The recent Reading Enthusiasm Is Your Greatest Asset was a tribute to an adorable pair of young Piping Plovers who were so proud of their eggs that they led me right to them instead of away from them as they were supposed to.
It was a positive spin. Yet savvy readers quickly picked up on the more alarming subtext of the post and wondered, “Ok, but what happens when those two lead a real predator to their nest?”
Tragically, the pair’s enthusiasm was shattered when a crow recently destroyed their nest. The loss experienced by pair 5 in Plover Park is a stark reminder of the vulnerability of these beauties and the deep experience they require to hatch eggs and raise babies on a dangerous beach.
No one can say for sure that they led the crow to the nest as they had led me to it, but it was a valuable experience and lesson for them nonetheless. I doubt we’ll see them be so “cute” in the future.
Thankfully, the pair appears to be working on a comeback with a new nest in the works. Fingers crossed. Older and wiser, onwards and upwards.
As we embark on this season of observing these younger birds learn the ropes, let’s remember our crucial role in their protection. Our watchful eyes and understanding can make a significant difference in their survival.
Our greatest liabilities easily transform into our greatest assets as long as we never stop learning.
Say something kind