COAL OIL POINT RESERVE

University of California, Santa Barbara
Natural Reserve System

Snowy Plovers at Coal Oil Point Reserve, March 23, 2005

The Snowy Plover is a threatened species, mainly due to loss of its preferred breeding habitat, the beach. Coal Oil Point Reserve, with its sandy beach, sand dunes, and adjacent estuary mouth is one of a few choice west coast locations where the snowy plovers can breed and thrive. But they must compete for the beach with beach users, unleashed dogs, and predators like crows. Without help, the plovers lose. With public education and symbolic fences the plovers at UCSB made a come back. Please click on the topics below to read about how it is working, and how you can help.

Coal Oil Point Links

Why Protect Snowy Plovers?

Population Status at COPR

Snowy Plover Docent Program

Management Plan: Plover Protection (You may view and print this and other "pdf" pages with Adobe Acrobat Reader. To download a free copy from Adobe, click her)

Plover Docent Training Manual

Article: Habitat Use and Plovers (pdf file)

Article: Disturbances to Plovers (pdf file)

Snowy Plover Chicks, May 2005 (Quick Time Move 2.24MB)

Other snowy Plover Links

Friends of the Dunes: Snowy Plovers

California Audubon Plover Page

Plover pictures by Callie Bowdish