Snowy Plover Update - August 12, 2019

August 17, 2019 Posted by: Matt Lau

Overview

Hello Plover lovers! We are seeing an increase in reproductive success during these last few weeks of the breeding season; plovers have fledged six chicks in the past week and a half, bringing our total up to at least eleven fledglings for the season. Even more excitingly, we still have nine chicks on the beach with three more to potentially hatch!

We were surprised to find a new nest on Kehoe Beach this past week, within the fencing and close to the cluster of other nests that have been found there in the past few months. This is our thirty-fifth nest of the season. It's likely this nest has been present for the past couple of weeks and will likely hatch soon.

Here are updates organized by beach sites:

Kehoe (K)

There is a single nest active on this site (the one found this past week). "Bob", the father with adopted chicks (see the August 5 update for this story), was able to fledge both his own biological chicks as well as his two adopted chicks! Four chicks have fledged and four still remain; these will fledge at the end of the month.

Abbotts Lagoon Restoration Area (RA)

No plovers have been observed in this large native dune habitat in months, likely due to heavy nest loss earlier in the season and in past seasons.

Abbotts Lagoon to North Beach parking lot (NP)

No nests remain on this site, though there is a brood with two chicks still present approximately one mile north of North Beach parking lot. These are projected to fledge at the end of the month.

North Beach (NB)

We have not observed any nesting activity or adult birds on this site in the past week, but we will continue to survey for winter flocks.

Limantour (L)

The last nest on this site hatched this week, producing three chicks. This brood will fledge in mid-September, which is unusually late in the season!

South Beach (SB)

No breeding activity or adult birds have been observed on this site in the past few weeks.

If you have any questions, please feel free to let Matt Lau, the park's Snowy Plover Ecologist, know via email. Thank you so much, again, for all your help!

Current Stats

  • 35 nests so far this season
    • 1 active nest
    • 13 hatched
    • 21 failed nests
  • 9 chicks on the beach
  • 11–13 chicks fledged
A small brown shorebird with its body low to the ground and with white tail feathers spread out.

An adult male snowy plover performing a tail-dragging display, to lure biologists away from a recently hatched nest.


The National Park Service shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and/or contained herein. These data and related graphics (if available) are not legal documents and are not intended to be used as such. The information contained in these data is dynamic and may change over time. The National Park Service gives no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of these data. For more information: https://www.nps.gov/disclaimer.htm

Point Reyes, Point Reyes National Seashore, bird, birds, plover, plovers, snowy plover, snowy plovers, western snowy plover, western snowy plovers, Charadrius nivosus, Charadrius nivosus nivosus



Last updated: August 22, 2019

Park footer

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

1 Bear Valley Road
Point Reyes Station, CA 94956

Phone:

415-464-5100
This number will initially be answered by an automated attendant, from which one can opt to access a name directory, listen to recorded information about the park (e.g., directions to the park; visitor center hours of operation; fire danger information; wildlife updates; ranger-led programs; seasonal events; etc.), or speak with a ranger. Please note that if you are calling between 4:30 pm and 10 am, park staff may not be available to answer your call.

Contact Us