Snowy Plover Update - June 10, 2019

June 17, 2019 Posted by: Matt Lau

Overview

Hello Plover Lovers! In the past week, we've had two nests fail: the single nest between the parking lots at Limantour Beach and another nest north of North Beach parking lot. The latter was depredated by a common raven and the former likely by a skunk. But we had our third nest south of North Beach parking lot hatch this past weekend, bringing our total number of chicks up to seven roaming around on the beach.

Two of the three broods are still hanging out south of North Beach parking lot, about midway down to South Beach parking lot. The third brood moved all the way north of North Beach parking lot! This is almost a mile north of where they hatched, which is quite the distance for those little chicks! Fortunately, this brood will now be protected by the weekend beach closure.

Kehoe (K)

There is a single active nest on the north end of Kehoe. It's owned by AV:RY, male (aqua violet on the left leg, red yellow on the right leg) and AS:WY, female (aqua silver, white yellow). This female was the mother of one of the nests that hatched a few weeks ago on North Beach! She left a day after her nest hatched, leaving her previous mate to take care of the newborn chicks, while she went to go find another mate (AV:RY).

Abbotts Lagoon Restoration Area (RA)

There are no known active nests in this large native dune area at this time. I recently observed seventy-two(!) ravens foraging in the back dunes here.

Abbotts Lagoon to North Beach parking lot (NP)

There are two active nests on this stretch of beach: the one adjacent to North Beach parking lot (easily seen by docents and visitors) and another close to the Abbotts Lagoon restoration area. I recently observed one of the broods (mentioned previously) moving north into this section of beach.

North Beach (NB)

There are no remaining nests in this area, but two broods remain. The oldest brood is about three weeks old and close to fledging! They typically hang out around closer to South Beach parking lot. The other brood hatched last weekend are only about a week old.

Limantour (L)

Plover activity on Limantour Beach remains low compared to the past few years. The nest between the parking lots failed, likely due to skunk or raven depredation. High winds a week and a half ago wiped away most of the tracks around the nest, preventing us from deciphering what happened. The pair from this nest is already scraping in the same area. Another nest was found down near the end of the spit.

If you have any questions, please feel free to let Matt Lau, the park's Snowy Plover Ecologist, know via email. Thank you so much, again, for all your help!

Current Stats

  • 24 nests so far this season
    • 4 active nests
    • 3 hatched
    • 17 failed nests
  • 7 chicks on the beach
  • 0 chicks fledged
Two 2-inch-tall snowy plover chicks, with speckled backs and white underbellies, sit in a footprint on a sandy beach, with the ocean and blue sky in the background.

Recently hatched and banded chicks from North Beach hide in a footprint during last week's heat wave.


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

Point Reyes, Point Reyes National Seashore, bird, birds, plover, plovers, snowy plover, snowy plovers, western snowy plover, western snowy plovers, Charadrius nivosus, Charadrius nivosus nivosus



Last updated: June 17, 2019

Park footer

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

1 Bear Valley Road
Point Reyes Station, CA 94956

Phone:

415-464-5100
This number will initially be answered by an automated attendant, from which one can opt to access a name directory, listen to recorded information about the park (e.g., directions to the park; visitor center hours of operation; fire danger information; wildlife updates; ranger-led programs; seasonal events; etc.), or speak with a ranger. Please note that if you are calling between 4:30 pm and 10 am, park staff may not be available to answer your call.

Contact Us