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Western Snowy Plovers

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Western Snowy Plovers WesternWestern SnowySnowy PloversPlovers SharingSharing thethe BeachBeach WHAT IS A SNOWY PLOVER? HOW ARE THEY THREATENED? federal Endangered Species Act, beach visitors The western snowy plover (Charadrius Snowy plovers are threatened due to disturbance, who harm or disturb plovers or their habitat may alexandrinus nivosus) is a sparrow-sized, light predation and habitat loss. Because the birds and be cited and fined. Plovers need our help if they colored shorebird with dark patches on either side eggs are camouflaged, beach visitors can disturb are to survive alongside human beach recreation. of the neck, behind the eye, and on the forehead. resting birds or wander right through a nesting The Pacific coast population of the snowy plover is area, never knowing the damage they have caused. WHAT IS SALINAS RIVER NATIONAL a federally threatened species. Visitor use of the beach close to nests causes adult WILDLIFE REFUGE DOING TO birds to stay off the nest, exposing eggs to predators PROTECT PLOVERS? WHERE ARE THESE PLOVERS? and the elements. Beach fires and fireworks disturb The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working Plovers can be found on flat, open coastal beaches the nesting birds, and kites flown above look like closely with California State Parks, PRBO in dunes, and near stream mouths. They are well predators. During the winter, continual disturbance Conservation Science and other coastal land camouflaged and extremely hard to see, often uses up their stored reserves and may lower their managers to cooperatively manage the plover on crouching in small depressions taking shelter breeding success. California’s beaches. At Salinas River National from the wind. National Wildlife Refuges and Predators on the beach are also threats. Dogs chase Wildlife Refuge, personnel conduct surveys to California State Park beaches provide much of the and may catch birds or destroy nests, cats prey on determine plover numbers and nesting success. suitable habitat birds and chicks, and even leashed dogs may appear remaining in as a danger. Native predators such as skunks, crows, California ravens, and shrikes are joined by exotic predators for this small such as the nonnative red fox to further pressure the shorebird. birds. During the winter months, WHY SHOULD I CARE? snowy plovers eat and rest, building up fat reserves. From early The snowy plover is an important part of the spring to mid-fall, plovers nest in loose colonies, interconnected web of life on the shore. Plovers often coming back to the same beaches every year. have lived on California beaches for thousands The nests are simple scrapes in the sand with 1-3 of years, but today human use of their remaining Color bands are placed on plover legs so that eggs that the male warms at night, while the female beach habitat seriously threatens their survival. individual birds can be identified and monitored does day duty. Eggs hatch in about 27 days, and Once numbered in the thousands, fewer than 1500 throughout their lives. Sensitive plover areas within hours the chicks are searching for their breeding plovers remain. Prior to 1970 they nested are protected year-round by signs and seasonal food of insects and other beach invertebrates. The at 53 locations in California, while today they nest fencing to prevent the public from entering. chicks are on their own in 30 days. But surviving in only half as many sites. Since snowy plovers are Exotic plants that affect plover nesting habitat are those two months is the trick. listed as a threatened species and protected by the removed and certain recreational activities are restricted (see “What Can I Do To Help?”). *Photos © Jenny Erbes, PRBO.
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