Overview
Hello Ploverites!
The western snowy plover breeding season is slowing down—only four active nests remain and breeding adults not associated with a nest or brood have joined winter flocks or have migrated already. "Winter" flocks started forming slightly early in the second week of July; these flocks generally don't start coalescing until mid- to late July. These "winter flocks" consist of Point Reyes breeding birds in addition to migrants from other breeding areas who are either transiting through or will stay in the park for the winter until the next breeding season.
Here are updates organized by beach sites:
Kehoe (K):
No breeding activity has been detected at this site in the past week. The breeding pair that abandoned their nest a couple weeks ago have left.
Abbotts Lagoon Restoration Area (RA):
There is one active nest along the southwest lagoon shoreline, along with several broods (i.e., males with chicks).
Abbotts Lagoon to North Beach parking lot (NP):
There are two active nests on this site, near the North Beach parking lot. Both of these nests are due to hatch in the coming week. Several broods remain along this site.
North Beach (NB):
There hasn't been any breeding activity between North Beach and South Beach parking lots since the start of the season.
South Beach (SB):
No breeding activity has been observed at this site this year.
Limantour (L):
The adult plovers dubbed the "King" and "Queen" of Limantour have decided to renest again! Point Blue biologist, Ryan DiGaudio, discovered a two-egg nest on Limantour Spit. We also confirmed two additional fledges at this site.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Matt Lau, the park's Snowy Plover Ecologist, via email.
CURRENT STATS:
- 32 total nests this season
- 4 active nest
- 18 hatched
- 10 failed nests
- 21 chicks on the beach!
- 9 chicks confirmed fledged
An adult female snowy plover foraging along the shoreline of Abbotts Lagoon.
A female snowy plover hides amongst European searocket and beach morning glory along the shoreline of Abbotts Lagoon.
A fledgling snowy plover (va:aa) that hatched on Limantour Beach in May 2022. Photo of this fledgling was taken near Abbotts Lagoon.
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