{"id":70,"date":"1970-01-01T00:00:00","date_gmt":"1970-01-01T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/weebly-import-page-61"},"modified":"2026-07-05T03:09:18","modified_gmt":"2026-07-05T03:09:18","slug":"ploversandterns","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sfbbo-test.twomoons.systems\/staging\/1924\/ploversandterns\/","title":{"rendered":"Plover and Tern Research – San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Western Snowy Plover and Least Tern Research<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Quick Links:<\/strong>
How To Become a Volunteer<\/a> \u2022 Read About a Snowy Plover Rescue<\/a> \u2022 2023-2026 Strategic Plan<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Western Snowy Plover is a threatened shorebird that breeds along the west coast of the U.S. Because of this status, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has set goals to restore plover numbers throughout the region. In addition, the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project, a 50-year effort to return half of the Bay’s salt ponds back to tidal marsh, has also established goals to increase plover numbers in the Bay Area. Since 2003, SFBBO has worked with both of these efforts to study and conserve local plovers. We recently expanded our work beyond the San Francisco Bay to monitor plovers in Monterey. Check out a video about our spring 2020 plover work<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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We survey salt ponds to locate breeding habitat and monitor plovers to determine nest and fledging success. Each spring our biologists band plover chicks to track their movements and survival, and use remote trail cameras to identify predators such as corvids, gulls, and foxes. In addition, a few community scientists help us conduct winter surveys so we know how plovers use the Bay outside the breeding season, and we enhance plover habitat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The California Least Tern is an endangered species that breeds along the California Coast in sparsely vegetated and flat areas located next to the Pacific Ocean. Although their natural habitat is sandy beaches and lagoons, in the San Francisco Bay they have adapted to breed in former salt production ponds, which provide the habitat features California Least Terns need to breed. SFBBO first began working with California Least Terns between 2007-2009, and again in 2017 when they were attracted to habitat enhanced for Snowy Plovers with oyster shells. We also enlist the help of community science volunteers to monitor Least Terns<\/a> in the area during the breeding season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In addition, we removed posts and other objects that predators like to perch on as well as vegetation that was encroaching on nesting habitat. We also spread oyster shells on the pond bottoms that camouflage plovers during the breeding season, and during the late winter we hold a Mud Stomp when volunteers stomp in the mud to create depressions and texture that allow plovers to blend in better with their surroundings. 

\u200bAlthough historically the Bay Area likely only supported a small Snowy Plover Population and few (if any) Least Terns, today the South Bay salt ponds support nearly 10% of the rangewide Snowy Plover population, and one of only six Least Tern colonies in the San Francisco Bay Area. These two sensitive species face substantial threats across the Pacific Coast\u2014habitat loss, predation, human disturbance, and imminent sea level rise\u2014making the South Bay a critical habitat for these sensitive birds.<\/span>\u200b<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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