Signage for Species at Risk

Hi, Karen.

The Virginia CZM Program and its partners published a brochure in 2006 titled "Life on the Beach Isn't Always Easy" to help educate barrier island visitors about the critical role island habitats play in the life-cycle of beach nesting birds. Thousands of birds nest on the beaches of the barrier islands each year from April to September, which coincides with the height of tourism in the region. The survival of beach nesting birds on the islands is already difficult due to predation on eggs and small chicks, and natural forces such as storm waves and high tides which threaten to wash the nests away. People using these beaches can also affect the birds' survival by accidentally stepping on nests, bringing dogs to the island, and leaving trash on the islands which attract predators to these areas.

Perhaps some of the language and graphic elements used in this brochure might suggest approaches to designing your signage.

This brochure can be viewed and downloaded at http://www.deq.virginia.gov/coastal/vshp/goals.html#beachnestingbird

Virginia Witmer
Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program
United States

Hi, Karen.

Just to let you know...the piping plover is an endangered and/or threatened species in the United States. It is protected by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. See http://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/profile/speciesProfile.action?spcode=B079


fred stepanis, jr.
Conservation Assistant
Town of Barnstable
United States
http://www.town.barnstable.ma.us/Conservation/

Karen,

Make sure that any signage you post can't be used by predatory birds as a perch. Signs can inadvertently attract nest predators like crows or predators on adults like hawks.

Dr. Cynthia Annett
United States

Hi Karen
Check out the following publication:

http://72.41.119.75/Library/Signage/Promoting_Persuasion_in_Protected_Areas.pdf

Regards
Damien Sweeney

National Centre for Sustainability
Swinburne University of Technology

Damien Sweeney
Project Manager
National Centre for Sustainability, Swinburne University of Technology
Australia

A couple of books I have enjoyed recently are Sway: the irresistible pull of irrational behaviour and Nudge: improving decisions about health, wealth and happiness.

On page 67, Nudge mentions a park signage test...

"Some signs stressed how bad the problem was: "Many past visitors have removed the petrified wood from the park, changing the natural state of the Petrified Forest." Other signs emphasized an injunctive norm: "Please don't remove the petrified wood from the park, in order to preserve the natural state of the Petrified Forest."

The latter was more effective.

Ruben Anderson
Communications Specialist
Metro Vancouver
Canada

Thank you all. This is all very helpful.

Karen Potter
Environment Canada
Canada