Loading Events

« All Events

  • This event has passed.

July 6 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

The Bird Days of Summer: Snowy Plover Interpretive Walk – Nehalem Bay State Park (RSVP required)

When: Saturday, July 6 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Where: Nehalem Bay State Park 

Join Bird Alliance of Oregon Coastal Community Science Biologist, Cara Gates and learn about the endangered snowy plover life history, conservation challenges and habitat. There will be good opportunities to view plovers and other coastal creatures at Nehalem Bay State Park. Walks last 2-3 hours and involve walking on uneven, sandy terrain. We will have a spotting scope but, we recommend bringing your own binoculars, as well as water and appropriate attire for a few hours on the beach.

Other Interpretive Snowy Plover walks will occur on: June 22 (Sitka Sedge), July 12 (Clatsop Spit), July 24 (Netarts Spit), and August 25 (Netarts Bay)

A photo of a Snowy Plover family, two babies and one adult on the beach.
Western Snowy Plover, photo by Mick Thompson

Why Western Snowy Plovers?

The Pacific coast population of Western Snowy Plovers has been in decline for several decades due to loss of habitat and disturbances from development, recreation, and other human pressures. In Oregon, the population hit a low of about 50 individuals in the early 1990s. Subsequently this species was listed as threatened under the Federal Endangered Species Act in 1993. 

Due to targeted recovery efforts in Oregon, mostly focused on the south and central coast, the bird has bounced back to a few hundred individuals and are starting to recolonize traditional north coast nesting sites. 

Plover Patrol engages communities to monitor plovers on the north coast, helping Oregon Parks and Recreation Department and Bird Alliance of Oregon track where Plovers are and how they are recovering to inform management. 

Details

Date:
July 6
Time:
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Event Categories:
, ,
Accessibility Information

You will need to provide your own transportation. Event lasts 2-3 hours and involves moving on uneven, sandy terrain.

Venue

Nehalem Bay State Park
9500 Sandpiper Ln
Nehalem, OR 97131
+ Google Map

Organizer

Cara Gates
Email:
cgates@birdallianceoregon.org