Nesting Snowy Plovers - Part 2
Nest Failure
Procrastination is my best friend when bad news must be delivered.
Over the last several weeks, I have followed a pair of Snowy Plovers as they nested in Long Salt Pond Important Bird Area (IBA). You may recall I discovered the nest at the beginning of July. The particulars are contained in this post for those who missed it.
I visited the site daily to monitor their progress. Throughout those visits, I observed both parents attending to the nest and doing everything possible to ensure a good outcome.
They faced threats from a variety of sources.
Laughing Gulls frequent this site throughout the breeding season. This predator species has a varied diet, which includes downy tern chicks. I have often witnessed them forcing birds off their nests on a mission to swoop in and steal the eggs.
Watch any nature video, and you will find these threats. I spent most of an hour crying as I watched a Disney Nature video about a colony of Flamingos in Africa. (Spoiler alert: don’t watch “The Crimson Wing Mystery of the Flamingos” if you have a weak spot for helpless baby birds!)
It is the cycle of life, and we expect it to happen. Laughing Gulls and their chicks need to eat too!
Constant human interference by vehicles and groups of walkers that pass multiple times means the eggs are exposed for extended periods. This is a relatively new phenomenon at this site. Over the last fifteen to twenty years, tourism development has increased in this area. The demands of “high-end” villa clients put extreme pressure on Anguilla’s wildlife.
While their site choice put them at increased risk of human disturbance, these interruptions in the incubation of the eggs show that tourism development around our critical habitats is an issue.
Over the last month, I have witnessed large swaths of land clear-cut by bulldozers close to the pond edge. The road leading to rental villas was widened, destroying large tracks of Mangrove. Meanwhile, two house lot sites were also cleared.
Leaving aside the species nesting within the confines of the pond, there is no question that many land bird nests were obliterated as part of this activity. The impact on species like hummingbirds that only nest once a year is devastating.
Long Pond was designated as an “Important Bird Area” because it is a critical nesting site for Least Terns and other species. This designation carries no weight with the agencies responsible for development in Anguilla.
Further, Anguilla is experiencing record temperatures this year. Air and water temps have reached what has been described as - life-threatening levels - several times since May. On this particular day, the air temperature was 87 degrees with a feels-like index of 101 degrees. One can imagine the temperature of the ground the eggs are sitting on. In the photograph above, the adult plover shelters the eggs to keep them cool during peak heat hours.
We are seeing the impact of Climate Change on our most vulnerable species right before our eyes.
The Snowy Plover is Global IUCN (2022) Red Listed as “Near Threatened” with the following justification:
Justification of Red List category
This plover seems to have declined rapidly in parts of its range, although the population may have remained stable in others. Overall a moderately rapid population decline is suspected, owing to the effects of habitat loss and degradation, and disturbance to nesting sites. The species is therefore listed as Near Threatened.
Although I feel Snowy Plovers have high reproductive rates at this site, there is no scientific research to confirm it. Birds are not tagged, and no nest monitoring has been done. Fifteen years ago, I would be excited to see one Snowy Plover at this site. My eBird records over the last five years routinely show between 15 and 24 birds. I have also seen positive nesting outcomes with healthy chicks during the winter.
With a maximum incubation period of 32 days, we are well past the point of viability for these eggs. As of this morning (day 40 since nest discovery), the male bird is still incubating the eggs. The female is less present and occupies herself with foraging. While rare cases are cited in the literature that show eggs hatching at 42 days, they are in North America without the threats posed here. At some point soon, I expect they will abandon the nest.
Were they doomed from the start, or did the external factors I cite impact their viability? There is no way to be sure. I would be remiss if I did not mention them as a possibility of failure for this lovely little couple.
While reporting positive outcomes for nesting species in Anguilla brings a smile to the reader, I feel it is my responsibility to show the negatives too. It allows us to reflect on our impact on the environment we share with wildlife.
The positive outcome of this experience is that both parents are alive and well. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, they will go on to attempt a new nest next year.
I share a few precious moments spent with these two and their nest in the companion reel below.
Take a Walk on the Wild Side!
Interesting article. These beautifully coloured and very cute too.
Heartbreaking ! Thank you for sharing and giving us hope!!