Los Angeles & Orange County
Western Snowy Plover
Monthly Report for September and
November 2014
Prepared for
Nancy Frost
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
3883 Ruffin Road
San Diego, CA 92123
Prepared by:
Los Angeles Audubon
P.O. Box 931057
Los Angeles, California 90093
Contact: Thomas Ryan
November 10, 2014
Los Angeles County
During November 2014 biologists Thomas and Michelle Ryan detected 245 snowy plovers at roosts in
Los Angeles County on November 28 and 30, 2014. These totals are similar to numbers of plovers
observed in November 2013.
During the November survey, biologists observed and noted the continued presence of a volleyball court
placed in the historic roosting area of the snowy plovers at Zuma, north of lifeguard tower 9 (see
October 2014 report). This is contrary to our recommendation of locating recreational facilities away
from known plover roosts. The seasonal berm was also in place, and appeared to be placed farther
north and in front of the plover roost.
The beach at Malibu Lagoon is very narrow on the north end, plovers are closer to the south end.
The enclosure at Santa Monica was intact. There were beachgoers sunbathing within the enclosure and
the plovers were just north and east of the enclosure and outside of the enclosure, but adjacent to it.
On November 21 volunteer Lucien Plauzoles reported also seeing a lifeguard vehicle pass through the
plover roosting flock, missing one by 20 inches. Captain Scott Grigsby responded that he would discuss
the matter with his employees. However, on November 28, a lifeguard vehicle (129949) drove through
the roosting plovers at well over 15 mph with no emergency lights at 13:26. Plovers flushed and none
were struck, but the vehicle came close to one. We would like to request that the Agency Staff remind
the County of the current investigation of the plovers stuck at Zuma and Malibu and of their
recommendations and the discussion held last fall with the USFWS warden at Malibu Lagoon. It should
be noted that all other lifeguard and other vehicles observed during these surveys were travelling below
an estimated 15 mph. These were observed at Zuma, Dockweiler and Hermosa.
The enclosure at Dockweiler State Beach is intact and plover numbers are down a from past year. No
plovers were detected at Dockweiler Beach LT 58. The survey was continued because Stacey Vigallon
reported seven plovers present near the RV park and volleyball courts on November 16th.
The numbers of plovers remain higher than normal at Hermosa, possibly accounting for lower numbers
at Dockweiler. They are in two distinct flocks in front of 24th and 26th Streets.
Table 1. Number of Snowy Plovers Observed in 2013 in Los Angeles County
Location
Zuma
Malibu
Santa Monica
DSB 47
DSB 58
Hermosa
Total
Nov
2013
91
Oct
2014
24
Nov
2014
58
0
74
61
0
28
254
52
41
43
0
58
218
60
39
32
0
56
245
Notes
Volleyball court placed in the middle of historic roost
and Berm in place
Right-orange/yellow; left green/blue
Lifeguard vehicles observed speeding through roost
Orange County
In Orange County, biologists Ross Griswold, Donna Starr, Rich Boulterand, and Josh Weinik detected 183
plovers on 19 and 23 November 2014. This is much lower than the population detected here in
November 2013 (267) and during the previous month’s surveys (183), particularly at the northern
roosting sites from Seal Beach to Balboa, where year-to-year numbers declined from 225 in November
2013 to 80 in November 2014. Potential explanations for the decline include heavy beach erosion
narrowing all beaches, possible movement to new roosting locations,a new sidewalk was beside the
roosting fence at Balboa, and berms were installed at Surfside/Sunset Beach and Bolsa Chica. If a new
roost has formed, it will hopefully be detected during the beachwide surveys in January.
Again, the plovers arrived at Salt Creek in November same as in 2013. There was a large flock at Crystal
Cove, an area not included in the roost surveys in 2013.
Table 2. Number of Snowy Plovers Observed in 2013 in Orange County
Location
Seal Beach
Surfside
Bolsa Chica SB
Huntington SB
Balboa
Crystal Cove
Salt Creek
Trestles/San
Clemente SB
Total
Nov
2013
NS
16
36
101
72
NS
3
Oct
2014
0
11
34
22
52
8
0
Nov
2014
0
1
5
11
63
20
30
39
76
52
267
203
183
Notes
Beach erosion
Beach erosion, berms installed
Beach erosion, berms installed
Beach erosion
Beach erosion, new sidewalk
Beach erosion
Beach erosion
Beach erosion OY:GG
Photographs.
Photograph 1. Front loader working on the berm at Zuma. The berm is where there the roost was
formerly located north of tower 9.
Photograph 2. Beach goers sunbathing within the plover enclosure.
Roost Maps.
Figure 1. Map of Zuma Roost
Figure 2. Map of Malibu Lagoon Roost
Figure 3. Map of Santa Monica Roost.
Figure 4. Map of Dockweiler State Beach Tower 47 (DSB 47) Roost.
Figure 5. Map of Hermosa Beach Roost.
Figure 6. Map of Surfside Roost.
Figure 7. Map of Huntington State Beach Roost.
Figure 8. Map of Balboa Roost.
Figure 9. Map of Salt Creek Roost.
Figure 10. Map of Trestles/San Clemente State Beach Roost.