Saturday, July 12, 2008

Snowy Plover chicks at Moss Landing

I spent some time at Moss Landing and Zmudowski State Beach the other week, and I ran into Dave Dixon, who works with the State Park folks banding Snowy Plovers. When I told him I was interested in the Snowy's, he offered to take me to a nest where he'd just banded two-day-old chicks. Well, naturally I leapt at the chance! He not only brought me right close to the nest, but actually put two of the babies in the palm of my hand, where I could feel their warmth seeping into my hand. It was a spiritual moment. Those little birds were amazing.