Known for their strong attachment to their nesting spots on the beach, Piping Plover often return to the same spot year after year with a level of precision that’s almost eerie. It’s called “site fidelity.” Our own Jimin is no exception.
Last year, something annoying happened when someone planted beach grass all over Jimin’s favorite nesting spot while he was away for the winter (see the reading Epic Fail). When Jimin returned he was so pissed he hid his nest so deep in the dune it was almost impossible to find. Even the fox and crows couldn’t find it, so it wound up a huge success.
Fast forward to this spring, and Jimin returned to his favorite spot and built a new nest in almost the exact same location as his previous one from the year before. But here’s the really exciting part: the coordinates of both nests are so close that they overlap on the NestStory map!
When recording coordinates in NestStory, the GPS accuracy has a margin of error of about two feet and the reading is taken from a few feet away from the nest to avoid disturbing the eggs. So, the fact that Jimin’s 2023 and 2024 nest locations are so close is a testament to his remarkable ability to return to the same spot year after year. Imagine being able to navigate your way back to your favorite spot on the beach after a whole year with that kind of precision – it’s truly remarkable.
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