Yes, man may disturb migratory birds on beaches

This is what was discovered in the study "Coexistence between Nearctic-Neotropical migratoryshorebirds and humans on urban beaches of the Southern Hemisphere: a current conservation challengein developing countriesl" published in Urban Ecossystems 18: 285-291. The arrival of migratory shorebirds on beaches in urban communities in developing countries is a current challenge for the protection of these migrant birds. Nearctic-Neotropical migrants rely on roosting and feeding sites during their stopover on wintering sites in the Southern Hemisphere to acquire sufficient energy to complete their migratory cycles. On the other hand, cities in the Southern Hemisphere are growing rapidly, which results in increasing competition for space between humans and birds, such as for use in beach habitats. The probability of occurrence of Nearctic birds decreased as the number of people increased in samples taken in circle plots with 20 m radius. When the number of people exceeded 20, the probability of occurrence of birds was almost zero. Educational materials such as images and texts on the natural history of migratory bird species, their importance within the food chain, and ways to prevent their perturbation, should be made available to people on beaches. Government agencies and stakeholders should also develop laws that limit the minimum distance (i.e., 20 m) that people can approach migratory birds on beaches. Beach segments of 0.5–1 km should be closed to recreationists to serve as refueling areas during thecritical migration period of shorebirds (November to April). Additionally, bird watching activities should be encouraged as a recreational option and viewing platforms installed on beaches, thus avoiding close contact between people and birds. To reach success, management to conserve shorebirds needs active participation of government and citizens.