Drawing Connections: Plovers, Dunes, and You!
September 16, 2024
This page was co-created by Maria Amorette Klos, Point Blue 2024 Science Illustration Apprentice, and her Supervisor Lishka Arata, Point Blue Communications Manager, as part of her final project.
We can all do something to protect dunes and their sensitive species. Read below to learn more about the ecosystem, sensitive species, and actions to take, big and small.
What’s the Deal with Dunes?
Sandy Beach and Dune Ecosystems are important to many sensitive species including a focal species of Point Blue research, the federally threatened Western Snowy Plover. Because beaches are also an area where people like to spend time, recreate, and live near, it’s important for us to learn more about the species that rely on these habitats so we can share the shores and provide space for all.
On U.S. Pacific coast beaches, nesting season occurs March through September. During this sensitive period, birds must find a mate, establish a nesting site, incubate eggs, and raise young. Birds that nest on beaches are highly adapted to the shifting sands and sparsely vegetated environment. Once able to move to different beaches for nesting when old ones eroded away, birds today have few alternatives due to loss of beach habitat caused by development, recreational activities, increased predator pressures, and invasive plants. Other species that depend on dunes are also threatened by habitat loss and disturbance.
Learn more about Point Blue’s work in sandy beach and dune ecosystems throughout the state here.
Sensitive Species
Western Snowy Plover
These birds are adapted to beach nesting on open sand and also in vegetated dunes in a small scrape that is often lined with a few sticks, shells or pieces of seaweed. Eggs and chicks are well camouflaged in their natural habitat, and adults use special behaviors to ward off predators. When a predator is detected, chicks hide by crouching in the open or hiding under beach drift and remaining very still. Adult Western Snowy Plovers will either lure predators from their nest sites or simply run off their nests. Nests. Flightless chicks of federally threatened Western Snowy Plovers are particularly vulnerable to disturbances from off-highway vehicles, off-leash dogs, and other recreational activities. Dive deeper into our science.
Smith’s Blue Butterfly
This butterfly spends its whole life within a few hundred yards of two native plants–seacliff buckwheat and coast buckwheat–and is completely dependent on them. Learn more.
Coast Buckwheat
This plant receives all of its water from fog and rainfall and of course supports other sensitive species that rely on dune habitat. Learn more.
Menzies Wallflower
This flowering plant is endemic to California, found only in the declining beach sand dune habitat in three areas on the California coastline: Humboldt, Mendocino, and Monterey Counties. Learn more.
Legless lizard
This unique reptile lives mostly underground, but forages in loose soil, sand, and leaf litter during the morning and evening. Learn more.
Helping Sensitive Dune Species Together
What is Being Done to Help?
Fortunately, beach managers, with the help of hundreds of volunteers, are actively protecting beach-nesting birds in the following ways:
- Nesting habitat above the surf zone is often roped off from public use.
- Protective fencing, called exclosures, surround eggs to prevent disturbance and predation.
- Biologists monitor nests and young in many areas to determine breeding success.
- Educational programs are conducted to increase public awareness of beach habitat and wildlife.
- Habitat restoration projects are being employed to increase the amount of beach and dune habitat and protect native wildlife and plants.
- Management of predators of beach-nesting birds, nests, and chicks.
Actions You Can Take to Help
- Become a Plover Guardian
- Support Conservation Work by becoming a member or donating at Point Blue and other groups that do science-based and community conservation work
- Get to know a beach near you by attending nature walks and learning about beach wildlife and plants
- Be a ‘citizen scientist’ with your local National Marine Sanctuary or just by recording observation with apps like iNaturalist/Seek or eBird
- Support government legislation that protects coastal habitats
- Help protect and restore beach and dune habitat: Contact your local state park, Audubon Society chapter, US Fish & Wildlife Service, or National Park Service for volunteer opportunities
Practice Wildlife Friendly Behaviors at the Beach
Walk on the wet sand to avoid disturbing nesting Western Snowy Plovers and other dune-dependent species- Avoid creating perches for predatory birds
- Leave driftwood flat on the sand and dismantle forts
- Walk around flocks of roosting and feeding birds to avoid disturbance
- Respect signs designating restrictions in sensitive habitat
- Use off-highway vehicles only where permitted
- Pack-out trash and do not feed wildlife
- Keep pets on leashes
- Do not chase birds
More Dune & Plover Education Resources
- PDF download of Pocket Guide to Beach Birds of California
- Birds on West Coast Beaches Handout
- Presentation and Nature Journal Workshop presented by Point Blue’s Kriss Neuman and Naturalist, Educator, and Artist John Muir Laws (presentation in the first 35 minutes, art workshop at 55 min until 1:28; last 30 minutes Q&A with Kriss)
About the Artist + Plover Pride Sticker & Plover Comic Bookmark
Point Blue’s 2024 Science Illustration Apprentice, Maria Amorette Klos, created the art you see on this and also created the Plover Pride vinyl sticker and plover comic bookmark below. Visit the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History and the Marina Library to pick one up. We may offer an on-demand ordering option for those soon, so stay tuned.
Maria holds a Bachelor’s degree in Scientific Illustration from Arcadia University and a Master’s Certificate in Scientific Illustration from CSU Monterey Bay. She was one of the 2023 Bartels Science Illustrators at Cornell lab of Ornithology and has worked with Scientific American to create illustrations for their May 2024 issue. You can see some of Maria’s past work on her website here. Maria apprenticed with Point Blue communications and science staff for 8 weeks and presented her final project at the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History.
Show your plover pride and sport one of these stickers on your water bottle or reusable coffee mug!
Sanderlings frantically chase waves back and forth to find food in the sand, while the snowy plovers take a slower pace and pick at the washed up kelp for flies and other invertebrates. When looking for the difference in species, check the vibe.