Snowy Plover Rescue & Release
August 4, 2025__|__PRNSA, International Bird Rescue, & Point Blue Conservation Science
Back in May, a severe windstorm led to the loss of 12 of 17 active plover nests at the Seashore. However, PRNSA and Point Blue conservation biologists found and recovered two eggs in the process of hatching—they were buried almost six inches deep in the sand. After confirming the eggs were abandoned, they were rushed to International Bird Rescue’s facility in Fairfield.
Once hatched, the two chicks from Point Reyes were joined by three rescued chicks from the Montezuma Wetlands—having many chicks of the same species and age together reduces stress for the birds and helps them learn social cues. Over the next eight weeks, IBR’s expert team cared closely for the plovers, hand-feeding them and subsequently introducing them to new foods, weighing and examining them to ensure normal growth and development, and mimicking their natural environment to prepare them for release.
Once the birds’ feathers fully grew in and they had practice flying, they were ready to head back to the wild. On June 30, IBR, PRNSA, and Point Blue gathered at North Beach to release all five plovers. Western snowy plover populations move up and down the coast through the interconnected landscapes of beaches and wetlands, and color-coded banding on their legs help us keep track of their movements. As soon as their travel carton was opened on a portion of the beach protected from visitors and dogs, the birds knew what to do!
The hope is these young plovers will settle in and breed at the Seashore next year. The longtime collaboration between NPS, PRNSA, and Point Blue is helping threatened western snowy plover populations remain steady here at Point Reyes, throughout the greater Bay Area, and up and down the west coast. Raising these orphans in temporary captivity under the expert care of IBR can help bolster their populations into the future!
If you’d like to be a part of helping snowy plovers stay safe at the Seashore, consider joining the Snowy Plover Docent Program. The docent season runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and is a vital part of the success of snowy plovers in the park. To inquire, email fiona_o’kelly@nps.gov.
