Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Snowy Plovers Benefit From Nearby Least Tern Nests

Juvenile Snowy Plover, Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus, possibly part of this years chicks.  Apparently, more snowy plovers hatch and survive when the snowy plover nests are near least tern nests, due to the active protection of the nesting area by the least terns.  The terns will swoop/dive at and defecate on predators, dissuading at least some of the predation.  Snowy plovers are threatened due to habitat loss.

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