SNOWY PLOVER NEST SITE SELECTION AND DISTRIBUTION BEFORE AND AFTER RESTORING COASTAL DUNE HABITAT ON VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, CALIFORNIA

Jamie K. Miller; jmiller@pointblue.org; Lynne Hargett, Julie Howar, Samantha Kaisersatt, Emily Rice, Dan Robinette

Eradication of non-native invasive vegetation within breeding habitat for the Western snowy plover (Charadrius nivosus nivosus) began on Vandenberg Air Force Base in 2009. After adequate invasive plant treatment had been completed, two sections of coastal dunes were mechanically contoured to create optimal snowy plover breeding habitat; one in early 2014 and the other in early 2015, opening up 30.5 hectares of previously marginal habitat. We assessed the response of nesting plovers by analyzing changes in nest density, hatch success, and nest site selection inside contoured areas and at adjacent control sites from five seasons (2011-2015). Both contoured sites showed increased nest densities during the first year post-contouring, but still had lower densities compared to control sites. Thus, it appears that nesting plovers moved into contoured areas to reduce overall nest densities and increase territory size. In 2014, the first contoured site showed increased hatching success compared to prior years and higher hatching success than control sites where predation rates were high. In 2015, hatching success increased at all sites compared to prior years and was similar between contoured and control sites. Further investigation will be required to determine whether dune contouring will have a lasting impact on hatching success.

Ecology and Management of Wildlife on Military Lands