Western Snowy Plover use of managed salt ponds at Eden Landing Complex, Hayward, CA

The South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project is currently planning the restoration of over 15,000 acres of South San Francisco Bay salt evaporation ponds to tidal salt marsh and managed wildlife ponds. Goals for the project include the recreation of tidal marsh while still maintaining the current bird populations that use salt pond habitat, including the federally threatened Western Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus). This study will test whether managing fewer ponds specifically for nesting and foraging snowy plovers can maintain current plover numbers. In 2006, we monitored five plover-managed ponds and seven seasonal ponds for plover use, nest abundance and nest success. While mean number of nests on managed ponds was higher (8.20 ± 10.986 SD) compared to seasonal ponds (4.14 ± 8.017 SD), the difference in nest number between plover-managed and seasonal ponds was not significant. We took data on microhabitat features surrounding nests to understand what features are predictive of nest site selection. Principle components analyses showed that nests in managed ponds were often negatively associated with levees and vegetation and control ponds showed the opposite effect. Proximity to water and furrows were also important, suggesting foraging habitat provided by water and furrows is important in nest site selection. This study is generating important information needed by land managers in their efforts to provide habitat for this threatened species as well as other shorebirds species.