Part of the beach at Moss Landing State Beach was roped off, with signs indicating that it was to protect the Snowy Plover, cousin of the Piping Plover found in New Jersey and the East Coast in general.
Snowy Plovers live and breed on the sand dunes covered with Sea Figs (also called Ice Plants) and they did not seem to mind the humans who fished, surfed, or strolled along the beach. Some even ran from the roped off sections down to the surf looking for food, then ran back. They trilled and whistled when they saw me, but they continued their activities as long as I kept a respectful distance.
In New Jersey the Holgate section of the Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge is completely roped off for several months starting in April to allow Piping Plovers to breed there. No mere mortal is allowed to cross into that area. As a result I have never seen one, so I was thrilled to see Snowy Plovers at Moss Landing.
The Snowy Plover population was estimated at 2,900 in 2012 on the Pacific Coast. They are considered a threatened or endangered species, depending on the state.
bluebrightly said:
Love those Snowy plovers – rarely seen! I was just at Moss Landing – but I was sick at the time and we didn’t have more than two days, so we didn’t see all the sea otters you did in the slough. Still, the few we did see were wonderful.
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Tiny said:
I am happy to hear the nesting space is protected. Thank you for these beautiful captures!
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neihtn2012 said:
Indeed, and the people I saw were careful not to cross the rope lines into the Snowy Plower breeding areas. Thanks for commenting Tiny!
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AmyRose🌹 said:
Oh I do hope these beautiful birds begin to really multiply. I’m so glad humans are trying to assist them. Great images, Hein!! ❤
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neihtn2012 said:
Thanks Amy! The sand dunes at Moss Landing are the perfect environment for these birds, so they should make a come back.
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AmyRose🌹 said:
Keeping fingers crossed they do!!!
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quietsolopursuits said:
Congratulations on getting such great photos of such a rare bird!
I think that it’s funny that the plovers don’t stay in the roped off parts of the beach the way that they should. 🙂
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neihtn2012 said:
Thanks Jerry. It was indeed a pleasant surprise for me to see these birds. They look like toy birds with their big heads and small bodies.
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Sue Slaght said:
They really blend in with the sand don’t they?
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neihtn2012 said:
Sue, if they didn’t move around I would not have seen them. 🙂
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nhi said:
Now you see them, Happy, anh Hiền ?
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neihtn2012 said:
Surprised and happy indeed.
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loisajay said:
We rope off sections of our beaches for the snowy plovers here in FL, also. So wonderful to know they are protected in NJ.
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neihtn2012 said:
Lois, in New Jersey they rope off the entire Southern section of Long Beach Island. In California people can use the beach, and only the dunes are off limits to humans.
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Amy said:
The large version of these photos look great. Beautiful captures, Hien!
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neihtn2012 said:
Thank you Amy! You are very kind.
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