A Western Snowy Plover stands on a California beach surrounded by small debris, including a red and white stuffed teddy bear. Photo: Alecia Smith/Audubon California

Western Snowy Plovers in California

Protecting the coastline’s cutest residents

A Western Snowy Plover stands on a California beach surrounded by small debris, including a red and white stuffed teddy bear. Photo: Alecia Smith/Audubon California

The Western Snowy Plover is a small, threatened shorebird—about the size of a sparrow—that nests along the Pacific Coast from Oregon to California. From March through September, these birds lay their tiny, sand-colored eggs on beaches, peninsulas, and estuaries, often using natural debris like kelp, driftwood, and shells to create their nests.

Audubon California and local Audubon chapters are devoted to the protection and recovery of this adorable shorebird. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive resource for information, education and community involvement. For the public, we hope to encourage people to learn about plovers and how they can help save them and their habitat. For public agencies, organizations and landowners involved with plover recovery, we aim to promote communication and partnerships that will make recovery efforts more effective.

Threats to the Western Snowy Plover

Western Snowy Plover. Photo: Alecia Smith/Audubon California

Plovers face natural predators like falcons, raccoons, and coyotes—but human activity poses one of the biggest threats. Vehicles, unleashed dogs, and even flying kites can startle plovers, causing them to abandon their nests. Without protection, their eggs can be lost to predators, buried in shifting sand, or left unhatched.

Want to make a difference? When we "Share the Shore," we can enjoy the beach while giving plovers the space they need to nest safely. Here’s how: