The snowy plover is the star of the summer campaign “The beach belongs to everyone” (La playa es de todos in Spanish), which is promoted by Terra Peninsular and Pacifica at Ensenada Bay.
The alliance began in 2018 with the aim of improving the conservation conditions of the snowy plover, since it’s a threatened bird whose populations have rapidly decreased in recent years.
The area where the plovers nest is within the Bahia de Todos Santos Shorebird Reserve, which was designated in 2017.
The nesting season of the snowy plover is between April and August
That is why every year in those months we carry out the following activities:
Install a temporary fence in the nesting area on the sandy beaches of El Cipres and in front of Pacifica at Ensenada Bay.
Organize a beach cleanup in September as part of the International Coastal Cleanup.
Monitor the area to record the number of snowy plover nests and chicks hatching each season.
Promote the importance of birds and their habitats, as well as organize awareness events.
Meet the snowy plover
The snowy plover (Charadrius nivosus) is a small bird that lays its nests on the sand between April and August on several beaches of Ensenada, mainly Playa Hermosa and Estero de Punta Banda.
These dates coincide with the summer and the vacation period, so the snowy plovers face many threats, such as being chased by dogs without a leash or the nests being crushed by vehicles, motorcycles or people.
Snowy plovers build their nests on the ground in small holes. The eggs are camouflaged with the environment and that makes them vulnerable to the passage of people and vehicles.
The Pacific population of the snowy plover has decreased in recent years, this is mainly due to the loss of habitat and disturbances caused by urban development.
If snowy plovers fail to reproduce, then the species is at risk of becoming extinct in the future, which is why it is a species listed as threatened in Mexico and the United States. It’s also legally protected by the Official Mexican Standard 059.
Threats to birds
- Vehicles and motorcycles that circulate on the beach.
- Pollution and garbage.
- Habitat loss.
- Off-leash dogs that chase birds.
- Feral dogs and cats that eat the chicks.
So how can you help?
- Don’t litter. Help keep the beach clean.
- Walk your dog on a leash and at a minimum distance of 30 meters (98 feet). When dogs make birds fly or run, they lose valuable energy they need to find food and take care of their nests.
- Walk outside the temporary fence area.
- Don’t circulate vehicles on the beach. The nests are at risk of being crushed.
- Avoid disturbing the birds and use binoculars to see them from afar.
- Don’t remove seaweed from the beach. They provide protection and food for birds.
- Do activities near the water and away from the dunes, such as walking, running, flying kites, or playing Frisbee.
Acknowledgements
All these years the campaign has been possible thanks to the support of:
- Pacífica at Ensenada Bay.
- Manomet.
- Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN).
- Coastal Solutions Fellows Program.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
- ZOFEMAT.
- Programa de Aves Urbanas de Ensenada (PAU).
- Ellos Son La razón A.C.
- Contacto Salvaje A.C.
Related articles
We’re a non-profit organization, if you value our work please consider supporting us
About us
Contact us
Office in Ensenada
+52 (1) 646 177 68 00
info@terrapeninsular.org