Three Endangered Snowy Plovers Released to the Wild Thursday

From a Press Release:

Biologists from Point Blue Conservation Science and the Monterey Bay Aquarium released three captive-reared Western Snowy Plovers at Moss Landing State Beach in Monterey County, along the California Coast.   These three birds represent an opportunity to increase the population of this threatened bird species, a key indicator of the health of our coastal beaches and the effects of climate change.

 In 2013, Western Snowy Plovers are producing the lowest numbers of offspring in 30 years of study, making clear the importance of this captive breeding program.   

Biologists from Point Blue Conservation Science (Point Blue, formerly PRBO Conservation Science) and the Monterey Bay Aquarium work together each year to release captive raised plovers into the wild. A recent study from Point Blue documented that captive-raised plovers survived and reproduced just as well as wild birds.  This information demonstrates that captive-rearing can be used to strengthen the plover populations in the face of climate change or in the event of a catastrophic oil spill.

“This tiny sparrow-sized shorebird struggles to survive on our beaches – dodging people, dogs, and now will have to grapple with the effects of climate change, including shrinking beach habitat from sea-level rise and wave scouring from strong storms.  Our 15 years of partnering with Monterey Bay Aquarium to successfully raise and release these birds has created a formula that works for captive breeding,” said Point Blue Waterbird Ecologist Kriss Neuman.

“We enjoy working on this project,” said Associate Curator of Aviculture at the Aquarium, Aimee Greenebaum. We are excited to learn that all of our hard work is helping to make a positive impact on the population of snowy plovers. Our hope is to continue to educate people and inspire them to help wild populations of not just snowy plovers, but all shorebird species.”

The beaches of Monterey Bay are home to the Western Snowy Plover which lays its eggs and raises its young out in the open, alongside volleyball games and beach blankets.  Yet most beachgoers have never seen one, except for the occasional children’s artwork that adorns informational signs announcing their presence. “Plovers and other ground-nesting birds contend with intense predator pressure, which is exacerbated as the fragile stretch of available beach habitat is increasingly pinched between coastal use and sea-level rise”, said Carleton Eyster, Point Blue plover biologist.  

Point Blue biologists monitor the entire population of roughly 375 plovers nesting around the Monterey Bay and work closely with coastal landowners to help maintain a healthy population of this threatened species.  Thursday’s release will bring the season total of captive-reared juveniles released to eleven, over 10% of the wild young hatched this spring and summer.

Snowy Plovers, like many species that live on the coast, are vulnerable and in need of protection. Their habitat is affected by climate change and human impacts like development and beach recreation. They are a true ‘canary in the coal mine’ signaling changes in the health of their environment.  Point Blue’s decades of research on the Snowy Plover has helped to inform protection efforts for their species and the healthy beach ecosystem throughout the Pacific Coast.

From spokeswoman Melissa Pitkin: 

The plover needs help in northern Santa Cruz County (there have been no nests found for over three years at least), but Scott Creek is the best place to see them, during winter. The only place in SC County where they still regularly nest is Sunset State Beach and the Pajaro river mouth. The plovers are facing a similar challenge as the Marbled Murrelet (which perhaps has gotten more press recently, and are on the brink of local extinction), which is contending with a large raven population. It is worth mentioning that the Common Raven is growing in numbers in south SC County!