The park will continue the protection, restoration, and education programs in the future until the population reaches and is sustained at the U.S. In the past, the NPS has observed decreased plover chick survival on weekends. Visitor education is very important to the success of plovers at PRNS because the birds are easily disturbed by recreationists on beaches.įurthermore, since 2016, the NPS began closing the section of beach between North Beach parking lot and Abbotts Lagoon on weekends and federal holidays, specifically to reduce human disturbance on nesting birds and broods. Fewer chicks are lost on weekends and holidays since the program began, suggesting that docents' presence and education efforts are playing a critical role in sustaining snowy plover breeding populations in PRNS. These snowy plover docents provide education to between 2,300 and 4,500 visitors annually. On weekends, when recreation is most intense, park employees and volunteer docents are present on beaches and at trail heads to educate visitors since 2001. To reduce human disturbance of plovers, the park uses educational signs and brochures to teach the public about the vulnerability of nesting snowy plovers and to alert visitors to seasonal closures and pet restrictions in plover habitat. Plover biologists erect symbolic fencing along Point Reyes Beach and Limantour Beach prior to the breeding season to protect nesting habitat. Our circular exclosures are approximately 5 feet tall and 5 feet wide and are designed to allow an entrance and exit for nesting plovers, but prevent predators from entering to depredate the eggs. Over the years, the NPS has used a variety of management measures that would help the plovers reproduce successfully, including: erecting exclosures around vulnerable nests, erecting symbolic fencing for seasonal closures around nesting habitat, conducting habitat restoration to provide more nesting habitat, and closing sections of the Great Beach to reduce human disturbance on nests and broods. Scientists from Point Blue Conservation Science and the National Park Service (NPS) have been monitoring snowy plovers at Point Reyes since 1986. A female incubating eggs is visible at the center of the bottom edge of the photo. Even simply standing a stick in the sand as a flagpole can draw predators: the stick provides a perch for raptors that otherwise have no vantage points on barren beaches.Ī nest exclosure protecting a snowy plover nest. Ravens, gulls, foxes, coyotes, feral cats, skunks, and raccoons are well known for developing feeding habits based on human disturbance and often congregate where people recreate. Food scraps left on beaches attract predators that would not have otherwise found the odorless, camouflaged plover eggs. Walking dogs or riding horses near nests flushes protective parents, leaving eggs and chicks exposed to wind, sand, cold, and predators. The peak of human activities on Point Reyes beaches usually coincides with the "snowie's" breeding season (March through September). Beaches provide open spaces for us to relax and play but some things we love to do at the beach spell disaster for the snowy plover. Seemingly benign beach activities can pose significant threats to plovers here at Point Reyes. Share the Beach-Being Mindful of Human Activities that Affect Plovers Snowy plover and recently hatched chicks.
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