The Snowy Plovers of Sanibel Island

The Snowy Plover is an endangered shore bird that’s about the size of a sparrow. While there are only a few nesting pairs on Sanibel Island, this island has the only significant breeding Snowy Plover population in southwest Florida. The nest, a depression in the sand, typically holds three eggs. You can understand why it takes most of a day to lay one egg when you compare the size of the egg to the bird. Their excellent camouflage has put them in danger from people who don’t see them on the beach and may step on the nest. Hopefully the efforts of local conservation organizations will help the Snowy Plover population grow.