Cute & pathetic for 5 straight minutes

Marty & Pedro successfully hatched their four eggs in Plover Park yesterday. As far as these things go, it was relatively quiet and uneventful despite the dreadful weather. While managing to delay until the worst of it had passed, Pedro & Marty stuck to those chicks like glue, keeping them warm and dry for most of the day. What champions! By sundown they were all ready to roll, so the family left their caged exclosure for the wilds of the park.

Here are a few moments from yesterday’s hatch’s that give a glimpse into this most delicate moment in the life of beach nesting birds. These things are both so cute, and so pathetic!

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11 responses to “Cute & pathetic for 5 straight minutes”

  1. teribowersd3d2c723cc Avatar
    teribowersd3d2c723cc

    The tumbles… ❤️
    Yeah, kind of pathetic, but soo cute!

    Reply
    1. exit63 Avatar
      exit63

      they’ve gotten it together overnight that’s for sure

      Reply
  2. Awesome Neighbor Avatar
    Awesome Neighbor

    Tipsy, Topsy, Turvy, Stumble, and Roll! Poor babies with those long legs and weighing less than a dust bunny. So glad they have hatched and pray the wind calms and the sunshine greets them soon! Good job Mama and Papa!

    Reply
    1. exit63 Avatar
      exit63

      haha “Turvey” is a grade A name!

      Reply
  3. Barb McKee Avatar
    Barb McKee

    Awww! So adorable! The wind was terrible even for creatures much bigger and heavier! What a way to be greeted by the world! Probably wished they were still inside those warm eggs!

    Reply
    1. exit63 Avatar
      exit63

      it was a rough weekend to hatch for anyone!

      Reply
  4. Birder's Journey Avatar
    Birder’s Journey

    A fascinating video! Thank you so much for sharing this. How long before these little nestlings will fledge and go off on their own, and how far will they venture from this beach if at all?
    Pardon me if it’s on an earlier post, but I’m wondering who placed the fence structure around the nest there and how tall it is, and how effective at keeping away predators? Who is most likely to predate on these vulnerable chicks?

    Reply
    1. exit63 Avatar
      exit63

      great questions. they’ll fledge in a month. until then they have to run around the beach and find food for themselves (they’re precocial)

      when they fledge, they will head to the bahamas for the winter. some will stop short in florida, maybe carolinas, but the bahamas is the destination for piping plover.

      the exclosures are put up by NJ Fish & Wildlife. they are about four feet high. they do keep predators away from the eggs, but they can backfire too. if a crow or a fox key into what’s going on inside, they can be devastating and even result in the death of the adults. this is why i’m working so hard at hatch, using cameras, flashers, etc, to not just understand when and why this happens, but hopefully to prevent it!

      overall exclosures are a win in my eyes, but we have to take an extra responsibility on to make them as safe as possible. crows, gulls, owls, mink, fox, coyote, raccoons, and even crabs are predators of piping plover eggs and/or chicks.

      Reply
      1. Birder's Journey Avatar
        Birder’s Journey

        Thank you so much for taking the time to give me all these great answers! I’m taking a Florida Master Naturalist Program course on Coastal Systems soon and am eager to learn more about shorebirds.

      2. exit63 Avatar
        exit63

        that’s wonderful!

  5. Avatar
    Anonymous

    Poor little escapeable! Not much room under there.

    Reply

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