What's a Snowy Plover Soap Opera?
Soap operas are usually make believe, but ours isn't. Most soap operas are seen on television, where actors play imaginary people living in imaginary places.
The Snowy Plover Soap Opera is real, and follows the actual lives of Snowy Plovers. The stars of the 'Snowy Soap' are real birds that PRBO biologists are studying very closely on West Coast beaches.
How do we follow the stars?
Snowy Plover biologists place special, plastic, multi-colored bands on the Snowy Plovers' legs, so that each wears a unique combination of four colors. Biologists are then able to read the color band combinations with binoculars, and keep track of each color-banded Snowy over time
Biologists usually put the bands on when the chicks have just hatched. This means that the biologists must be ready with their color bands right when the chicks are hatching
How do we read the color bands?
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Start by reading the bird's left leg first, reading the color bands from top to bottom; then read the right leg bands from top to bottom.
Photo Peter Knapp
This Snowy has yellow and blue bands on its left leg, and red and blue on its right, so biologists call it, "Yellow Blue: Red Blue," or YB:RB.
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THESE ARE THE DIFFERENT COLORS WE USE FOR BANDS & THEIR CODES:
Aqua = A
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Black = K
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Blue = B
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<Green = G
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| <Lime = L |
| <Orange = O |
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<Pink = P
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<Red = R
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<Silver = S
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Violet = V
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| <Yellow = Y |
| White = W |
How did we choose the stars?
We chose four Snowies that we have seen year after year on California beaches. We picked three Snowies that live on Monterey and Point Reyes beaches (see map below). Meet the stars.
Map showing beaches where Snowy Plovers nest and rasie their young along the San Francisco and Monterey Bay Area Coasts.
Meet the Soap Opera Stars
Hot off the Beach ...
August 18, 2003 Update on AB:WO
August 5, 2003 Update on WY:GO :
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His eggs with AY:BO did not hatch after the pair tried to incubate them for over two months. AY:BO has left Monterey Bay. Check out where she is now.
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Looks like WY:GO may be done breeding for 2003. Biologists have observed him away from his breeding territory, resting with a flock of Snowy Plovers.
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Check back with us for his 2003 breeding stats.
August 27, 2003 Update on Blue :
Aqua Blue: White Orange (AB:WO)
A hard-working female plover who hatched on a beach north of Santa Cruz, California, and is now 4 years old. Her favorite hobbies include spending sunny days and moonlit nights on a few special beaches near Monterey, California.
Who's her favorite Snowy male? Who's that new boy she's been seen with? Read on and find out!
Her first steps on the beach...
On June 28, 1999, a female Snowy Plover hatched at Wilder Beach, California, north of the city of Santa Cruz. A PRBO biologist placed four small color bands on her legs: aqua and blue on her left leg, and white and orange on her right leg. We now call her aqua, blue: white, orange, or AB:WO.
In 1999, biologists saw AB:WO on Wilder Beach until the middle of August when she flew to a different beach.
She survives her first winter and turns 1 year old...
After short flights south to Asilomar and Salinas beaches on the coast of Monterey Bay, California, she flew north to Sunset beach. She spent the fall at Sunset Beach. In late December, she was seen at Zmudowski Beach and Pajaro Spit - two beaches just a short flight apart along Monterey Bay. She stayed at these two beaches until spring 2000.
She begins her first breeding season in 2000...
First nest cycle:
AB:WO was observed at Zmudowski Beach in spring 2000. On May 4, 2000 biologists found her nesting with White, Green: Red, Blue (WG:RB). On June 3, their three chicks hatched. Not long after, AB:WO split Zmudowski Beach, leaving her mate, WG:RB, to raise their tiny chicks alone on Zmudowski Beach, and she flew to Pajaro River mouth to start the nest cycle again.
Her second nest cycle:
At Pajaro River mouth, biologists found her nesting with White Green: White Green (WG:WG) on June 14. On July 2, only two chicks hatch, and she left WG:WG shortly after.
How many chicks did her mates fledge?
2 out of 3 chicks fledged with WG:RB
1 out of 2 chicks fledged with WG:WG
She survives the winter and turns 2 years old. . .
AB:WO spent her fall and winter months between two beaches in Monterey: Sunset Beach and Pajaro Spit. But by February she moved back to Pajaro Spit, perhaps to get the best pick of mates for her second year of breeding. Read on and find out!
She begins her second breeding season in 2001...
First nest cycle:
Having one year of experience under her belt, AB:WO began nesting earlier in 2001. She was observed at Pajaro River mouth nesting with YG:GW March 22. On April 27, two chicks hatched and she left YG:GW.
Second nest cycle:
On May 6, just over a week later, she began nesting with YO:GA. On June 6 their 3 chicks hatch, and not long after, she flew away from Pajaro River mouth to Zmudowski Beach.
Third nest cycle:
AB:WO is really busy now: on June 12 -only 6 days after her chicks hatched! She began nesting with WR:OV, and on July 13 their 3 chicks hatched.
How many chicks did her mates fledge?
2 out of 2 chicks fledged with YG:GW
3 out of 3 chicks fledged with YO:GA
1 out of 3 chicks fledged with WR:OV
She survives the winter and turns 3 years old. . .
In November, AB:WO split the Spit and flew north for another winter on Sunset Beach.
She begins her third breeding season in 2002...
First nest cycle:
Observed at Pajaro River mouth in spring. Biologists found her nesting with YG:GW again. Their 3 chicks hatched on May 3, and she left her family for Zmudowski Beach.
Second nest cycle:
After arriving at Zmudowski Beach, she began nesting with WY:GO on May 14. Their 3 chicks hatched one month later on June 14, and she left her family for the Pajaro River mouth.
Third nest cycle:
On June 23, biologists found her nesting with a male that has white and red color bands on only his right leg (--:WR). Their 3 chicks hatched on July 24.
How many chicks did her mates fledge?
2 out of 3 chicks fledged with YG:GW
0 out of 3 chicks fledged with WY:GO
0 out of 3 chicks fledged with --:WR
She survives the winter and turns 4 years old...
She begins her fourth breeding season this year...
First nest cycle:
In early April 2003, she nested with YG:GW (she must really like this guy) at the Pajaro River mouth. On May 5, their chicks hatched. YG:GW lost all of his chicks before they fledged.
Second nest cycle:
Her second nest is located at Zmudowski Beach with WG:RB. Their eggs hatched on Saturday, June 14. WG:RB lost their 3 chicks.
Third nest cycle:
As of August 5, she was incubating her third nest with a new mate. Biologists never saw him at the nest, thus were never able to identify him. Two eggs hatched on August 5 and 6th, but he was not present. She's looking after the chicks alone. This is unusual because male Sowies typically raise the chicks. It's difficult to say what happened to him, but biologists believe that he may have been killed by a predator or injured.
Check back with us in September for her complete 2003 breeding stats.
AB:WO Soap Opera Summary
| 1999 |
Hatches from Wilder Beach, California on June 28, 1999 and color-banded AB:WO |
| 2000 |
A big year for AB:WO. She survives her first winter, turns 1 year old, and breeds for the first time on Monterey Bay beaches. She first nests with WG:RB on Zmudowski Beach, then WG:WG at the Pajaro River mouth. |
| 2001 |
Survives her second winter, turns 2 years old, and breeds again on Monterey Bay beaches. She nests with three different Snowy males: YG:GW and then YO:GA at Pajaro River mouth, and then nests on Zmudowski with WR:OV. |
| 2002 |
Survives her third winter, turns 3 years old, and breeds again on Monterey Bay beaches. She nests with YG:GW at Pajaro, WY:GO at Zmudowski, then --:WR back at Pajaro. |
| 2003 |
Survives her forth winter, turns 4 years old, and breeds again on Monterey Bay beaches. She nests with YG:GW (the same guy she nested with in 2001!) at the Pajaro River mouth. Their nest hatched on May 5, and YG:GW raised their 3 chicks, but he lost them all before they fledged.
Her second nest was at Zmudowski Beach with WG:RB. Their nest hatched on June 14, but he lost their 3 chicks.
She nested for the third time with a new mate, but biologists never identified him. He disappeared, leaving her alone to care for their two chicks. Her chicks are due to fledge on Spetember 2 and 3.
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White Yellow: Green Orange (WY:GO)
The local Snowies might describe him as a great guy that you can depend on. He hatched on a beach north of Monterey, California, and is now 4 years old. These days he rarely flies beyond his two favorite beaches: the Pajaro River mouth and Zmudowski Beach.
Is he a good dad to his flightless chicks? Who's his favorite Snowy female? Read on and find out!
His first steps on the beach...
In 1999, he hatched at the Pajaro River mouth, and a PRBO biologist placed white, yellow, green and orange bands on his legs. Now we call him white, yellow: green, orange (WY:GO).
He survives his first winter and turns 1 year old...
He was seen on Pajaro River mouth and Zmudowski beaches during the fall and winter months.
He begins he first breeding season in 2000...
First nest cycle:
WY:GO was observed at Zmudowski Beach nesting with AV:BY on April 19, 2000. Their 3 chicks hatched on May 22. He raised the chicks, and two fledged and one was lost.
Second nest cycle:
On June 22, WY:GO began nesting with AO:RY. 2 chicks hatched on July 30. He raised the chicks, and one fledged and one was lost.
How many of his chicks did he fledge?
2 out of 3 chicks fledged from his nest with AV:BY
1 out of 2 chicks fledged from his nest with AO:RY
Total of 3 chicks fledged out of 5 = 60%
He survives the winter and turns 2 years old. . .
WY:GO was observed on several beaches in the Monterey Bay Area over the fall and winter months, including Zmudowski Beach, Pajaro River mouth, and Sunset Beach.
He begins his second breeding season in 2001...
First nest cycle:
WY:GO was observed nesting with WB:GY at Zmudowski Beach on March 26. Their 3 chicks hatched on April 27. He raised the chicks, and all three fledged.
Second nest cycle:
WY:GO was observed nesting with AR:AR at Zmudowski Beach on June 3. Only 1 chick hatched of their three eggs. He raised the one chick, and it fledged.
How many of his chicks did he fledge?
3 out of 3 chicks fledged from his nest with WB:GY
1 out of 1 chicks fledged from his nest with AR:AR
Total of 4 chicks fledged out of 4 = 100% fledging rate CONGRATULATIONS, WY:GO!!
He survives the winter and turns 3 years old. . .
WY:GO split his time between Pajaro River mouth, Zmudowski Beach, or Sunset Beach during the fall and winter months.
He begins his third breeding season in 2002...
First nest cycle:
WY:GO got a very early start on nesting in 2002, and was observed nesting with YO:WG at Zmudowski Beach on March 5 - one of the earliest nests ever! Their 3 chicks hatched on April 16. He raised the 3 chicks, and two fledge and one is lost.
Second nest cycle:
He then began nesting with AB:WO, another star of our Snowy Plover Soap Operas, at Zmudowski Beach. Their nest was found on May 14 on Zmudowski Beach. Their 3 chicks hatched on June 14. He raised the 3 chicks, but none fledged
Third nest cycle:
He then nested with AR:AR on Zmudowski Beach in early July. She's one of the females he nested with last summer! Unfortunately their nest was lost and never hatched.
Fourth nest cycle:
His last nesting cycle was with RW:BS. Their nest was found on July 12 at Zmudowski Beach. Their 3 chicks hatched on August 11. He raised 3 chicks, and all fledged.
How many of his chicks did he fledge?
2 out of 3 chicks fledged from his nest with YO:WG
0 out of 3 chicks fledged from his nest with AB:WO
0 out of 0 chicks fledged from his nest with AR:AR
3 out of 3 chicks fledged from his nest with RW:BS
Total of 5 chicks fledged out of 9 = 56%
He survives the winter and turns 4 years old. . .
He begins his fourth breeding season in 2003...
First nest cycle:
WY:GO kicked off the breeding season this year with his favorite female, AR:AR at Pajaro River mouth. Their nest was found in early April by biologists. Only one chick hatched from their nest. WY:BO is currently raising his one chick. We're not sure if his chick fledged. Common Ravens, Snowy Plover egg and chick predators, have been observed in the area we'll have to wait and see if the chick made it.
Second nest cycle:
WY:GO nested on Zmudowski Beach with AY:BO, a female who nested on Point Reyes Beach (Snowy Soap Star "Blue's" turf) earlier this year. His mate, AY:BO, is a pretty cool bird: she flew about 120 miles between Pt. Reyes Beach (her first nest) and Zmudowski Beach. The pair's eggs were due to hatch on Wednesday, June 25, but the eggs never hatched - even after being incubated for over 2 months. We're not sure why the eggs didn't hatch, but we do know that AY:BO has had eggs that didn't hatch before.
WY:GO was spotted in a flock of Snowies, so it looks like he's done breeding for 2003.
Check back with us soon for his complete breeding stats.
WY:GO Soap Opera Summary
| 1999 |
Hatches from Pajaro River mouth, California and color-banded AB:WO |
| 2000 |
Survives his first winter, turns 1 year old and breeds for the first time on Zmudowski Beach, California along Monterey Bay. He nests with AV:BY, and he raises 3 chicks, but only 2 fledge. He then nests with AO:RY, and raises 2 chicks, but only 1 fledges.
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| 2001 |
Survives his second winter, turns 2 years old, and breeds again on Zmudowski Beach. He nests with WB:GY, and raises 3 chicks and all fledge. He then nests with AR:AR, and raises 1 chick which fledges. |
| 2002 |
Survives his third winter, turns 3 years old, and breeds again on Zmudowski Beach. He nests with YO:WG, and rasies 3 chicks, but only 2 fledge. He then nests with AB:WO, and raises 3 chicks, but only 0 fledge. He nests with AR:AR, but their nest is lost. He then nests with RW:BS, and raises 3 chicks and all fledge.
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| 2003 |
Survives his fourth winter, turns 4 years old, and breeds again on Zmudowski Beach. He nests with AR:AR, and is raised their chick, but unfortunately he lost the chick. We're not sure what happended to his chick, but we did see Common Ravenes, a predator of plover chicks, in the area.
He's now nesting with AY:BO at Zmudowski, a female who nested on Point Reyes Beach (Blue's turf) earlier this year. His new mate, AY:BO, is a pretty cool bird: she flew about 120 miles between Pt. Reyes Beach (her first nest) and Zmudowski Beach (her present nest). Their nest was due to hatch on Wednesday, June 25, never hatched. It's unusual to see Snowy eggs not hatch, but AY:BO had this problem in the past.
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Blue (--:-B)
We call this male Snowy, "Blue," because he has only one color band: a blue band on his right leg. He's a bird with a mysterious past. We're not positive of his past, but we suspect that he may have been banded by other scientists at a beach in Humboldt Co., California (near the Oregon border).
Why is Blue a famous explorer at Pt. Reyes National Seashore? Is he a good dad? Read on and find out!
His first steps on the beach...
Unknown. We suspect that he hatched on a beach in Humboldt Co., and was banded by other scientists who study Snowies; but we need to read the special number (issued by the US Fish & Wildlife Serice) underneath his color band to make sure he's the same bird. We'll keep you posted on this.
He arrives at Pt. Reyes National Seashore in 2001...
He was first seen at North Beach in Pt. Reyes National Seashore in early part of 2001.
First nest cycle:
Biologists found him nesting along the shore of Abbotts Lagoon (a short flight to North Beach) with AY:BO. This was really interesting to us because no other Snowy had nested in this special area in many, many years. Their nest hatched only 1 of 3 eggs. He raised his one chick and it fledged.
How many of his chicks did he fledge?
1 out of 1 chicks fledged from his nest with AY:BO
Total of 1 chicks fledged out of 1= 100% GOOD WORK, BLUE!!
He survives the winter and turns ? years old.
Blue was seen on North and Kehoe beaches at Pt. Reyes National Seashore during the winter months.
He begins his breeding season in 2002...
First nest cycle:
Blue was observed at Abbotts Lagoon on March 25, 2002. He nested wtih an unbanded female between Abbotts Lagoon and North Beach, but a Common Raven ate their eggs.
Second nest cycle:
Blue then nested with RB:GP, only a few feet from his nest at Abbotts Lagoon in 2001 - he must really like that spot. Their nest hatched 3 chicks. He raised 3 chicks and all fledged - way to go Blue!
How many of his chicks did he fledge?
3 out of 3chicks fledged from his nest with AY:BO
Total of 3 chicks fledged out of 3= 100% WAY TO GO, BLUE!!
He survives the winter...
Alison Cebula observed Blue on Dec. 17, 2002 and Jan.7, 2003 at Ten Mile Beach in MacKerricher State Park, Mendocino Co. Thanks for sending us your observations, Alison!
He begins his breeding season in 2003...
First nest cycle:
He nested on Point Reyes Beach with an unbanded female. They're 3 chicks hatched on June 14. Blue lost one chick soon after hatch, then another, but managed to care for one chick until it fledged on July 8.
Second nest cycle:
As of July 10, Blue was scraping on Point Reyes Beach with PA:AP. She's a 2-year old Snowy who hatched not on a sandy beach, but on a salt pond on Monterey Bay. Salt ponds are also important nesting habitat for Snowies on the West Coast. This is PA:AP's second year nesting at Pt. Reyes. On July 16, the pair had 2 eggs in their nest and PRBO biologists set up an exclosure around the nest to protect the eggs. Their two eggs hatched on August 8. When his chicks were 7 days old, he moved them 1 1/4 miles north from his nest to the shore of a nearby lagoon. That's a long trip for the little chicks! He has now moved his family onto the main beach, near the lagoon, and likes to stay hidden among native plants in the dunes.
Blue's Soap Opera Summary
| 2001 |
Arrives at North Beach in Point Reyes National Seashore, California. He nests along the shore of Abbotts Lagoon (a short flight to North Beach) with AY:BO, and raises 1 chick which fledges. |
| 2002 |
Survives the winter and breeds again at the Abbotts Lagoon area if Point Reyes. He nests with an unbanded female, but their eggs are eaten by Common Raven. He then nests with RB:GP, rasies 3 chicks and fledges them all.
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| 2003 |
Blue nested on North Beach in Point Reyes National Seashore with an unbanded female. Their 3 chicks hatched on Saturday, June 14. On July 8, Blue fledged only one out of three chicks. Only 2 days later, he began scraping with PA:AP, and by July 16th they had 2 eggs. Their eggs hatched on August 8 and Blue is now caring for the two chicks, which are due to fledge on Sept.4. |
What it takes to be a Snowy Plover biologist
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Challenge #1:
Find the Western Snowy Plover nest
On a big beach there are lots of places for plovers to hide their eggs! So, this can be pretty tough, but biologists learn to look in the right places...
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Photo PRBO files
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Photo PRBO
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Eggs and nests are very well camouflaged, so biologists must walk and search the dry beach sand very carefully.
It's kind of like being a detective who must look for all the clues to solve a mystery!
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On some beaches with very fine sand, sometimes biologists can track plover footprints to the nest.
Wow, look at all the tracks - these plovers must have been making lots of trips to and from their nest!
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Photo PRBO
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Photo PRBO
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Challenge #2:
Protect the nest with fencing
On many U.S. West Coast beaches, biologists protect Snowy Plover eggs from predators using fenced structures, called nest exclosures. Exclosures do not harm the nests or the plovers.
Nest exclosures are 4 feet by 4 feet wide and stand about 5 feet tall. It takes about 30 minutes to set up an exclosure. During that time the Snowy Plovers leave the area or are close to the working biologists.
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The square fencing is large enough for the nesting Snowies to go in and out, but small enough that medium and large predators cannot enter to eat the eggs.
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Photo PRBO
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Photo PRBO
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Biologists also set up signs and rope to protect the habitat around the exclosure and to teach beach visitors about why we use exclosures.
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Challenge #3:
Find out the day that the eggs will hatch
If the Snowy Plover nest is located on a study beach where we follow Snowies very closely, the chicks will be color banded.
Chicks are color banded on the day they hatch. This means that the biologist needs to know exactly when the eggs will hatch, so that she can be ready with the color bands. Believe it or not, hatch date is estimated by floating the eggs!
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Photo PRBO
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Photo PRBO
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By measuring how high the egg floats in water, biologists can estimate the exact hatch date.
Lynne looks closely to measure the depth of this egg in the jar of water.
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Challenge #4:
Keep track of the nest until it hatches
Check the nest at least once a week to make sure that the adults are incubating the eggs. The biologist takes detailed field notes every time she checks the nest. Here's an example:
10:15 am; April 8, 2002: Female incubating eggs.
12:30 pm; April 15, 2002: Female and male at nest; 2 eggs and 1 hatching chick.
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