Snowy Plover Update - May 31, 2024

May 31, 2024 Posted by: Matt Lau

Overview

Hello Ploverites!

There haven't been many notable changes since last week's update—one new snowy plover nest was found on North Beach (the 12th for this year in this area) and another in the Abbotts Lagoon restoration area (the second for this site). Most of the nests that hatched in the past couple weeks still have broods that are active with at least one chick. As a reminder, once the nest hatches, the chicks are quickly mobile and are running and feeding on their own within a couple hours of hatching! The adult male of the nest is the sole caretaker of the hatchlings for approximately 28 days until the chicks fledge; the adult female departs and seeks another mate to establish a new nest.

Now that many of the nests have hatched in recent weeks, biologists from the National Park Service and Point Blue Conservation Science are focusing on surveys for new nests, while continuing to monitor the survival of broods at all sites. Our first set of confirmed fledges will likely happen this coming week! Stay tuned!

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

Productivity Stats

  • 21 total nests this season
    • 7 active nest
    • 11 hatched
    • 3 failed nests
  • 20–25 chicks on the beach
  • 0 chicks confirmed fledged

A photo of three small black-speckled, beige-colored egg sitting on sand between three pieces of driftwood.A new snowy plover nest found in the Abbotts Lagoon restoration area, hidden among coarse sand and woody debris. Abbotts Lagoon.
Photo credit: NPS/Matt Lau

A photo of a small and medium-sized bird footprints in the sand around the edge of a cylindrical wire exclosure protecting three small eggs.A nest exclosure protecting snowy plover eggs, surrounded by both adult plover tracks and common raven (Corvus corax) tracks.
Photo credit: NPS/Matt Lau

A photo of a three small grayish-brown shorebirds standing close to one another on a sandy beach among small pieces of driftwoodThree near-fledged snowy plover chicks from an Abbotts Lagoon Restoration Area nest.
Photo credit: © Carleton Eyster, Point Blue Conservation Science


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: May 31, 2024

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