Evaluating the effectiveness of the recovery plan for the Western Snowy Plover

(Charadrius nivosus) over a ten-year period in Monterey County

Ahtziri Carranza

Abstract
Western Snowy Plovers (Charadrius nivosus) have been listed as “threatened” since 1993. In
2007, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service created a recovery plan to help elevate the
population of Western Snowy Plovers. Here we see the results over a ten year period observing
population sizes and total amount of nests in Monterey County to test how effective the recovery
plan has been.
Introduction
Western Snowy Plovers (Charadrius nivosus), which will be referred to as WSP, are a
small bird that resides through the pacific coast of the
United States. They are typically between 5 to 7 inches in
length and weight up to 58 grams. They have a brown,
white, and black coloration to them as adults but when
they are juveniles these color variants appear lighter as
showcased in Figure 1. When it comes to their breeding
system, the male will court the female by calling over
from their territory and performing a horizontal display
(Figure 2). For coastal WSP, they pair up 50 days before
nesting which occurs between the months of March and
Figure 1. The picture above
September. Females will lay up to three eggs per nest
showcases and adult female Western
which are camouflaged to look like the sand to avoid
Snowy Plover (Charadrius nivosus)
in her nests while her two chicks are
predation. Both the male and female guard over the nest,
out and about.
with the male being more aggressive. However, WSP are
not monogamous, rather they are polygamous with the
females expressing this more than the males. After
brooding one nest, a female will look for another mate to
make another nest with. They will usually lay three nests
during mating season. The male will then care for the
nest and the chicks for about four weeks before he goes
to find a new mate. Females will make three nests during
mating season while males only make two (Watts et al.
2012). Juvenile WSP reach reproductive maturity for the
Figure 2. The above image shows a next mating season, or after a year. For their diets they
male Wester Snowy Plover forge on mole crabs, crabs, sand hoppers, flies, beetles,
(Charadrius nivosus) performing a clams and on occasion worms. They hunt for their food in
horizontal display to a female as a kelp beds on the beach, the surface of the sand, and in
way of courtship. shallow water. When they capture their prey, they shake
it up first before consuming it. In the coast, their feeding time is usually in the morning. For their
migration, they migrate along the coast. In Monterey for example, WSP will travel as North to
Oregon and as South as Baja Mexico. WSP that nest in Monterey, CA will migrate here in
March and will leave around October. Here in California, they will lay their nests in an array of
areas. Some include dune beaches, barrier beaches, salt-ponds as well as in areas with little to
sparse vegetated areas (Page et al. 2009).
The Western Snowy Plovers have faced various stressors which have led to a decline in
their population. Aside from their natural predators, human activity has been a large contributor
to their decline. Recreational uses such as camping and kite flying pose a threat on WSP because
it scares them away meaning they often leave their nests unattended. Because of their small size
of their nests, there is also many cases in which people step on them. Dogs are also a big issue as
they scare away the WSP more often than humans do. Cleaning of the beaches, especially of kelp
and beach wrack, minimizes the amount of food available for WSP. Vehicles on beaches can
crush plovers and their nests. All these threats towards WSP lead them to being listed as
“threatened” in the states of Oregon, Washington, and California in 1993. In 2007, the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service released a recovery plan that had three objectives. They wanted to get WSP
out of the threatened list, perform management of WSP, and monitor them to find threats. The
estimated cost for this plan was $150 million dollars. Which would include sign and symbolic
fences for nesting areas, restrictions of motor vehicles, restriction on dogs and educational
outreach to the public. The goal of this recovery plan is to take the WSP out of the “threatened”
species list. According to the plan itself, they will delist the WSP once three objectives have been
met: 1) 3,000 being maintained over the span of 10 years, 400 of those being between Sonoma
and Monterey county. 2) One fledged chick per male in five years 3) In order to maintained both
previously mentioned criteria, have an effective plan that will ensure a stable population of the
WSP. In 1993, the population for WSP was estimated to be around 1,300 in California dispersed
throughout different counties. For this paper, the primary areas of interest will be various habitats
in which Western Snowy Plovers reside in throughout Monterey County. The data observed was
from a ten-year period in order to look at how successful the recovery plan has been (Hornaday
et al. 2007).

Western snowy plovers are now under protection by the Endangered Species Act. Now that their
nesting areas have protection from humans and other threats, this grants them more safety from
threats. This will lead to an increase in population.
H1: There will be an increase in Western Snowy Plover population over the ten-year period.
A>B
H0: There will be no change in the population of Western Snowy Plovers over the ten-year
period.
A=B
Methods
To find the population of Western Snowy Plovers, typing “Western Snowy Plover
Population Census Data” in the Google search bar was the first step. The first result that
appeared was for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service. Clicking on the site, there was a lot of
documents related to the WSP which were categorized by year and location. From there it was
decided the main area of interest would be Monterey County to condense the data set. The goal
was to find the population data of WSP from various years. Which was achieved, however the
site also contained other types of data such as number of nests made in a year and the type of
fencing placed for all. That became the second area of interest for this study to tie up together the
number of nests in an area, the population of WSP, and the type of regulation each site had. The
years of data was inconsistent throughout all sections. Because of that it was decided to only
analyze data from 2008-2018, with the exclusion of 2009 and 2012 due to lack of nesting data
for those years. For the years 2017 and 2018 there was no data recorded for the number of nests
in each. It was also decided that only six of the sites in Monterey County would be looked at
since those were the only consistent ones throughout the population census and number of nests.
The data was then put into an Excel workbook. Once placed into different table for all three
categories, their averages, standard deviation, standard error, maximum, minimum, and range
where calculated using the calculation feature of Excel. To calculate average, highlight
everything in the column and then in the space below type in =AVERAGE. For Standard
Deviation, highlight everything in the column and the in the space below type in =STDEV.
Standard Error, in the space below type in =(*click on the Standard Deviation
above*/SQRT(*number of entries for the column*)). Minimum is calculated by entering
=MIN(*highlight every number in the column*), the same steps goes for finding the Maximum
but instead type in =MAX. To find the Range =*MAX*-*MIN*. The data was then highlighted
and made into bar graphs. Bar graphs were used for this data since it appeared the neatest
compared to other graph types.

Results
Looking at the population of Western Snowy plovers starting off in 2008, all the six areas
appeared to have a decent amount of WSP except for Monterey State Beach (Sb) who only had
two. The same can be said for 2009 through 2018. There are some sites that did have an alarming
amount of WSP, whether it be high numbers or close to none. Moss Landing Salt Ponds had the
highest amount of WSP throughout the ten years of data collection, even reaching 84 total in
2011. Monterey South Beach was a site with little to none between the years of 2008 through
2015 with a spike in population in 2016. Zmudowski and Salinas River North Spit numbers did
not fluctuate as much and had steady numbers through all ten years. Salinas River NWR also had
high numbers, just not as much Moss Landing Salt Ponds with its highest recorded number being
69 WSP. Martin/Lone Star Areas averaged the same amount between 2008 and 2013 with a
sudden spike in 2014. After 2014 there was a downward trend in population.

Table 1. The Table below shows the population of Western Snowy Plovers over a decade in Monterey County.
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Zmudowski 17 24 34 12 21 11 18 9 10 17 8
Moss landing Salt Ponds 32 31 41 84 44 16 13 17 34 62 12
Salinas River North Spit 15 17 8 14 19 16 23 16 19 6 8
Salinas River NWR 23 39 50 38 43 41 69 48 59 44 34
Martin/Lone Star Areas 26 21 25 33 34 23 53 43 21 31 44
Monterey Sb 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 5 10 13 5
Average 19.2 22.0 26.7 30.2 26.8 17.8 29.3 23.0 25.5 28.8 18.5
Standard Deviation 10.4 13.3 18.8 29.9 16.9 13.7 26.2 18.1 18.6 21.2 16.3
Standard Error 2.9 3.7 5.2 8.3 4.7 3.8 7.3 5.0 5.2 5.9 4.5
Minnimum 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 5 10 6 5
Maximum 32 39 50 84 44 41 69 48 59 62 44
Range 30 39 48 84 44 41 69 43 49 56 39

Population of WSP over ten years

80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Zmudowski Moss landing Salt Ponds Salinas River North Spit

Salinas River NWR Martin/Lone Star Areas Monterey Sb

Figure 3. The graph above demonstrates the population of Western Snowy Plovers over the span of ten years.

The three different types of enclosures observed in different sites throughout Monterey County
were Symbol Fence, Fence and Mini Enclosure and a Gull Enclosure. Symbol fence had the
highest number of nests through the years. Starting off with 297 in 2008, 367 in 2010, 420 in
2011, 475 in 2011, 475 in 2013, 444 in 2014, 532 in 2015, and 347 in 2016. For the Fence and
mini Excl. in 2008 there was only 10 nests, no data was recorded for 2010, 15 in 2011, 5 in 2013,
16 in 2014, 3 in 2015, and 0 for 2016. Gull Enclosure had the least amongst all three with only 1
nest in 2008, 5 in 2010, 4 in 2011, 2 in 2013, and 0 in 2014, 2015, and 2016.
 Table 2. Below are the number of nests present in three different barrier enclosures.
2008 2010 2011 2013 2014 2015 2016
Symbol Fence 297 367 420 475 444 532 347
Fence & Mini Excl. 10 15 5 16 3 0
Gull Enclsure 1 5 4 2 0 0 0
Average 102.7 186.0 146.3 160.7 153.3 178.3 115.7
Standard Deviation 168.4 256.0 237.1 272.2 251.9 306.3 200.3
Standard Error 97.2 147.8 136.9 157.2 145.4 176.8 115.7
Minnimum 1 5 4 2 0 0 0
Maximum 297 367 420 475 444 532 347
Range 296 362 416 473 444 532 347

Figure 4. The graph above demonstrates the number of nests in different enclosures in Monterey County.

The six areas which population of WSP was observed, the number of nests present in each was
also recorded. For Zmudowski, there appears to be a downwards trend of nests as it started off
with 42 nests in 2008, 40 in 2010, 29 in 2011, 47 in 2013, 32 in 2014, 45 in 2015, 12 in 2016, 23
in 2017 and 12 in 2018. Moss Landing Salt Ponds had a nigh number of nests starting off, but
much like Zmudowski, those numbers started to decrease. The highest number of nests found
there were 88 in 2011 and the lowest being 30 in 2016. For Salinas River North Spit, the trend of
nests appears to be increasing as in 2008 and 2010 there was only 15 nests recorded. In 2011
there was 18, 26 in 2013, 38 in 2014 and 2015 and a decrease in 2016 when there were only 19.
Salinas River NWR had high number of nests throughout the ten years with the lowest number
being 27 and the highest 61. Martin/Lone Star had low but consistent number of nests with 6 in
2008, 4 in 2010, 9 in 2011, 11 in 2013 and 2014, 9 in 2015, 4 in 2016, and 5 in 2017. Monterey
State beach started off with 28 nests in 2008, 25 in 2010, 24 in 2011 and 2013, 20 in 2014, 32 in
2015, 12 in 2016, 16 in 2017 and 25 in 2018.

Table 3. A table demonstrating the amount of nests in Monterey County

2008 2010 2011 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Zmudowski 42 40 29 47 32 43 12 23 12
Moss landing Salt Ponds 54 70 88 38 20 43 30
Salinas River North Spit 15 15 18 26 38 38 19
Salinas River NWR 27 49 40 56 57 61 49 33 52
Martin/Lone Star Areas 6 4 9 11 11 9 4 5
Monterey Sb 28 25 24 24 20 32 12 16 25
Average 28.7 33.8 34.7 33.7 29.7 37.7 21.0 19.3 29.7
Standard Deviation 17.5 24.1 28.1 16.5 16.5 17.1 16.2 11.8 20.4
Standard Error 7.1 9.8 11.5 6.7 6.7 7.0 6.6 4.8 8.3
Minnimum 6 4 9 11 11 9 4 5 12
Maximum 54 70 88 56 57 61 49 33 52
Range 48 66 79 45 46 52 45 28 40

Figure 5. The graph shows the number of nests present throughout six different location in Monterey County.

(Page et al. 2008-2016) (Eyster et al. 2017-2018) (2013 Breeding window survey for snowy
plovers) (2018 breeding window survey for snowy plover).
Discussion
Looking at the population of Western Snowy Plovers (Table 1) and the number of nests
per area (Table 3), the numbers are not meeting the expectations. For example, in 2011 there
was a total of 88 nests in Moss Landing Salt Ponds. In 2012, there was only 44 WSP recorded.
Those number do not make sense because typically, each adult female makes three nests per
breeding season and a male makes two. Each nest has an average of 3 eggs. By doing the math of
88x3, there would be a total of 264 WSP to have hatched during the breeding window. The
numbers say that only 44 made it. Alarming as it may seem, there could be a multitude of factors
that contributed to the low numbers. Some may be that the WSP died before the next year came
about. Their deaths could be contributed to human disturbance, predator death or other reasons.
They might have migrated to another located as well. Human error can not be ignored either. In
2013 the population recorder for adult WSP in Monterey South Beach was 0 but there were 24
nests found there. Its not possible to have any number of nests without any birds present. The
time of day or date in which the results were recorder may have interfered with the results. WSP
run away from humans, keeping that in mind it is possible that WSP ran away to hide before
people could count them. The enclosures that have a symbol fence have shown to be the most
effective in terms of allowing WSP to lay their nests in safety as they present the highest
numbers. The hypothesis for this paper was that WSP population will increase due to the
recovery plan. Due to the results from the ten years, it is difficult to sate if that is the case. The
population as a whole has areas in which it is abundant and those in which there is little to none.
There are many factors which contribute to their decline, but it also difficult to count their
numbers due to them running away from humans. As of right now, my hypothesis has not been
proven to be true. One way the actual counting of WSP can be improved is by closing the areas
in which the counting will happen to minimize the number of humans around. This will allow for
the people counting the population to have less difficulty in counting their numbers.
Conclusion
Conservation of any animal species is tricky, especially when it comes to an animal as
small as a WSP. But the effort is there and that is what counts. I recall seeing an enclosure for the
WSP a couple of years ago. Sure, it brought a lot of curiosity for me since I had never seen one
before, but a person on the beach was quick to tell us not to get near. That, to me, is an effective
way of protecting any kind of species. They are being allowed to stay in their habitat in safety,
while the public gets educated as to why there must be measure like that. However, conservation
efforts can also be misunderstood. Many of the beaches with WSP do not allow for dogs to be on
the loose, which often angers their owners. They think that since their dog is well behaved, it
poses no threat. Dogs do pose a threat to WSP, even more so than humans, since they often run
away from dogs faster than humans. Dogs can crush their nests since they do not know any better
and some can even kill them (California state parks). This is just one of the many clashes that
conservationist must face. The challenges are many, but if a government and conservationists
can put in the funds and effort to try to save an animal as small (in size) as a Western Snowy
Plover, the results will hopefully show to be rewarding. These efforts can then be applied to
other animals who face similar challenges as the Western Snowy Plover.
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