Coal Oil Point Reserve

In 2017, we continued with the monitoring of the Western Snowy Plover population at Coal Oil Point Reserve as in previous years. The count of wintering plovers was the second lowest recorded since monitoring began in 2001. The breeding population remained stable at approximately 20 pairs and the number of chicks that fledged was higher than average. This year, weather affected nest fate more than predation. The rate of infertile eggs was higher than average. All plover nesting activity occurred on the beach. For the first time since 2007, there were no nests on the mudflats of the slough.