The beaches along Los Angeles area discover the presence of the threatened bird western snowy plover. A rare incident that takes place first time in nearly seven decades.
Phys.org reported that nests of the rare shorebird, western snowy plover, were discovered last month at some popular beaches in the U.S. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, nests of these small birds were noticed at Santa Monica Beach, Malibu Lagoon State Beach. The presence of this shorebird was also observed at the Dockweiler State Beach.
Biologists have already taken initiatives to protect this rare western snowy plover bird. Chris Dellith, a famous biologist, utters significantly about the comeback these rare birds. It is a real fact that this shorebird is trying to build their nests against all odds. Dellith opines that cooperation from the beachgoers is essential to provide sufficient space to this snowy plovers.
Proper cooperation and space can help the western snowy plovers to build their nest safely and to raise their young. This rare subspecies of the snowy plover mainly use the county beaches of Los Angeles for roosting in winter. Reports say the active nest of this threatened bird was last seen in 1949 at the Manhattan Beach.
The western snowy plovers choose coastal beaches, gravel bars, dry salt ponds as their best destination to nest. These shorebirds always prefer a wide area of beach that must be flat and open for resting, Aquarium Of The Pacific stated. The flat and open areas help them to locate the approaching of the potential predators. These threatened birds reach maturity just one year after the hatching and their nesting season are from the early March to the late September.
The western snowy plover is a 6-inch shorebird that has dark patches on the back. Rapid loss of habitat, the growth of human population and the increasing trend of predation have reduced the number of this threatened bird. They were already listed under the important Endangered Species Act in 1993.
The worldwide population of the western snowy plover is 1,800, according to an estimate of 2016. Biologists have found the snowy plovers' nests within the fenced areas of the Dockweiler and the Malibu state beaches. But the remains are not safe, and so the biologists have urged the beachgoers to maintain a safe distance from this threatened bird. It is necessary to provide the best safety to the future chicks and eggs of these shorebirds.