It’s nesting season for a number of bird species that nest on the ground, including killdeer, least terns and black-necked stilts. These nests are most common on mudflats around our salt ponds. Because the nests are unprotected, camouflage is the primary defense mechanism. Many of the nests are just a small depression in the sand or mud, with hard-to-see eggs. Likewise, the young chicks are also highly dependent on camouflage, as you can see from these black-necked stilt chicks.
There are many risks to these ground-nesting birds that the average person cannot control: rising water levels can inundate nests, and predators like rats and mongoose can eat the eggs or the chicks. What we can do is avoid, or be very careful, walking around mudflat areas during this season. I would also encourage anyone who walks a dog in these areas to keep them on a leash during this season.
