To help ensure its recovery and save it from prime threats such as sea-level rise, it needs an adequate amount of federally protected critical habitat — which was proposed in March 2011 to the tune of more than 28,000 acres, due to a Center petition and two lawsuits. ABC Special Report. portion of the range, snowy plover is imperiled by habitat loss. The Pacific Coast population of the Western Snowy Plover was listed as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act in 1993 because of declining populations mainly due to loss of habitat. Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). The Snowy Plover (Charadrius nivosus nivosus)was once common along the west coast of the US from Washington to Baja. (2011). Snowy plovers are small shorebirds that dash in and out of waves at the beach. The Western Snowy Plover, Charadrius nivosus nivosus, is a shorebird that inhabits beaches and lake shores. Most plovers that nest inland migrate to the coast. Stotz, and K. Winker. Fish and Wildlife Service as threatened in 1993 due to low population and decreased habitat. In 2006, Morro Coast Audubon Society created the Sharing our Shores Program to educate the local Morro Bay community about sharing the beach with Snowy Plovers. Fish and Wildlife Service. Top 20 Most Threatened Bird Habitats. 2007. This bird's habitat is sandy beaches, where it competes in a losing battle, to recreational use. Warriner, J.C. Warriner and P.W. By far the most important is the Salton Sea, Imperial and … Photo by David Middlecamp, San Luis Obispo Tribune Part 1 A 40-year conflict over a state park: Has it finally reached a breaking point? Like other beach-nesting birds such as Black Skimmer, Least Tern, and American Oystercatcher, Snowy Plovers are ground-nesters, creating small hollows called scrapes for their nests. The Pacific coast population of the Western Snowy Plover (Charadrius nivosus nivosus), a migratory shorebird, has undergone a dramatic decrease in recent decades largely due to habitat loss, human disturbance and predation.The plover has been listed as threatened under … 52nd supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-List of North American Birds. Human disturbance is a major limitation to breeding success outside the currently protected areas. As human population increased over the past century, shoreline development and recreational uses have contributed to habitat destruction and degradation, resulting in dramatic population declines of this small shorebird. Animals such as raccoons, opossums, rats, coyotes, crows, feral cats and off-leash dogs pose a threat to chicks, eggs, and even adult snowy plovers. Remsen, J.D. Western Snowy Plover. The western snowy plover is a threatened small shorebird, approximately the size of a sparrow. BIRD OF THE WEEK: Dec. 04, 2015 SCIENTIFIC NAME: Charadrius nivosus POPULATION: 38,000 individuals TREND: Declining HABITAT: Sandy beaches, salt flats, river sandbars. Copyright 1999 - 2020 State of Florida. An inconspicuous, pale little bird, easily overlooked as it runs around on white sand beaches, or on the salt flats around lakes in the arid west. American Bird Conservancy is leading a Gulf Coast conservation effort to identify and implement protective measures for Snowy Plovers and other vulnerable beach-nesting birds. The western snowy plover is a threatened small shorebird, approximately the size of a sparrow. Within Florida, the breeding population is disjunct: one group occurs in northwest Florida from Franklin County west, and the other occurs from Pasco to Collier counties in southwest Florida. It breeds in Ecuador, Peru, Chile, the southern and western United States and the Caribbean. Rasmussen, J.V. Conversion of habitat to coastal development, beach use by off-road vehicles, and predation by cats, dogs and other animals are among the threats these birds face. The Plains, VA. 48 pp. For the last few decades the snowy plover population has declined, mostly due to habitat loss by human encroachment and environmental degradation. The western snowy plover is a small shorebird that nests along the coastline of the Monterey Bay’s tidal waters. Inland snowy plovers are highly dependent on the maintenance Snowy Plover High 2009. The diminutive Snowy Plover can be found along sandy coastlines in North and South America and the Caribbean. Snowy Plovers breed in loose colonies, and they are gregarious in winter. Learn ways to share the beach with plovers… In Washington, snowy plovers are found (in any season) primarily above the high tide line on coastal beaches, sand spits, dune-backed beaches, and sparsely vegetated dunes. The Western snowy plover population was once widespread along Pacific Coast, from Washington to Baja California. Chicks hatch covered with down and with open eyes. Nesting on sandy beaches leaves the Snowy Plover vulnerable to a variety of human disturbances. 1991, PRBO unpubl. The upper body varies from grayish to light-brown, with a white belly, and black on the forehead and ears. This dataset was created from the 2011 proposed critical habitat and includes changes due to public comment and other changes. Oregon’s beaches are protected nesting grounds for a small shorebird called the western snowy plover. Their diet consists of small crustaceans, mollusks, marine worms, and insects. Photo by Kristian Bell. Our site uses cookies to collect anonymous information about your use of our website. OUR WORK. Nesting areas are compromised when water infiltrates during nesting season, and development inland prevents the shifting of sandy beach habitat to higher land in the long term. Mojave and Colorado deserts. It is lighter in color than the closely-related Piping Plover and also differs from that species by a partial black collar and black legs and feet. The Snowy Plover is listed as endangered or threatened in several states and is included on the 2014 State of the Birds Watch List. Their nesting on sandy beaches makes this species extremely vulnerable to disturbance and predation. The snowy plover is protected by the U.S. Migratory Bird Treaty Act and as a State-designated Threatened Species by Florida’s Endangered and Threatened Species Rule. The Snowy Plover has a large breeding range of 1,600,000 square kilometers. The snowy plover inhabits sandy beaches along coastal areas of the Americas, and some inland saline lakes and riverbeds west of the Rocky Mountains (Page et al. This includes salt flats, sandy beaches, and other open, sandy habitats in the southern and western coasts of the United States, Kansas, Texas, and other parts of the western United States, … Though the population appears to be decreasing over time, very little is known about the current population size or trends of the Inland snowy plover population. Dunn, A.W. Unfortunately the western snowy plover is far from safe. This species occurs on Florida’s narrow fringe of sandy beaches along the Gulf of Mexico coast. In Birds of the World (A. F. Poole, Editor). Florida Youth Conservation Centers Network, Florida’s Endangered and Threatened Species Rule, http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Snowy_Plover/id, See a full list of our Social Media accounts. Barker, C. Cicero, J.L. 2009). Snowy Plovers have bred at ten sites in this region. Snowy plovers are small white and gray shorebirds. Pursuant to section 120.74, Florida Statutes, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has published its 2019 Agency Regulatory Plan. Where it lives on beaches, its nesting attempts are often disrupted by human visitors who fail to notice that they are keeping the bird away from its nest; as a result, the Snowy Plover populations have declined in many coastal regions. Assess population size and nesting and … Snowy Plover. A Western Snowy Plover walks near tire tracks at Oceano Dunes on Dec. 21, 2017. Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online. In 1993, the population of western snowy plovers was listed as threatened by the U.S. These small birds have rounded heads with steep foreheads and short necks. Read more about refuge efforts to help the western snowy plover. Program Overview. Snowy plover chicks are able to leave the nest within hours of hatching, though they still require parental care until they fledge approximately 28- 35 days later. Snowy plovers face many threats to their population as coastal areas become increasingly developed. 2009). Snowy Plover (Charadrius nivosus), version 1.0. Causes of habitat loss include development, shoreline hardening, invasive vegetation, beach raking/grooming, beach driving, and some beach renourishment activities. Long considered to be a subspecies of the Kentish plover, it is now known to be a distinct species. Donate to support ABC's conservation mission! The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. While it’s away, its eggs can be crushed, overheat in the sun or become a meal for a watchful predator. 2011. During the breeding season, March through September, plovers can be seen nesting along the shores, peninsulas, offshore islands, bays, estuaries, and rivers of the United States' Pacific Coast. Snowy plovers were listed as endangered under Washington Department of Game Policy No. Reaching critically low numbers, the Pacific Coast population of the Snowy Plover was listed as threatened in 1993 under the Federal Endangered Species Act. The Pacific coast population of western snowy plovers has been in decline for several years, due to a loss of habitat and disturbances due to development, recreation, and other human pressures. Habitat The snowy plover inhabits sandy beaches along coastal areas of the Americas, and some inland saline lakes and riverbeds west of the Rocky Mountains (Page et al. Increased populations of humans may lead to increased populations of predators and more frequent disturbance to nesting adults, which increases the detectability of nests and chicks to predators. MIGRATION: While some snowy plovers remain in their coastal breeding areas year-round, others migrate south or north for the winter. Oyster Shell Habitat Enhancement for Breeding Snowy Plovers in Pond E14, Eden Landing Ecological Reserve, 2015 From 2008 to 2014, SFBBO conducted a pilot study investigating the effects of oyster shell habitat enhancement on Snowy Plover nesting success. Each species account is written by leading ornithologists and provides detailed information on bird distribution, migration, habitat, diet, sounds, behavior, breeding, current population status, and conservation. 620 S. Meridian St. • Tallahassee, FL • (850) 488-4676 Snowy Plovers are visual foragers, hunting by pausing, running, and pecking at prey spotted on the ground. Data gaps. The snowy plover (Charadrius nivosus) is a small wader in the plover bird family, typically about 5-7" in length . They spend their lives on the coastline of the Pacific, ranging from Baja, Mexico to Washington, living and nesting on open beaches. Since 1993, the U.S. Pacific coast population of western snowy plovers … In North America it is restricted to the Gulf and Pacific coasts of the United States, and scattered inland localities from Saskatchewan to California and Texas. This species frequently raises two broods a year, and sometimes three in places where predation is low. We also promote the "Fish, Swim, And Play From 50 Yards Away" program each year, which aims to educate tourists and local residents about the needs of beach-nesting bird species along the Gulf Coast. Habitat. Snowy plover chicks are able to leave the nest within hours of hatching, though they still require parental care until they fledge approximately 28- 35 days later. Snowy Plovers are found on barren or sparsely vegetated sand beaches along the coast, and on alkaline flats and river bars farther inland. CDFW BIOS GIS Dataset, Contact: Greg Goldsmith, Description: Final critical habitat for the pacific coast western snowy plover. 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