Shell Keys National Wildlife Refuge

Because of the remoteness and dynamic nature of Shell Keys National Wildlife Refuge, shorebirds are the only wildlife readily encountered. In the past, Shell Keys National Wildlife Refuge has supported large-but-limited colonies of nesting seabirds. Because of erosion from hurricanes and other storms only one islet, composed almost entirely of seashells, remains. Birds known to nest here include royal terns, sandwich terns, black skimmers and laughing gulls. In addition, the islet is used as a loafing area by white pelicans, brown pelicans, terns and gulls. Storms have eroded the island to such an extent that no known nesting has occurred since 1992.