Sharing the Bay with Snowy Plovers
Published June 6, 2025
At first glance, the salt flats and stormwater retention basins ringing the San Francisco Bay may seem stark compared to nearby tidal marshes. But a closer look reveals movement: a sand-colored blur scurrying along the salt-crusted ground, making a distinctive “tu-wheet” call. This unassuming bird is the Western snowy plover (Anarhynchus nivosus nivosus), a federally threatened shorebird whose survival is tied to these rare habitats.
Historically, much of their Pacific coast population nested on wide, unvegetated ocean beaches. However, in the Bay Area, plovers adapted to make use of the region’s network of former industrial salt evaporation ponds and stormwater retention basins. Today, many of these lands are repurposed for conservation and restoration.
Stevens Creek Shoreline Nature Study Area, which Midpen manages with plovers in mind, is part of a larger stormwater retention basin for NASA’s Moffett Field. At Stevens Creek Shoreline, Midpen’s targeted habitat enhancement efforts are making a difference for plovers. By patrolling to prevent trespassing and placing oyster shells to aid in nest concealment, Midpen is creating the conditions that plovers need to breed and thrive.
To help educate the public, Midpen has partnered with artist and naturalist Obi Kaufmann, author and illustrator of the California Field Atlas series, to spread the word about how these threatened birds survive in the Bay Area, and what people can do to help them.
“Humans can have a significant impact on plover populations, even unintentionally,” said Midpen Wildlife Biologist Karine Tokatlian. “Educating the public about the importance of staying on trails, keeping dogs leashed and respecting nesting areas is key to ensuring these birds have the space they need to thrive.”
Natural predators like ravens, gulls, foxes and raptors as well as domestic and feral cats also pose constant threats to these ground-nesting birds. Plover breeding season begins in early spring and runs through the summer. Rather than building elaborate nests, snowy plovers make simple scrapes in the ground. Their eggs, speckled and small, blend in well with the bare earth. Often, they nest near oyster shells or other natural debris that further conceal their vulnerable clutches.
Western snowy plovers are masters of camouflage, perfectly suited to life in open, sandy terrain. Their plumage — white on their underbellies and tan across their backs — blends almost seamlessly with the pond bottoms, making them almost invisible against the dry ground. Midpen is working to help ensure they don’t disappear entirely from our region.