Snowy Plovers

Tule elk, bobcats, and owls grab most of the attention at Point Reyes—and rightfully so—but there’s so much exciting wildlife to see there. Snowy plovers are one example, primarily ignored by most visitors. Maybe it’s because they don’t have the obvious charisma of a larger animal or possibly because you have to make a significant effort to spot them, but that lack of attention may be a good thing.

Western snowy plovers are federally threatened, and in the whole of Point Reyes National Seashore, their entire population was recently documented at just 32 birds! That means they need a lot of attention in the form of conservation efforts and awareness but far less attention in terms of disturbance and habitat traffic. To support their breeding season, the park service has restored the dunes they need for nesting, roping off critical areas, and actively placing small cages over exposed eggs to prevent ravens from making opportunistic raids.

I decided to make more of an effort this spring to learn about the plovers and photograph them. Obviously, this isn’t easy when there are so few, and you’re making a concerted effort to give them space, but it’s possible. The birds are pretty small, and their sand-colored backs are almost impossible to see until they move. I walked the beaches in Point Reyes and Moss Landing, looking for movement along the dunes as they chased flies, laying low on the ground when I noticed one, and using a long lens to watch from afar. Some seemed to turn their back to me if they knew I was present. I’m not sure if I imagined that being deliberate, but it was a behavior that made sense to me as their back has far better camouflage than their white bellies.

I haven’t been able to photograph any nests or chicks, but I’m not too worried about that. It would be nice to document much more of their story, but if they have a successful breeding season away from the crowds, me included, that’s a good thing.