OVERVIEW
Hello Ploverites! We are nearing the end of the western snowy plover breeding season and only one active nest remains. We observed two nest hatches in the past week where chicks didn't survive for very long after hatch: two out of three chicks were depredated soon after hatch, likely from a raven, and all three chicks from a single nest on Kehoe were depredated soon after hatch as well (the culprit was unknown). These are sad to witness, but these events naturally happen and it's unfortunate.
We are currently at 13 fledged chicks—which is two more than the 2020 season—and we still have five to seven chicks running around, in addition to the three more potential chicks to hatch from the last nest of the season. So, we are very hopeful that the fledge count will increase even more!
Here are updates organized by beach sites:
Kehoe (K):
The last nest hatched last week on this site and one brood remains active.
Abbotts Lagoon Restoration Area (RA):
The last nest of the season is projected to hatch next week! This area has seen an uptick in nesting activity this season, compared to the past couple years.
Abbotts Lagoon to North Beach parking lot (NP):
The remaining snowy plover breeding activity is at the northern end of this site, near Abbotts Lagoon. Two broods have fledged chicks nearby. Winter flocks can be found scattered all along this site.
North Beach (NB):
There hasn't been any breeding activity between North Beach and South Beach parking lots in the past couple months nor any signs of winter flocks.
South Beach (SB):
No breeding activity has been observed at this site this year.
Limantour (L):
The last nest on this site hatched last week, but quickly lost two of the three chicks, likely to common ravens (fresh raven tracks were found around nest site shortly after hatch). Cross your fingers for the last chick! There is a large winter flock of snowy plovers here, ranging in size between 30–50 birds.
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
- 1 active nest
- 15 hatched
- 16 failed nests
- 5–7 chicks on the beach
- 13 chicks confirmed fledged
A day old chick rests amongst pickleweed and dried eelgrass, well camouflaged from biologists and predators.
Birds-eye view of the snowy plover hatchling from the first photo. Can you see it?
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