2008 Annual Monitoring Report (pdf 10.9MB) - Bolsa Chica ...
2008 Annual Monitoring Report (pdf 10.9MB) - Bolsa Chica ...
2008 Annual Monitoring Report (pdf 10.9MB) - Bolsa Chica ...
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<strong>Bolsa</strong> <strong>Chica</strong> Lowlands Restoration <strong>Monitoring</strong><br />
<strong>2008</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong><br />
Western Snowy Plover<br />
The complete <strong>2008</strong> results for the western snowy plover breeding season at <strong>Bolsa</strong> <strong>Chica</strong> can be read in<br />
the annual report (Knapp and Peterson <strong>2008</strong>)(Appendix 1-G).<br />
The western snowy plover initiated its first nest on March 17, <strong>2008</strong> and the last nest hatched on August<br />
9. The plovers nested on STI, NS1, NS3, and a number of zones within the Seasonal Ponds (Table 1-<br />
23). A total of 67 nests were located at <strong>Bolsa</strong> <strong>Chica</strong>. Four completed clutches were 2-egg clutches,<br />
while 61 were 3-egg clutches. The remaining 2 nests were depredated prior to nest completion. From<br />
the 193 total eggs laid, 174 chicks were produced. Two of the 67 total nest attempts were lost to<br />
predators, one on Zone 22 early in the season and one on NS1. These nests were depredated prior to<br />
placement of the mini-exclosure over the nest. The probable predators for these nests were corvid and<br />
gull, respectively. Three nests, one with 3 eggs and two with 2 eggs, were abandoned. These nests<br />
were located on STI, NTI, and Zone 19, respectively. Of the 174 total chicks produced in <strong>2008</strong>, a<br />
minimum of 57 and a maximum of 109 chicks (32.8 to 62.6%) were estimated to have survived to<br />
fledge.<br />
The minimum fledgling estimate per nest (0.85) is slightly below the average (0.95) of the study years.<br />
The maximum estimate of fledglings per nest (1.62) would exceed the previous high of 1.47 in 2005.<br />
Of the 67 nests, 24 nests did not fledge chicks. Of the 19 known nests producing chicks but not<br />
producing fledglings, one brood was depredated by gulls and one brood by coyote. The remaining 17<br />
broods were most likely depredated by red-tailed hawk (STI) or American kestrel (Seasonal Ponds).<br />
There was potential for trampling of the chicks on NS1 due to overcrowding.<br />
Table 1-23. <strong>2008</strong> Western snowy plover reproductive success for each nesting location.<br />
Location Total Nests Nests Failed*<br />
Nests Hatched<br />
(# chicks)<br />
Fledglings<br />
Nest Site 1 37 1 36 (100) 33-83<br />
Seasonal Ponds: 20 2 18 (51) 18<br />
Cell 9 1 0 1 (3) 3<br />
Cell 10 3 0 3 (8) 1<br />
Cell 12 3 0 3 (8) 6<br />
Cell 19 4 1 3 (9) 3<br />
Cell 22 6 1 5 (15) 2<br />
Road 3 0 3 (8) 3<br />
Nest Site 3 5 0 5 (14) 3-5<br />
North Tern Island 1 1 0 (0) 0<br />
South Tern Island 4 1 3 (9) 3<br />
Total 67 5 62 (174) 57-109<br />
Merkel & Associates, Inc. 94