The Western Snowy Plover

Share the Shore Art Contest Winners

To see all contest entries up close and in person, join us for the Western Snowy Plover Art Show during the June 5th, 2010 Arts Alive event, at Mad River Biologists, 417 Second Street, Suite 201, Eureka.

 

The western snowy plover is a small, sparrow-sized shorebird with dark patches on each side of the upper breast. Snowy plovers usually nest in open sandy areas, laying their eggs in a bare sand depression. The eggs and birds blend in amazingly well with the environment and can be accidentally disturbed or crushed. During plover breeding season, March 1 to September 30, limit beach activities to the wet sand of the waveslope and dogs on a leash in order to avoid disturbing nesting plovers.

Snowy plovers prefer nesting sites that are open, with sparse vegetation in order to see approaching predators. The invasion of European beach grass has drastically reduced appropriate nesting sites by creating a thick, vegetative cover that reduces visibility for the plovers and provides shelter for predators. Loss of habitat along with increased recreational use of beach areas has also led to a dramatic decline in the snowy plover population in Humboldt County. Restoring native dune habitat and increasing public awareness are essential elements of the plover's recovery.