Plover Profiles on Ormond Beach : Sergeant

Loyal, Fierce, and a Proven Father

Sergeant on 6/1/22; by Alex Vaca

Color Bands O:yy

Left leg – Orange above the joint;

Right leg – Two yellow bands

Hatch Year: 2018

Hatch Location: Camp Pendleton, CA

Sergeant, one of Ormond Beach’s most reliable summer residents, has returned every breeding season since 2019. First banded as a chick in 2018 at Camp Pendleton, he was spotted on Ormond for the first time the next summer, probably on his first migration.

Even at one year old, he was already showing signs of the determined bird he would become. Our first good look at him was with a trail camera that was watching a nest (video below). He approached the already established nest, a behavior we see in males looking for territory and mates. In another subsequent video we heard a plover fight off camera. After this territorial dispute with an established male on the south end of Ormond Beach, Sergeant relocated to the north dunes, where he’s been a fixture ever since.

We have come to know Sergeant for fiercely defending his turf and for his dedication as a parent—raising multiple broods with impressive consistency. He has raised chicks every year in a very challenging environment.

Sergeant with a 2 week old chick on 07/27/23

This year, Sergeant, now 7 years old, hatched two chicks from a nest likely started in early April that hatched on May 4th. Two chicks fledged in June, and we’ve already spotted him back in the dunes, possibly starting a second nest. His steady presence and nesting success have made him an important contributor to Ormond’s plover population and gene pool.

Sergeant with his latest clutch of chicks (~3 weeks old) on May 19th this year; Photo by A Patterson

His story doesn’t end with the breeding season. For a long time, we didn’t know where Sergeant went in the winter. Thanks to sightings and new communications with biologists at Camp Pendleton, we now think he stops there briefly during his spring and fall migrations. That timing suggests he winters even farther south—most likely in Baja California.

Of course, no tale of Sergeant would be complete without mentioning Sunny (banded y/w:y), another long-time Ormond resident. The two males have a long-running rivalry, with regular territorial disputes each season. At least once, Sergeant has come out on top, forcing Sunny to relocate to the other end of Ormond Beach — a reminder that even for small endangered birds, neighbors don’t always get along.

Sunny fighting another male this year; Photo by A Patterson

Sergeant’s story is a reminder that even small birds can lead big lives—full of travel, challenges, and fierce devotion to family.

Next up, Sunny's story!