First day as a Snowy Plover docent
The Western Snowy Plovers are nesting on North Beach so that’s where we set up to welcome visitors on June 2. We were fortunate to have a longtime docent, Jim Rolka, to help us learn the ropes. Matt Lau, the snowy plover program manager met us at the beach and gave us the rundown on where the plovers were nesting. We set up the scope and centered it on a female plover sitting on her nest. Nests are enclosed in wire mesh to protect them from predation, particularly from ravens, who have already decimated 11 nests this season. The mesh is large enough to allow the plovers to go in and out. At first, our table was too close and it was disturbing the nesting female. We knew this because she got up and walked away from the nest. We eventually set up our table and scope about 100 feet away (maybe more) from the nest.
Aiden and Thea, our young docent ambassadors invited visitors to come and see the plovers up close through the scope. Aiden and Thea remembered many plover facts from the training and were excited to share what they’d learned with visitors. One little boy was particularly interested and listened patiently while exploring the model nest and stuffed plover.
Throughout the day, we never saw the nesting female’s companion but we did see another plover pair skitter across the sand and hunker down on a sandy ridge. They may have been looking for a nesting spot.
I walked south along the beach in search of recently hatched plovers but didn’t spot any. I did however spot a dog off leash running around but unfortunately I wasn’t able to catch up to the owners to let them know dogs must be on leash at all times, especially during plover breeding season. On my way back, I was treated to an osprey who flew right in front of me carrying a fish into the dunes to eat. But the biggest surprise of the day was a Western Terrestrial Garter Snake on the beach!
Aiden and I are looking forward to our next docent assignment on June 22.
Check out weekly Snowy Plover Updates from program manager, Matt Lau on the progress of the breeding season .
