Hello Birdy

The recent winter flock count of western snowy plovers at Sands
Beach in Goleta hit an all-time high of 312 birds last month—more
than double the number of the endangered birds counted there in
2001. Though pleased with the record count, docent coordinator
Jennifer Stroh cautions that the high numbers don’t guarantee
higher numbers of breeding pairs once mating season begins in early
March. The past few seasons have seen an average of 20-25 feathered
couples bedding down in the heavily protected dunes near Coal Oil
Point. Anybody interested in volunteering as a docent for this
year’s mating season should contact Jennifer at 880-1195.