safety. 

Permits are issued for actions that are likely to result in take as defined in the IBNB guidelines and 68A-27.001, F.A.C. (actions anticipated to “harm” or “harass” IBNBs). “Harm” includes an act which kills or injures IBNBs or results in “significant habitat modification.” “Harass” includes actions that create the likelihood of injuring wildlife by significant disruption of normal behavioral patterns. Detailed definitions of take as they apply to IBNBs are available in the IBNB Guidelines. The FWC typically does not issue permits for take of Active Nests or for direct killing or injuring of adults or young, except in situations involving health and human safety. 

ShoreMapper is an online resource intended to support the IBNB Conservation Measures and Species Permitting Guidelines. ShoreMapper provides information to assist you in determining whether project activities will take place in an area important for IBNBs and to what extent IBNB species will be impacted by the activity. It is an essential tool for estimating potential take of IBNBs and mitigation calculation. To access ShoreMapper, visit the IBNB ShoreMapper Tool. For instructions on how to use ShoreMapper, please watch the IBNB ShoreMapper Tool Instructional Video. 

ShoreMapper is updated every year on April 1.

Permits are only issued for activities if they are anticipated to result in take of IBNBs. See Appendix A in the IBNB Guidelines for a comprehensive list of activities that might result in take depending on the time of year and proximity to Recent Breeding Sites, Active Breeding Sites, Critical Brood-rearing Sites, and Critical Roosting Sites (see Guidelines for definitions). Visit the ShoreMapper website for mapped locations of these areas, which are updated each year on April 1. The lists below are not exhaustive. Your activity may still cause take even if it is not listed below. Please utilize Figure 6 in the Guidelines to determine if your activity is likely to cause take. 

Activities likely to cause take: 

• Construction or development, or preparing for such activities, within 300 ft² from Active Nests or a Recent Breeding Site, Critical Brood-rearing Site, or Critical Roosting Site during the breeding season. 
• Activities involving loss or modification of greater than 500 ft² of suitable habitat within an Active or Recent Breeding Site, Critical Brood-rearing Site, or Critical Roosting Site or loss or modification of any amount of habitat within an Active or Recent Breeding Site that is already less than 500 ft² in size (Significant Habitat Modification). 
• Special Events with Loud Noise (fireworks, concerts, sporting events, etc.) that occur during the breeding season or brood-rearing season and are also within 0.75 miles of an identified Recent Breeding Site, Active Breeding Site, or Critical Brood-rearing Site.  
• Special Events with Loud Noise that take place any time of year within 0.75 miles of Critical Roosting Sites for American oystercatchers (all currently located in Levy County) are likely to require a permit. 
• Activity occurring on a rooftop occupied by IBNBs during breeding season.  

Activities not expected to cause take: 

• Construction or development activities, including preparation, outside of the breeding season or outside of a buffer of 300 feet (91 m) from Active Nests or from Recent Breeding Sites during the breeding season, are not expected to cause take except when resulting in significant habitat modification. 

Visit our shorebird nesting map to see when breeding season occurs in your location. 

ShoreMapper is an essential tool in determining if your project area could impact IBNB species. The FWC recommends a pre-activity survey by an IBNB Permitted Monitor or Qualified Rooftop Monitor to verify site conditions and estimated extent of take.

You can access ShoreMapper by visiting the IBNB ShoreMapper Tool.

The best resource to help you through the process are the IBNB Species Conservation Measures and Permitting Guidelines. The Guidelines provide detailed information on every step of the application process and reference additional resources. For a quick guide on the application process, see Box 2 in the Guidelines.

ShoreMapper is another resource to help you with this process. ShoreMapper provides information to assist you in determining whether project activities will take place in an area important for IBNBs and to what extent IBNB species will be impacted by the activity. You will need this information to complete your permit application.

Many environmental consulting companies can also provide resources to support customers through the permitting process and can provide bird monitoring and reporting services. IBNB Permitted Monitors and Qualified Rooftop Monitors may also be able to provide recommendations. This is a good option for applicants who do not have ample permitting experience.

For additional resources, visit the IBNB Resources webpage.

First, determine if your activity is likely to cause take. See Box 2 in the Guidelines and Shoremapper for more information and guidance on these steps. After determining that take is unavoidable, determine the type and extent of take likely to occur. Next, identify minimization measures to reduce take of the species and lessen the mitigation necessary. Then, identify a mitigation option that will sufficiently counterbalance take of the impacted species. Finally, visit the FWC’s online permitting site to apply for an Incidental Take Permit. The applicant must be the landowner, or an individual designated in writing by the landowner. A list of IBNB Permitted Monitor(s) or Qualified Rooftop Monitor(s) selected for the project must also be included with the application.

Fill in all required fields in the online application and complete and upload the Supplemental IBNB ITP Application or Supplemental IBNB ITP Application for Rooftops.

For additional information on urgent repairs on rooftops with breeding IBNBs, see Appendix E – Rooftops.

Even if your project does not occur near a known nesting or brood-rearing area, pre-activity surveys are recommended in areas where suitable IBNB nesting habitat is present. This is because IBNBs are opportunistic nesters and sometimes nest in new areas. See page 18 of the Guidelines for more information. Checking for IBNB nesting on the ground or on rooftops prior to initiating project activities can help you avoid illegal take of IBNBs.

If you are issued an Incidental Take Permit for IBNBs, your permit conditions may require you to hire an IBNB Permitted Monitor or Qualified Rooftop Monitor. These monitors help ensure direct injury or mortality of IBNBs is avoided and harassment is minimized during project activities. Qualified Rooftop Monitors are also authorized to assist you in determining if avoidance is possible or to gather information necessary for preparation of an Incidental Take Permit application. For more information on the roles of the IBNB Permitted Monitors and Qualified Rooftop Monitors, please refer to Appendix C and Appendix E in the guidelines, respectively.

Qualified Rooftop Monitors and IBNB Permitted Monitors differ in authorizations and purpose.

Qualified Rooftop Monitors complete online training through the FWC and obtain a Rooftop Monitor Certificate. Their role is to conduct surveys to determine whether an Incidental Take Permit is needed during rooftop activities that could affect Active Nests and to provide guidance during permitted rooftop activities to avoid direct impacts to nests, eggs, young and adults. Qualfied Rootop Monitor certificates are renewed annually.

IBNB Permitted Monitors are experienced individuals with proven shorebird and seabird identification and survey experience and have been issued a FWC IBNB Permitted Monitor permit. The primary purpose of the IBNB Permitted Monitor is to help the FWC Incidental Take Permittee avoid direct injury or mortality to birds or eggs during beach activities. IBNB Permitted Monitor permits are valid for 2 years.

The IBNB Permitted Monitor may be employed by the same entity conducting the activity but must be a different person from the individual conducting the activity that may cause harassment or harm (e.g., they cannot be driving equipment down the beach and at the same time looking out for chicks).

A list of Qualified Rooftop Monitors and IBNB Permitted Monitors will soon be available on the FWC's IBNB program webpage. 

Minimization measures reduce the take that occurs from an activity and are outlined in the Measures to Avoid Take. Some examples include changes to activity location and/or timing to reduce or eliminate the impact on IBNB species. Standard minimization measures often include an IBNB Permitted Monitor, who protects IBNBs, nests, and eggs from injury and mortality.

Mitigation measures counterbalance take and provide an additional scientific or conservation benefit for the impacted species. Onsite conservation, offsite conservation, financial contributions, and support for research and education are all examples of mitigation efforts.

Sufficient mitigation provides scientific or conservation benefit to the specific species impacted by project activities (e.g., actions that result in take of American oystercatchers must provide mitigation that benefits American oystercatchers). Mitigation is scalable depending on the extent of take caused by the project. The extent of take can be calculated by using the ShoreMapper tool. An IBNB Permitted Monitor may also assist in assessing mitigation options for a project.

Appendix B includes a list of standard mitigation options for specific activities. Options include onsite conservation, offsite conservation, financial contributions, and support for research, monitoring, and/or education.