Snowy Plover Nesting Season on Sanibel

Snowy plover nesting season began in February and Sanibel now has five snowy plover nests, with three chicks. This year, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) is also monitoring one Wilson's plover nest. Nesting season will continue until mid-August and it is important that beachgoers help to protect these endangered shorebirds. Please keep a few things in mind as you enjoy the beach: • Honor the leash law. An unleashed dog can kill an adult bird or chick or trample a nest.bandon their nest. Always remain outside of the staked area. • Avoid flying kites near nesting areas Plovers view kites as predators. A kite flying overhead can cause a bird to abandon its nest. • Never chase birds on the beach. Shorebirds use the beach to nest, rest, and feed. Forcing them to fly interferes with all of these activities. • Fill in holes. Holes on the beach can trap chicks unable to fly. If trapped, chicks can die from predators or exposure. SCCF (the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation) monitors the summer nesting seasons of snowy plovers, Wilson's plover and sea turtles. Last year Sanibel hosted at least eight pairs of snowy plovers. Those pairs laid a total of 15 nests, nine of which hatched, producing 23 chicks. Out of those 23, only seven survived to fledge. These numbers are lower than they have been in recent years. Learn more about these nesting shorebirds at SCCF's Snowy Plovers program, offered on May 12 at 10 a.m