Executive Summary excerpts:
The goal of this collaboration is to survey managed ponds and other habitats for Snowy Plovers, track breeding success, and contribute to the management and recovery of this species in the San Francisco Bay estuary. During the 2024 breeding season, SFBBO monitored Snowy Plover population size, nesting and fledging success, the use of experimental habitat enhancement sites, and potential predators at eight historical salt production pond complexes in the South San Francisco Bay.
During the Pacific Coast rangewide winter window survey (January 27 – February 3, 2024) SFBBO and other organizations counted a total of 463 adult Snowy Plovers within RU3, while during the breeding season window survey (May 18 – 26, 2024), SFBBO and other organizations counted a total of 321 adult Snowy Plovers within RU3. Over the course of the breeding season (March – September), SFBBO staff determined and documented the fates of 328 Snowy Plover nests in the South San Francisco Bay. Of the 328 nests monitored by SFBBO, 54% hatched, 41% were depredated, 1% failed to hatch, less than 1% were abandoned or flooded, and the fate of 4% of nests was unknown. An additional 66 nests were detected at the brood stage.
A summary of 2024 nesting activity by pond complex or management unit follows:
On Refuge property, SFBBO monitored 62 nests in the Alviso Complex, 76 nests in the Ravenswood Complex, and 29 nests in the Warm Springs Unit. Apparent nest success was 79% at Alviso, 49% at Ravenswood, and 24% at Warm Springs. SFBBO detected 23, 18, and five nests were detected at the brood stage at Alviso, Ravenswood, and Warm Springs, respectively.
On CDFW property, SFBBO documented 118 nests at Eden Landing Ecological Reserve (ELER), finding that apparent nest success was 42%. Seventeen nests were detected at the brood stage.
