& Orange County Western Snowy Plover Monthly Report for February 2015

Prepared for

Nancy Frost Department of Fish and Wildlife 3883 Ruffin Road San Diego, CA 92123

Prepared by:

Los Angeles Audubon P.O. Box 931057 Los Angeles, California 90093 Contact: Thomas Ryan

March 1, 2015 Los Angeles County During February 2015 biologist Thomas Ryan detected 82 snowy plovers at roosts in Los Angeles County on February 24 and 25, 2015. This is much lower than the prior year and the January 2015 (Table 1), and is the lowest total for February since surveys began in 2004 (Ryan and Vigallon 2009).

The biologist noted the continued presence of a volleyball court and large berm placed in the historic roosting area of the snowy plovers at Zuma, north of lifeguard tower 9 (see November 2014 report) as well as a film crew working in the adjacent parking lot. Figure 1b shows the location of the new volleyball court and berm in relation to the mapped location of the Zuma plover roost from 2012 to 2014. This is contrary to our recommendation of locating recreational facilities away from known plover roosts. Additionally, this berm appears to be new to this location and was not noted in previous years. It appears that this plover roost, historically the largest in Los Angeles County has been abandoned. A small group of 13 snowy plovers were observed east of this site near the mouth of Zuma Creek.

No snowy plovers were detected at Malibu, but the sand bar has reformed.

The enclosure at Santa Monica was intact. The plovers continue to roost just north and east of the enclosure in an unprotected area subject to beach driving vehicles, we recommend extreme caution be used within 500 ft of the enclosure for the remainder of the winter months.

The enclosure at Dockweiler State Beach is intact. However, fewer plovers are roosting here than have been found in the past. Some these may have moved south and reoccupied the roosting area near Dockweiler SB Lifeguard Tower 58 since January.

No snowy plovers were detected at the traditional Hermosa Beach roosting area between 22 nd Street and Longfellow.

Table 1. Number of Snowy Plovers Observed in Los Angeles County

Feb Jan Feb Location Notes 2014 2015 2015 67 0 13* Volleyball court and berm placed near historic roost. Zuma *roost has moved east of historic site, Left- Blue/Silver-Right-Blue/Yellow Malibu 24 0 0 Sand Bar has reformed Santa Monica 18 32 39 DSB 47 36 16 13 Fresh vehicle tracks in front of enclosure 0 25 17 Roost appears to have reappeared, Y ellow/ Silver - DSB 58 Yellow/Yellow Hermosa 40 46 0 Total 185 119** 82 *Zuma roost has moved east of historic site ** a total of 151 snowy plovers were found at all beaches during the January 2015 Beachwide Survey.

Orange County In Orange County, biologists Ross Griswold and Josh Weinik detected 153 plovers on February 18, 20, and 21, 2015. This is lower than the population detected here in February 2014 (203) and January 2015 (195). Potential explanations for the decline include heavy beach erosion narrowing all beaches, possible movement to new roosting locations, a new sidewalk was beside the roosting fence at Balboa, and berms were installed at Surfside/Sunset Beach and Bolsa Chica as discussed in the December 2014 report.

Table 2. Number of Snowy Plovers Observed in Orange County

Feb Jan Feb Location Notes 2014 2015 2015 Seal Beach Surfside 10 16 1 Bolsa Chica SB 42 49 10 Huntington SB 21 12 18 Balboa 89 9 39 Crystal Cove NS 25 0 Salt Creek 0 18 37 Trestles/San 41 38 48 og:ap Clemente SB Total 203 167* 153 *a total of 195 snowy plovers were detected at all beaches during January 2015 Beachwide Surveys.

Photographs.

Photograph 1. Volleyball court and berm Zuma.

Photograph 2. Sand berm at Malibu Lagoon.

Photograph 3. Vehicle tracks at Dockweiler State Beach Enclosure.

Roost Maps.

Figure 1a. Map of relocated Zuma roost location.

Figure 1b. Map showing location of volleyball court (red line) and berm (burgandy square) in relation to the location of the snowy plover roost between 2012 and 2014 (dark green polygon) and the location of the roost in November (light green) and December (blue). Imagery showing past berm locations from December 2013 (Google Earth 2015).

Figure 2. Map of Santa Monica roost location.

Figure 3. Map of Dockweiler State Beach Tower 47 (DSB 47) roost location.

Figure 4. Map of Dockweiler State Beach Tower 58 (DSB 58)

Figure 5. Map of roost location.

Figure 6. Map of roost location.

Figure 7. Map of Balboa roost location.

Figure 8. Map of Salt Creek roost location.

Figure 9. Map of Trestles/ roost location.