The number of Western snowy plovers in Oregon increased slightly last year, continuing what’s been a major success story for the threatened shorebird as officials begin roping off beach for nesting season.

After two years of slight declines, officials counted 440 plovers during the 2024 breeding season survey, which was higher than the 433 counted in 2023 but still lower than the historic high of 532 in 2021.

Plovers are one of Oregon’s biggest success stories. Their numbers dropped to as low as 55 in 1993 and 76 in 2003, leading to them being listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act.

“With the support of the public and improvements to plover habitat, we’re making great strides in reversing the decline of this species,” said Cindy Burns, Siuslaw National Forest wildlife biologist. “Keep doing your part to understand nesting season rules and to share the beach this spring and summer.”

Beaches roped off to protect nesting for snowy plover

A main reason for the rebound has been the policy of roping off roughly 40 miles of dry sand on coastal beaches in management units that allow plovers to hatch and thrive in peace.

That policy, which started in 2010, began anew on Saturday. Plover nesting season lasts from March 15 to Sept. 15. The plover management units prohibit people and dogs tramping into the dry sand of plover nesting units, though in some cases they can bypass the areas on wet sand.

Sensitive plover nesting areas are identified on maps for the northern Oregon Coast and southern Oregon Coast. Signs may be present at trailheads with additional rules and limits, such as staying on the wet sand and no dogs even on a leash, “to help protect the small shorebirds and their exposed nests during this crucial period,” a news release from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department said.

Reminders for recreation on designated plover beaches March 15-Sept. 15:

• The following are not permitted: dogs (even on a leash), driving a vehicle, riding a bicycle, operating electric-assisted bicycles, camping, burning wood, flying kites or operating drones.
• Foot and equestrian traffic are permitted below the high-tide line on hard packed sand.

Snowy plovers nest in open sand

The numbers of plovers began to improve dramatically following the establishment of the roped-off units, the numbers show.

“They’re a ground-nesting bird that lays their eggs in small depressions on open sand — we call them scrapes in the sand — and rely on camouflage for protection. They need undisturbed time for the young to develop,” Cheryl Strong, a wildlife biologist and plover lead for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, told the Statesman Journal last year.

If the birds are disturbed by people, dogs, kites or drones — all of which are perceived as predators — they may fly away from their nest and put the eggs or young at risk.

Snowy plovers expanding range

Beyond plover numbers improving is the fact that they’ve expanded their range, Strong said previously.

“We’ve seen them expand their range to the north and south. We now have plovers in every coastal county in Oregon. It’s quite a turnaround,” Strong said last year.

One of the new areas plovers have been nesting is the Sand Lake Recreation Area, near the lake’s inlet, every year the last few years.

Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 18 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. He can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6801. Find him on X at @ZachsORoutdoors and BlueSky at oregonoutdoors.bsky.social.