Ruth Ann Angus
Sempra Energy Foundation
Award Check
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Don't Tread On Me
by Ruth Ann Angus
To say that Snowy Plovers have a serious problem when it comes to nesting is an understatement. What sensible bird would pick the flat open beach to carve a little depression in the sand and lay an egg in it? How safe could that be? Not very. But this is just what the Western Snowy Plover does every year.
From March through September Snowy Plovers are present on the beaches of the Central Coast trying in vain to raise the next generation. They are one of the smallest shorebirds you may see and can easily be missed as they hunker down in their nests. Any number of things can and do disturb them in their yearly mating chores – people on the beach, dogs running loose, even dogs on a leash, kites flying overhead, crows, bike riding, horseback riding. All of these things and more threaten the success of bringing new chicks to life.
Snowy Plovers were listed as a threatened species in 1993 by the federal government when they found population numbers decreasing drastically. Since then many efforts have been put forth to help these wonderful small birds.
Not the least of these efforts has been the ongoing campaign by Morro Coast Audubon Society. Since 2001 the Habitat Conservation and Plover Recovery Program has been instrumental in educating the public about the plight of the plover. Dedicated volunteers present programs to school students, residents, and tourists on the importance of habitat conservation and being more environmentally aware. Each year nesting sites are monitored and data collected as to the success or failure of the breeding season.
This year the program is greatly assisted by a $25,000 grant from the Sempra Energy Foundation. The award comes through the Foundation’s Environmental Champions Award Initiative that has awarded one million dollars in grants to 30 Southern California non-profit groups that focus on natural resource protection and conservation, environmental education, and environmental health and safety.
"We’re excited to partner with Morro Coast Audubon Society because protecting plover habitat also provides habitat to the thousands of migratory shorebirds that come to Morro Bay to rest and feed," said Valerie Lertyaovarit, Corporate Community Relations Manager for Sempra Energy.
This grant money will help support the plover outreach booth this summer on Morro Strand State Beach that the Audubon maintains. Volunteers will man the booth and have spotting scopes available for people to see the birds up close. There will be plover pictures and fun facts about the little birds available as well as other education information. A new "dog on a leash" map created by the Morro Coast Audubon and the City of Morro Bay will be there too for dog owners. "The key to environmental stewardship is education," said Stephanie Little, Education Chair for MCAS. "We’re just trying to make people more aware of the importance of conservation."
Morro Coast Audubon’s Snowy Plover outreach program was in danger this year by drastic cuts facing California. "Sempra’s grant came at a perfect time," said Christy Holmes, MCAS President. "We are very grateful that Sempra management saw a unique opportunity to assist this excellent program."
Nesting Snowy Plovers
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