Plovers saved from ‘stranger danger’
The area was cordoned off in the hope that it would stop people and their dogs from disturbing or even squashing the eggs.
While enjoying a stroll along the well maintained and picturesque Ramsgate Ramble trail between Ramsgate and Southbroom, you will notice an area near Shirley’s Point very noticeably cordoned off with danger tape.
There, lying vulnerably in the centre of this area, is a mother or father white-fronted plover, diligently incubating two tiny and very camouflaged eggs.
A few days ago, veteran South Coast conservationist Dave Halle was walking along the trail and spotted the eggs after initially noticing the distracting ‘injured bird’ display plover parents do to distract predators from their treasured eggs.
These birds make their nests by scraping a slight indentation into the beach sand and sometimes even line it with small pieces of shell above the hightide marker, even up into the dunes.
They lay one to three eggs which are incubated for about 30 days by both the male and the female.
Dave couldn’t sleep after making this discovery and the next day, with the help of some friends, cordoned off the area and put up a sign in the hope that it would stop people and their dogs from disturbing or even squashing the eggs.
If you are walking along this trail please be mindful and respectful of this area and hopefully within a month, ramblers will be able to see two fledglings with their parents.
If anyone would like to more information or has noticed anything around this nesting site please contact Dave on 082 3004283.
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