By DANA TIMS/YachatsNews
Western snowy plovers have made a strong comeback in recent years from the early 1990s, when there were so few that the breed ended up with an endangered species listing.
But with the diminutive, distinctly marked plovers just entering another six-month-long nesting season, Oregon’s wildlife officials are asking coastal residents and visitors to once again be on the lookout for nests.
“Anywhere along designated beaches, we can expect to see nests,” Alexa Valladolid, an information specialist with the Siuslaw National Forest, told YachatsNews.
The small shorebirds, which are recognizable by a distinctive black cap behind their white foreheads, nest in small crevices along stretches of open, dry sand. During nesting season, human disturbances can flush adult plovers away from their nests as they attempt to defend their young.
Wildlife biologists put ropes up around known nesting sites, along with signs warning visitors not to enter those areas. Plover nesting season extends from March 15 to Sept. 15.
Full recreation restrictions are in place along parts of the coast, with the bulk of those areas in Lane, Douglas and Coos counties. Those areas combined make up about 40 miles of Oregon’s 362 miles of shoreline, according to a statement from Valladolid’s office.
There are no closed beaches in Lincoln County and here, as elsewhere, wet-sand areas are always open to the public.
Sensitive plover nesting areas are identified on maps for the northern Oregon coast and southern Oregon coast. Signs may also be present at some trailheads with additional rules and limits, such as staying on the wet sand and keeping dogs out of the area, even if on a leash.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service first listed western snowy plovers as a threatened species in 1993, when officials counted only 45 breeding adults, according to the statement.
“The numbers of breeding adults have steadily increased since then due to ongoing efforts,” the statement reads. “Officials counted 440 during the breeding season survey in 2024.
In Lincoln County and elsewhere, crews of volunteers aid official preservation efforts by using binoculars to scan open, sandy areas for new nests.
“With the support of the public and improvements to plover habitat, we’re making great strides in reversing the decline of this species,” said Cindy Burns, Siuslaw National Forest wildlife biologist. “Keep doing your part to understand nesting season rules and to share the beach this spring and summer.”
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