Plovers run for cover
Plettenberg Bay’s white-fronted plovers have been having a difficult time as storms and rough sea conditions have wreaked havoc on their newest living quarters, but they have proven to be tougher than they look.
NVT’s Brittany Arendse said the aim of the shelters is to provide a safe place for chicks against the elements, predators and clashes with beachgoers and dogs, especially in low vegetated areas.
Studies done in Australia on the hooded plover, said Arendse, revealed that more than 50% of chicks provided with an artificial shelter used it to run to when disturbed. “These shelters are commonly used, and are most successful, in areas that are low in natural cover. Hence why we are trialling them in less vegetated areas like the estuary beach area and above the high-tide mark at other sections of beach.”
She said they hope to increase chick success to a more stable and natural 30 to 35% breeding success as until recently, it has been very low, with only one in 10 nests successfully fledging their chicks. Incubating plovers react to disturbances, like someone approaching, from up to 50m away and subsequently leave their nests. This is a problem as unattended eggs can reach lethal temperatures during summer months.
Since setting up the shelters, Mother Nature has however wreaked havoc on the initiative.
“We set out our shelters but they all got washed away in the last big storm we had,” Arendse said.
Two of the five plover nests on the beach washed away in that storm, and three chicks survived from the remaining nests, she said, adding, “All three are close to fledging.”
Arendse said after the last spring tide on 12 November they set out shelters again. “We only have nested at the moment and no chicks, so we haven’t seen it being used as yet.”
They now have a volunteer who goes out to observe the shelters once a week. “Hopefully we will get some good footage and results,” Arendse said.
All the equipment for shelters has been sponsored by Birdlife Plett.
Plettenberg Bay’s plover chicks.
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Source: Knysna Plett Herald News