Bird Habitat: Rocky Shores and Sandy Beaches

The Science of Birds

This episode—which is Number 104—is all about rocky shores and sandy beaches as bird habitat. These environments offer birds very different resources and challenges. We explore the geology behind these habitats—how high-energy waves shape rocky cliffs and headlands, while the deposition of sediment builds up sandy beaches. Alongside this, we discuss the dynamic interaction between birds and their coastal homes, and how species like gulls, shorebirds, and seabirds have adapted to thrive in these unique settings.
The episode highlights the incredible diversity of bird species found along coastlines worldwide. From puffins nesting on rocky sea cliffs to plovers skittering across sandy beaches, coastal birds have developed specialized feeding and breeding behaviors to survive in their often harsh environments. We also examine how tides and wave energy shape the coastal ecosystem and offer rich feeding opportunities for birds during migration and in their non-breeding seasons.
Finally, we touch on the many challenges coastal birds face from human activity—habitat destruction, disturbance, pollution, and climate change—all of which threaten these delicate ecosystems. But amidst the challenges, coastal environments remain awe-inspiring places for birdwatching, providing opportunities to witness some of the most dramatic bird spectacles on Earth.

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Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website

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