Snowy plovers rescued and released in Monterey County

MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) -- The SPCA Monterey County Wildlife Center announced Tuesday that they were successful in saving six small snowy plovers that hatched from eggs at the SPCA after the nests were rescued from a local beach.

According to the SPCA, snowy plovers are a threatened species and these little birds were able to rejoin their habitat August 9.

"Our friends at Point Blue Conservation Science rescued these snowy plover eggs, whose nests were built precariously on the edge of an eroding cliff near the mouth of the Salinas River," wrote SPCA Monterey County Wildlife Center in a press release. "Point Blue and USFWS biologists monitored the cliff and when they determined the cliff base would soon fall, saved the eggs and brought them to us for hatching."

The young plovers spent one week in the SPCA's incubator before three hatched on July 4 and the other three on July 5, said the SPCA. They also said that the birds stayed in the SPCA's care for one month learning and growing strong enough to finally be released back into the wild.

“The Pacific Coast population of the Western Snowy Plover has undergone a dramatic decrease  largely due to habitat loss, human disturbance and predation,” said Kriss Neuman, Point Blue Principal Ecology and Monterey Bay Program Leader. “The plover is listed as threatened under provisions of the federal Endangered Species Act, which indicates the need for coastal dune and beach restoration and protection along with the valuable work our partners at SPCA Monterey County are doing to support this species.”

Four western snowy plover juveniles were released back into the wild at Salinas River National Wildlife Refuge by some Snowy Plover Guardian volunteers and Point Blue biologists.

"Two [birds] quickly flew off, with a third joining soon after. The fourth plover decided to hang around in the habitat with the killdeer for quite some time," said the SPCA in the press release. "There were adult plovers in the area where the juveniles were released, who were feeding and known to hang around in a flock."

The SPCA is asking people to help support the local snowy plover population from March through September while their breeding season is underway by leaving pets at home, respecting fenced off areas, only taking photos and not leaving trash in the environment.

SPCA Monterey County Wildlife Center says that people can help preserve the snowy plover species through donations to their website at SPCAmc.org/donate or by calling them at 831-264-5427 if an injured animal is spotted.

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