TitleThe Distribution and Reproductive Success of the Western Snowy Plover along the Oregon Coast - 2021
Publication TypeReport
Year of Publication2021
AuthorsLauten D.J, Castelein K.A, J. Farrar D, Lee M, Gaines EP
Pagination69 pp
Date Published12/2021
InstitutionInstitute for Natural Resources
CityPortland
Keywordsconservation, monitoring, Oregon, plover
Abstract

We monitored the distribution, abundance and productivity of the federally threatened Western Snowy Plover (Charadrius nivosus nivosus) along the central and south coast of Oregon from 2 April – 10 September 2021. We surveyed and monitored plover activity in a project area that included, from north to south, Sutton Beach, Siltcoos River estuary, the Dunes Overlook, Tahkenitch Creek, Tenmile Creek, Coos Bay North Spit, Bandon Snowy Plover  Management Area, New River Habitat Restoration Area (HRA) and adjacent lands, and Floras Lake. Our objectives for the project area in 2021 were to: 1) estimate the size of the adult Snowy Plover population, 2) locate plover nests, 3) determine nest success, 4) implement nest protection as appropriate (e.g. ropes and signs), 5) monitor a sample of broods to determine brood fate and plover productivity, and 6) use cameras and observational data to document predator activity at nests.
We estimated the resident number of Snowy Plovers in Oregon at 604 individuals, the highest number since monitoring began in 1990. We monitored 712 nests in 2021. Overall apparent nest success was 27%. Nest failures were attributed to unknown depredation, unknown cause, unknown avian depredation, corvid depredation, mammalian depredation, harrier depredation, abandonment, one egg nest, gull depredation, wind/weather, overwashing, and infertility. We sampled 140 of 217 known broods that produced 162 fledglings and estimated 250 total fledglings. Overall brood success was 75%, fledging success was 44%, and based on the overall number of resident males, 0.62 chicks fledged per resident male.

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