Snowy Plover nesting season has begun on the coasts of California and Oregon! From March 1 to September 30th, these delicate shorebirds lay their eggs in small depressions on open sand. The only protection these birds rely on is camouflage. Dogs, people, kites, and drones can all frighten these dainty birds, causing them to abandon their nest – leaving their eggs and young at risk.
In 1993, the federal government listed the Western Snowy Plover as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, due to its low population and decreased habitat. There are actually fewer than 2,000 breeding plovers left along the U.S. Pacific Coast! Because of their threatened status, we decided to provide some tips to our members on how to be mindful and “Share the Shore” with Plovers this nesting season.
When visiting the beach, be mindful of signage that may indicate parts of the beach that are fenced off or that limit certain activities such as driving vehicles, ATVs, or bicycles
Keep your pups on a leash and on designated trails
When walking along the beach, walk close to the water's edge where the sand is wet
Respect designated Plover Protected Areas
Don’t collect driftwood or kelp on the beach as plovers may lay their eggs amongst this debris as camouflage
Don’t leave trash or food scraps on the beach as this may attract corvids (crows, ravens, magpies, and jayes) who may prey on the plovers’ young
Thank you for “Sharing the Shore” with plovers this nesting season! We hope you are as excited as we are to be good stewards of the coast and help safeguard these adorable birds.
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