Sunday, March 26, 2006

The Great Piping Plover Pursuit



Mr. Pop has to go to Volusia County to do a little birding. His company has been hired to do a survey of piping plovers, a small shorebird that is federally protected. These little guys winter in Florida, where they feed and store up energy for their trip back north this spring to nest. A section of beach around the Ponce de Leon Inlet has been designated as critical habitat. It is also the site for a planned navigation project. Mr. Pop is going to determine how many plovers are currently utilizing that habitat in order to assess the effects of the project.

So, I’m going too. Who could pass up a chance to go and look for little plovers on the beach? I will be away from my computer until sometime Friday. Okay, sure I get to enjoy spending three nights in a lovely bed and breakfast in that area, but to quote the president, looking for piping plovers while walking on a sunny beach is “hard work”.

You guys to be sweet to one another and let me know if I miss anything while I’m away. See you late Friday or early Saturday.

I’ll miss you!

26 Comments:

Blogger Unknown said...

how wonderful!

March 27, 2006 2:27 AM  
Blogger Yukkione said...

Have a swell time!

March 27, 2006 3:53 AM  
Blogger Shutterwi said...

Can I come along and help count the piping plovers on the sunny beach? Please please. Pretty please.

We saw the first Killdeer yesterday.

Have fun work hard but....play harder!

Have a cold refreshment for me.

March 27, 2006 5:43 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh PoP, you lucky dog...I hope you're taking Murphy.
I love walking the beaches in Southern Maine and watching all the little shore birds running in the surf.
Have a great time!

March 27, 2006 5:53 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

don't these birds migrate up to the Delaware coast?

Maybe I'm thinking of a different bird.

Regardless, Enjoy!

March 27, 2006 6:22 AM  
Blogger pissed off patricia said...

Murphy is staying with his favorite baby sitter who has three white French poodles. He'll have old pals to hang around with. And Fred the Cat will be with his own favorite sitter. Mom and Dad will be free to travel, look for little piping plovers and have fun without any obligations. You all know I love my "fur kids" but I must admit it's nice to have a break ever once in a while. I can sleep late as opposed to waking up each morning about 3:30am to take Murphy out. :)
Late, to me, is any time beyond 5am.

March 27, 2006 6:38 AM  
Blogger Auntie Roo said...

Hope you & Mr. PoP enjoy yourselves!

March 27, 2006 6:47 AM  
Blogger Kathleen Callon said...

Have a great time. I was going to say you should let Wayne know, but it looks like he already does. I knew he'd want to go.

March 27, 2006 9:09 AM  
Blogger enigma4ever said...

Have a lovely time...I used to go to Sanibel and do bird counts..nothing better than checking on our little feathered friends...We will take care of Blogland ....

March 27, 2006 9:18 AM  
Blogger SB Gypsy said...

Have a ball on your break!

March 27, 2006 9:44 AM  
Blogger Chancelucky said...

Have a great time. IN the meantime I'll pullover for passing plovers when I drive to the beach.

March 27, 2006 11:04 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Nice Snap PoP. Have fun.

March 27, 2006 11:23 AM  
Blogger pissed off patricia said...

I wish I could take credit for the photo, but I can't. I googled "piping plover" looking for a picture and this picture popped up at the top of the page.

March 27, 2006 11:55 AM  
Blogger Rory Shock said...

have a beautiful time ... hey I do similar work ...

March 27, 2006 6:14 PM  
Blogger Peacechick Mary said...

How wonderful! Look at that precious bird. I would have a hard time naming my favorite bird - each one is my favorite when I am with them - fickle me. Have a great time and enjoy!

March 27, 2006 6:23 PM  
Blogger Gary said...

Sounds like a tough job, but someone's got to count the plovers... I bet it will be nice to be with dad too. Take photos.

March 27, 2006 7:54 PM  
Blogger sumo said...

Enjoy! Take pictures and be sure to share on the blog. And tell us what you ate at the B & B. Lucky!

March 28, 2006 1:05 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

don't these birds migrate up to the Delaware coast?

Yes. They may even nest on the beaches somewhere near Rehoboth or Ocean City or Lewes. I know that there are some that nest along the Jersey Shore, and there are ones that nest on Cape Cod, too.

They have a bad habit of putting their nests in perfect places to get trampled on (or where the eggs can be eaten by various and sundry predators).

Have a good time POP!

- oddjob

March 28, 2006 10:21 AM  
Blogger Neil Shakespeare said...

Sweet gig. I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself.

March 28, 2006 12:03 PM  
Blogger DBK said...

I've been a birder since 1990. We have a protected plover here in NJ at Sandy Hook. I think it's the Wilson's Plover. Never saw one, though. You're not allowed near the dunes where they nest.

March 28, 2006 6:35 PM  
Blogger oldwhitelady said...

Have a nice time. Enjoy the birds:)

March 28, 2006 8:08 PM  
Blogger Kathleen Callon said...

Hope you lovebirds are enjoying each other. I'm jealous.

March 29, 2006 7:36 AM  
Blogger Mark Prime (tpm/Confession Zero) said...

Hope the birds and bees are doing their thing...;>/

March 29, 2006 7:19 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oddjob,

they are studied pretty heavily b/c of the dwindling population. They eat horseshoe crab eggs to fatten up before they take off for Florida. Problem is the horseshoe population has been dwindling. Their blue blood is being used for medicinal research so the illegal fisherman are snatching them up big time.

I think Astra Zeneca is behind the study/medicine.

Thanks for the confirmation.

March 30, 2006 9:01 AM  
Blogger Tata said...

I feel kind of like a cat that just watched you walk around a corner:

Are you back YET? You've been gone forever!

March 30, 2006 10:13 AM  
Blogger Old Dominion Blue said...

Hope you are enjoying your time in Volusia county. I had a lot of good times at the Inlet when I was growing up. Try the grouper sandwiches at the inlet restaurant. Yummy!

March 31, 2006 7:44 AM  

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