Snowy Plover Resting

#wildlife #wildlifephotography #beachphotography #shorebirds #beachphotography
Snowy Plover resting in the break area between the high tide line and the cliffs at Crystal Cove State Beach.
The *Western Snowy Plover* is a small, light colored ground-nesting shorebird with black or dark brown markings on the head and breast ¹. These rare birds reside year-round on the beaches of Southern California (this clip captured from Crystal Cove State Beach in orange County, CA), preferring wide beaches where they nest in the dunes and feed on invertebrates in the surf line and wrack. Unfortunately, the population of Snowy Plovers has declined in many coastal regions due to human visitors who fail to notice that they are keeping the bird away from its nest. The Pacific Coast population of the Western Snowy Plover is federally listed as threatened and is protected by the Endangered Species Act.