Despite habitat loss and non-native predators like dogs and humans, western snowy plovers nested on three Los Angeles County beaches this year for the first time since 1949. The sparrow-sized small birds live along the shores of the Pacific Coast, but much of the habitat has been taken over by human recreational use and development. Although snowy plovers hang-glide and roost on Los Angeles area beaches in winter, the last nest was seen 68 years ago at Manhattan Beach, now known for volleyball, biking, jogging, and surfing. Conservation efforts in the county to restore the rare coastal beach-dune ecosystem and to limit human impacts have improved habitat and resulted in four nest sites this year.
Snow plovers nest in depressions near water. Some birds are faithful to past breeding sites and return to the same nest location each year. They use driftwood, kelp, rocks, even human footprints. For California plovers, their breeding season begins in February. The male approaches from behind, grabs the female by the neck, and pulls them both over backwards in the sand for a fast copulation. That’s it. They go their separate ways. Males then scoop out several shallow depressions in the sand and defend their territories. Females inspect the scrapes, choose one they prefer, and lay eggs in it from March into June. Females take the day shift, usually, while males sit on the nest at night. Eggs hatch in 26 to 31 days and the precocial chicks leave the nest for food within a few hours. Some females will mate and lay eggs two or three times during the season, abandoning chicks soon after hatching and leaving papa plover to supervise the babies.
On April 18th, monitors first spotted a well-camouflaged nest on Santa Monica State Beach (the original Muscle Beach with a famous pier, biking, paddle board rentals and endless tourists). They subsequently found three more on two other state beaches: Dockweiler (a hang-glider training area with 1 nest found April 27) and Malibu Lagoon (Surfrider Beach, the first World Surfing Reserve, with 2 nests found April 28 and May 4). The nests were immediately protected with wire cages by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) biologists. The Santa Monica nest was lost due to high winds and one of the Malibu Lagoon nests was lost due to unknown causes, but the other two nests are still viable.
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Western snowy plovers have lived on the Pacific Coast for thousands of years, but low population numbers and high amount of habitat destruction led to their federal listing as Threatened in 1993. At that time, the California population was estimated at about 1,300 adults. Beginning in 1999, areas along the Pacific Coast in California, Oregon, and Washington were designated critical habitat and given some protection. By 2012, only 28 major nesting areas existed along the west coast. In 2016, the population was estimated to have increased to a little more than 1,800 adults.
Their ground nests have always been vulnerable to predators such as falcons, owls, raccoons, and coyotes. But increased human presence boosted the numbers of other predators — crows, ravens, and red fox — as well as bringing in dogs and the variety of our beach recreational vehicles and activities.
Besides direct interference, all this action during breeding season is disruptive and spooks the snowy plovers. When an adult sitting on a nest is frightened into flight, it saps energy they need to keep the nest warm. If they abandon the nest, the eggs are more vulnerable to predators or to getting cold. When someone flies a kite over the birds, to them it looks like a predator and can keep the birds away from the nest for too long.
Restoring coastal habitat and preventing further degradation of existing decent habitat is only part of helping snowy plovers continue to nest and live on the Pacific Coast. We share the coast with marine mammals, shore birds, and wading birds. Conservation groups and USFWS have developed guidelines for beachgoers to allow snowy plovers the best chance for survival.
- Respect signs and fencing — keep your distance and don’t spook the birds.
- Adult plovers will use the broken wing gambit to distract predators (such as humans) away from chicks. If you see a bird that appears injured or chicks lying on the ground, leave them alone.
- Walk on the wet hard-packed sand because the plovers use this area less than the upper portion of the beach.
- Keep your dogs on a leash during nesting season. (California State Beaches do not allow dogs unless permission is posted. Dogs always must be leashed even in permitted areas.)
We could restore habitat and designate critical habitat forever but without the cooperation of beachgoers none of this is enough. Snowy plovers are hard to spot, thus easy to step on.
Playing is good but remember you share the shore with wildlife.
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