& Orange County Western Snowy Plover Monthly Report for September and October 2014

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

October 31, 2014 Los Angeles County During September and October of 2014 surveyors detected 243 and 218 plovers at roosts in Los Angeles County. These totals are similar to numbers of plovers observed in 2013 during these months. Typically, wintering plovers are still migrating and numbers fluctuate among beaches.

During the October survey, biologists observed and noted the presence of a volleyball court placed in the historic roosting area of the snowy plovers at Zuma, north of lifeguard tower 9 (Photo 1). This is contrary to our recommendation of locating recreational facilities away from known plover roosts. The beach at Malibu Lagoon is very narrow on the north end. The biologist documented an ATV on the east end of the beach at Malibu Lagoon. Tracks of an ATV were observed within approximately 40 ft of the roosting plovers (Photo 2). The enclosure at Santa Monica was intact and placed south of its location in 2013. It is 285 x 130 feet in 2014. In 2013 it was 295 x 90 ft. The enclosure at Dockweiler State Beach is intact, but the beach has advanced toward the ocean. No plovers were detected at Dockweiler Beach LT 58. None have been observed here since January 2013. This site is going to be removed from monthly inspections until a beachwide survey detects plovers roosting here.

In September, volunteers reported two vehicles that our speed estimation method estimated at moving over 15 mph. These were both on September 26, 2014 and involved an unidentified lifeguard truck at Venice Beach North, and Lifeguard Truck, License 1291951,at Dockweiler State Beach North. No fast- moving vehicles were observed during the October survey.

Table 1. Number of Snowy Plovers Observed in 2013 in Los Angeles County

Sept Oct Sept Oct Location Notes 2013 2013 2014 2014 Zuma 35 5 39 24 Volleyball court placed in the middle of historic roost Malibu 32 51 40 52 ATV parked /tracks ~4 0 ft from roosting plovers Santa Monica 41 22 64 41 Topanga CB 1 NS 0 NS DSB 47 62 71 29 43 DSB 58 0 0 0 0 Hermosa 39 79 67 58 Cabrillo SB 3 NS NS NS Belmont Sh. 0 NS 4 NS Total 213 228 243 218

Orange County In Orange County, we detected 213 plovers in September 2014 and 203 plovers in October 2014. This is similar to the population during these months in 2013. The numbers decreased at Balboa between September and October in both years. No plovers were detected at Salt Creek. In 2013, none arrived until November. The plovers were present earlier this year at Trestles/San Clemente SB. Volunteers reported a speeding truck on Crystal Cove, it was reported to Lana Meade at State Parks for follow-up.

Table 2. Number of Snowy Plovers Observed in 2013 in Orange County

Sept Oct Sept Oct Location Notes 2013 2013 2014 2014 Seal Beach 1 NS 0 0 Surfside 18 21 14 11 Bolsa Chica SB 60 47 45 34 Colorband:Vgray Huntington SB 12 93 21 22 Balboa 90 67 127 52 Crystal Cove 0 0 3 8 Salt Creek 0 0 0 0 Trestles/San 0 0 0 76 Colorband:AO:GO Clemente SB Total 181 228 213 203

Photographs.

Photograph 1. Volleyball net within historic roosting area at Zuma.

Photograph 2. ATV tracks with roosting plovers in the background at Malibu.

Roost Maps.

Figure 1. Map of Zuma Roost

Figure 2. Map of Malibu Lagoon Roost

Figure 3. Map of Santa Monica Roost.

Figure 4. Map of Dockweiler State Beach Tower 47 (DSB 47) Roost.

Figure 5. Map of Hermosa Beach Roost.

Figure 6. Map of Surfside Roost.

Figure 7. Map of Roost.

Figure 8. Map of Roost.

Figure 9. Map of Crystal Cove State Beach Roosts.

Figure 10. Map of Crystal Cove State Beach Roosts.

Figure 11. Map of Trestles/ Roosts.