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mielemai
The nearest snowy plover habitat is in the dunes of Sands beach off Deveraux slough.
There are actually 2 nearer , both eBird hot spots, with up to 50 in late Dec. at the Mission Creek Outfall and at least 20 yesterday at East Beach.
Possibly farther north, I believe I remember seeing that sort of sign around either Jalama or Gaviota?
Probably from Surf Beach… crazy that the sign post was still attached to make it all the way down here.
The beaches at Surf and around VAFB are posted off-limits to people annually from March 1 to September 30, because the snowy plover is an endangered species and won’t stop breeding on the ground instead of in trees. You can’t make this stuff up.
UCSB Snowy Plover habitat, Sands Beach/Coal Oil Point.
Female plovers lay the eggs on the ground in a nice little nest and then she takes off for greener pastures (Cabo?). The male/daddy sits on the eggs and raises the chicks until they fledge. Before they fledge, they run along by daddy and often will hide under him for protection. Geese pick feathers from their breasts and make a nice downy bed for their eggs. Most ducks, geese, and quail like the ground for nesting. Burrowing owls often nest and roost in the ground burrows made by ground squirrels. Please have a heart and help protect all of them. BTY, when you enjoy your down jacket or pillow…often it is at the expense, pain and suffering, of a goose.
Lots of angry people up in Lompoc re the beach closures. They sometimes advertise ‘plover BBQ’. Funny, ha. ha. NOT! One of them probably pulled up the pole and threw it into the surf.