Hope in an Egg: Snowy Plovers Nesting on Playa Dorado 2024

The Snowy Plover is one of the most charming inhabitants of the Punta Banda peninsula. These plump little round-headed shorebirds captivate those lucky enough to see them flitting about our local beaches on their tiny legs, capturing insects and marine invertebrates. One of the most special aspects of Lengueta Arenosa (commonly known as Playa Dorado, or “The Spit”) is that it provides a rare nesting ground for these endangered, ground-nesting birds. They lay their eggs in shallow depressions in the sand and rely on camouflage to ensure the safety of their offspring.

In September 2023, clear evidence of nesting activity was discovered in the Baja Cove Beach area of Lengueta Arenosa, leading to a systematic monitoring program being established in 2024. Beaches from the north end of Campo Fisher to in front of the last residence on Todos Santos Blvd. (a distance of 3.2 km/2 miles) were monitored from April 8 to September 28 on approximately a biweekly basis looking for nests. Nine nests were discovered. The nests were protected by a wire enclosure, a temporary fence, and informational signage. In addition to protecting the eggs from being eaten by predators or destroyed by vehicles, the enclosures and their signage increased public awareness of the snowy plovers on this inhabited beach. Additionally, a researcher provided periodic updates through the season on local social media groups which were very well received.

Nine nests were discovered in 2024. Their locations ranged from as far south as Campo Cardoso to as far north as the Luengueta Arenosa HOA area. Over the season, Snowy Plover footprints and adult Snowy Plovers were visually observed in every stretch of the beach monitored. Collected data was shared with an ongoing collaborative effort which monitors Snowy Plovers’ nesting activity around Ensenada Bay. (Bahia de Todos Santos).

Of the nine nests, one was destroyed by a high tide and three were abandoned prior to hatching. In one case, eggs had clearly been preyed upon after rolling to the edge of the wire enclosure due to shifting sand. The other five nests were successful in hatching and in total six chicks were observed with one or both parents near these nests. It is possible that as many as 14 chicks were hatched. The difficulty of chick observation means we cannot get an exact count. The chicks are very small and hide in the vegetation. Oddly, no new nests were discovered after June 25 despite continued monitoring through September 28, despite evidence of three nests hatching in September of 2023 on the same beaches. The mysteries of nature! That said, when the enclosures were collected at the end of the season, remarkably there was one egg sitting proudly on the sand in the middle of an enclosure! It probably had been buried in the sand for months and was exposed by a strong wind.
With a total worldwide population of perhaps 4.000 Western Snowy Plovers, every egg and chick is important and brings hope for the future of this species!

Plover nests were protected by a 1m x 1m x 1m wire enclosure and a temporary single-rope fence placed with informational signs erected approximately 12m out from the wire enclosure.

Note: The Western Snowy Plover nests on the upper part of the beach at or above the high tide line. Staying below this line on the wet sand when walking with or without your leashed dogs helps protect the well-camouflaged nests from destruction and potential abandonment! The bird’s nest and the eggs even when in the open, are practically imperceptible to the casual passerby, putting them at great risk for being accidentally squashed by feet, paws, or vehicles. After approximately 28 days the chicks hatch, leave the nest within a few hours, and scurry about for three weeks in the general area of the nest, putting them at further risk for mortality. At about three weeks they begin to fly and are safer from predators and accidental death.