PHOTO: CYNTHIA HARTLEY
SHOREBIRD RECOVERY PROGRAM - SCIENCE
Our nest monitoring work documents snowy plover and least tern nest outcomes at Ormond and Hollywood Beaches. Our staff and contract biologists possess USFWS and CDFW permits to conduct field work with western snowy plovers and California least terns.
Below are the activities we perform as part of the science component of our program:
NEST SEARCHING/BEACH CONTROL
Survey the beach weekly, search for banded birds and nests, re-check known nests, look for chicks and any signs of disturbance or threats
MAPPING
Locate and mark nests with GPS and create maps of nest locations and fences
NEST OUTCOME
Follow nests until they hatch or fail, and when nests fail determine the cause
FIELD CAMERAS
WHEN WE'RE NOT WATCHING:
Using trail and small sport cameras, we record disturbance, depredation and nest hatching when we can't be there
PREDATOR EXCLOSURES
Protect nests from egg-eating predators
Our nest monitoring work is supported in part by an Endangered Species Act Section 6 grant.