Bio227:5: Save the Snowy Plover Before Its All Over

The Western Snowy Plover

Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus

By Cecilia Huizar

From: http://w.bird-rescue.org/plover_snowy.html

What is a snowy plover?

From: http://montereybayaquarium.typepad.com
/sea_notes/2009/06/saving-snowy-plovers.html

If you've never heard of the snowy plover before you would guess it’s some type of animal that lives is a tundra, perhaps? In reality, they are adorable little creatures found on sunny California beaches. They look like walking cotton balls! Well, the baby snowy plovers do. The western snowy plover is a small shorebird characterized by its narrow black beak, short neck, light brown feathering, and white belly. What makes it distinct from other plover species is its tall, dark grey legs [1]. Snowy Plovers feed mainly on small invertebrates such insects and crabs [2]. They make their nests out of a wide range of materials such as driftwood, sea shells, rocks, and kelp [3]. That is why, if you ever visit a snowy plover breeding ground, you must not remove seashells and driftwood from the beach.

From: http://www.sanctuarysimon.org/mont
erey/sections/specialSpecies/western_snowy_plover.php

Where can they be found?

The snowy plover breeding ground ranges from Damon Point, Washington to Baja Mexico [4]. Although majority of snowy plovers of the pacific coast population stay in their habitat year-round, in some areas a great amount of snowy plovers are migrators. Take the Oceano Dunes population for instance, 60% stay year-round and 40% migrate. The migrators can be seen during their breeding season which is from March to September [3]. Snowy plovers live primarily on coastal beaches, sand spits, beach dunes, beaches at creek and river mouths, and salt pans at lagoons and estuaries [4].

Main Threats

1. Habitat loss & degradation:

The increase of urban development destroys the snowy plover's breeding and nesting grounds [4].

2. Human Disturbance:

Activities such as kite flying and Frisbee throwing can lower the fitness of a snowy plover. First of all, it raises their stress level which causes them to lose energy drastically. As crazy as it sounds, many die soon after because they don't have enough energy left to search for food. Secondly, to those who survive, they tune out whatever flies in the sky; this makes them vulnerable to hawks. Lastly, a snowy plover's nest can easily be trampled by Frisbee throwers, joggers, dog walkers, tourists, vehicles etc. [5]

3. Introduced Species & Increasing Predation:

Introduced species such as beach grass degrades the breeding grounds. The red fox is not a natural predator of the snowy plover and yet it is a partial cause to its dwindling population. Dogs brought on to the beach by people can be considered predators as well [3].

The Recovery Plan

Specifically, the pacific coast population is listed as threatened in 1993 by the endangered species act. The estimated cost is $149,946,000. If the plan is successful the species could be delisted by 2047 [4]. Before the snowy plover can be delisted, the following must be completed:

1. For 10 years, maintain an average of 3,000 breeding adults distributed along the coast.

Number 5 on the list is San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara Counties with an initial population of 1,200

2. Maintain a 5-year average productivity of at least 1.0 fledged chick per male in each recovery unit in the last 5 years prior to delisting

From 2012 -2014, the average productivity of Of Oceano Dunes was 1.52 juveniles per male. In 2014 alone, the average was 1.63 [6]

3. In order to ensure the snowy plover from perishing after delisting, a long term management plan must be devised to effectively protect breeding grounds as well as winter and migration areas.