Ocean Beach DOG
The Real Truth About the Snowy Plover
Snowy Plover
Charadrius alexandrinus



© Kevin T. Karlson

 The Snowy Plover's patchy distribution, not only in North America but elsewhere in the world, is due to its specialized habitat requirements. Keeping to large, flat expanses of sand, it avoids competition for food in a habitat in which few other birds can exist. Here these plovers, with their pale coloration, are difficult to see even when they run. As soon as the plover stops running it seems to disappear, blending into its surroundings. The eggs also blend with dry sand or salty barren soil and are almost impossible to find once the incubating bird slips off them. Inland, these birds feed mainly on insects but along the coast they also take crustaceans, worms, and other small marine creatures.

description 5-7" (13-18 cm). A small whitish plover with pale brown upperparts, black legs, slender black bill, and small black mark on each side of breast. The similar Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) has stubbier yellow bill and yellow legs.

This material provided by eNature.org.


 © Copyright 2007, eNature.com
The article on the left is a reprint from eNature.org. The article makes several key points that confirm what OBDOG has been saying all along and more:
  1. Plovers, aka Charadrius alexandrinus, are prolific and can be found throughout the world. The self-serving concept of geographically isolated populations which therefore require protection is utter nonsense.


  2. Plovers avoid habitats where other birds and/or competitors for for food exist - certainly confirms why Ocean Beach and Crissy Field are not legitimate habitats for the plover. This also explains why the data seem to show larger numbers of plovers when dogs are allowed to run off-leash, i.e., dogs are most often seen interacting with ravens, crows and common shorebirds, which distracts these other birds from the plover.


  3. Plovers are almost impossible to see whether at rest or when running. We still contend that GGNRA Biologist Daphne Hatch, et al are observing and documenting sanderlings, not plovers.


  4. Plover eggs are almost impossible to find. Although eggs are not an issue in San Francisco, we're sick of hearing about dogs sitting down to feast upon plover omelettes.
Bottom line: This short and succinct article pretty much debunks all of the myths and propaganda regarding the plover which have been used against beach goers and their dogs.