The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation reported that the 2022 snowy plover nesting season started earlier than it has in the last few years, with the first nest initiated in late March. Five nesting pairs have made nine nest attempts so far, and of the nine nests, seven have successfully hatched out chicks.
One nest was lost to depredation by crows, and one was lost to a tropical weather event in early June. Another nest was inundated during the same storm, but the birds returned to incubate the following day and it eventually hatched two chicks that were 1 month old and near fledging as of July 20.
Of the 17 chicks hatched as of July 20, three had survived to fledging age, two were getting close, and another five were recently hatched and still very small and vulnerable.
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