Overview
Hello Ploverites!
We have our first two confirmed fledges of the season! Two snowy plover chicks survived to 28 days after hatching on June 5, 2022; a Point Blue Conservation Science biologist observed both chicks with their plover dad running around in the Abbotts Lagoon restoration area on June 9; this is approximately 1.7 miles north of their nest site location on North Beach!
We have another round of nests projected to hatch in the coming few weeks, mostly along North Beach (our most active site this season). Please see site specific info below.
Here are updates organized by beach sites:
Kehoe (K):
There are two active nests on north Kehoe Beach. Both of these are projected to hatch by mid-July.
Abbotts Lagoon Restoration Area (RA):
There are currently no active nests within the RA. There was a significant amount of nesting activity and several pairs here very early in the season, but they seem to have dispersed. One fledged brood, mentioned above, and a younger brood with one chick are utilizing this area.
Abbotts Lagoon to North Beach parking lot (NP):
This site is currently where much of the nesting activity is at. There are six active nests, mostly within a mile of North Beach parking lot. There is currently a single brood near North Beach parking lot.
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):
Only one active nest remains at this site along with two broods. One of these broods is projected to fledge one chick this Sunday, June 12. We expect a couple nests to pop up here in the coming weeks.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Matt Lau, the park's Snowy Plover Ecologist, via email.
CURRENT STATS:
- 24 total nests this season
- 9 active nest
- 9 hatched
- 6 failed nests
- 6–9 chicks on the beach
- 2 chicks confirmed fledged
When surveying, biologists look for patches of dense snowy plover tracks to locate new nests. Sometimes it is obvious where a new nest is located, as seen here: a dense cluster of plover tracks leading up to a central location near the edge of the European beach grass.
A new one-egg nest located by finding a dense cluster of snowy plover tracks.
A newly hatched chick!
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