FLORA AND FAUNA
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Photo: Alan Harper
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Photo: Daniel Galindo
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Photo: Daniel Galindo
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Photo: Daniel Galindo
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Photo: Daniel Galindo
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Photo: Daniel Galindo
they have black patches on their forehead, neck and ears.
Females have similar plumage to the males, but the patches are brownish. Snowy Plovers mainly nest on sandy
beaches, salt flats and salt marshes. They make small depressions in the substrate or, in many cases, they take
advantage of natural or human-made depressions (footprints or tire tracks) or animal tracks.
Their breeding season occurs between March and July.
The female lays three eggs and incubates them during the
day while the male incubates at night. They both continue
doing this over a period of 25 to 30 days. Unlike other birds
such as Sparrows and Hummingbirds, Snowy Plover offspring hatch fully feathered. Within a few hours, they leave
the nest under the care of their parents who take them
to safe areas. There their big eyes help them hunt insects,
like kelp flies, and crustaceans, without their parents help.
After a few days the female will leave the family to mate
with another individual; therefore, the male will ensure
that their offsprings survive until they are able to fly, about
28 days after birth.
Daniel Galindo
Daniel Galindo is from Veracruz and Baja California Sur, he has
a Bachelor’s Degree in Marine Biology from the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur (Autonomous University of Baja
California Sur) and a Master’s Degree and a Doctorate from Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas of the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (Interdisciplinary Center of Marine Sciences of
the National Polytechnic Institute). He has closely collaborated
with Terra Peninsular when monitoring the Snowy Plovers in San
Quintín Bay. He loves to go birding, take pictures and share his
knowledge on ecology and conservation of birds with whoever
is around. He lives in La Paz, with his wife Abril and their two kids
Daniel and Nicolás.
The Snowy Plover is one of
many iconic species in
San Quintín.
Help us preserve it!
APRIL 2016
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