Snowy Plover Update - June 16, 2023

June 17, 2023 Posted by: Matt Lau

Overview

Hello Ploverites!

A couple of snowy plover nests hatched since our last update, both on North Beach. Another nest is projected to hatch this weekend on Limantour Spit, bringing the number of broods at that site up to three! And a total of nine chicks! Things are looking great on Limantour Spit so far. We are still observing relatively low chick survival on North Beach, though we’re hoping these newly hatched broods will do better.

We've had a few visitors join me in the field the past few weeks: a few Restoration Technicians with the STRAW Program of Point Blue Conservation Science (one of our long-time park partners), the Point Reyes' new Interpretive seasonal rangers, and a few wildlife interns from Golden Gate National Recreational Area. It’s always a joy seeing folks experience plover nesting behaviors for the first time!

We have unfortunately, had several cases of visitors in the beach closures and fenced off plover nesting areas on a handful of weekdays. Our plover docents’ outreach and visitor education on the weekends really makes a difference!

The Royals Update

The King (av:ww) and Queen (av:bg) of Limantour appear to be doing well. Biologists observed the Queen creating scrapes with her 2022 offspring (va:ba male) after her first nest with the King hatched. However, we haven't found any nests for them since the nest hatch—maybe she realized they were related. We now believe the Queen is waiting for the King to fledge their chicks this weekend, freeing him from the hatchling duties and becoming available for a second nest of the season. We'll know in the next couple weeks! As for va:ba (one of a few Princelings hanging around), we're hoping he will find a suitable, unrelated mate soon.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Matt Lau via email.

CURRENT STATS:

  • 31 total nests this season
    • 8 active nest
    • 13 hatched
    • 10 failed nests
  • 13 chicks on PRNS beaches
  • 1 chicks fledged!

A photo of a small black-speckled, beige-colored egg with a small hole poked through the shell from the inside and the chick's beak is partially visible through the hole.A pipped egg—a snowy plover chick’s first break through the egg, and the beak can be seen through the opening. North Beach, 2023.
Photo credit: NPS/Matt Lau

A black-and-white night-time photo of two small birds perched on a driftwood log beyond some wire fencing.A trap camera at a split hatch nest along North Beach captured this photo of the male and a hatchling on a log. A split hatch happens when one or two chicks hatch one day and the remaining eggs hatch the following day.
Photo credit: NPS/Matt Lau


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

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Last updated: June 17, 2023

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