Friday the 13th Update with a 14th Addendum

Friday August 13 -- Our official monitoring has wrapped up, but I, like many other volunteers, can’t stay away from Montrose as long as any Piping Plover is in residence. Both chicks are over a month old now and are showing growing signs of independence. Monty seems to have completed his parenting duties and to be focusing on feeding and increasing his fat storage before his long trip back to Texas. I wouldn’t be surprised if he takes off with the next decent Northern winds! I make sure to tell him how much I love him and to thank him each time I see him.

Monty on August 13, looking ready for the long flight south, and starting to turn into non-breeding plumage. Note the all black bill. Photo credit: Tamima Itani.

Siewka’s two-day hatch delay compared to Imani is evident, be it with shorter flights, or adorable tail feathers that still look like they came from the feather duster that was the companion of the first hours at the zoo. That said, Siewka is healthy, independent, roams the beach feeding, navigates through gulls and is taking flights that increase in length every day. Downy feathers are still visible on the chest area. Laurel Ross and I were on the beach early this morning and Siewka came straight at us to greet us, melting us and making us giggle at the cuteness.

Check out those little feather duster feathers on Siewka’s tail! Photo credit: Tamima Itani.

Siewka having a splendid day at the beach. Photo credit: Sara Verhaeghe.

With the heat we had earlier in the week, the plovers chose to cool down by taking baths. Ann Gunkel captured these fun moments in the water on August 10.

Imani and Monty bathing. Photo credit Ann Gunkel.

Siewka bathing. Photo credit: Ann Gunkel.

Both Imani and Siewka are demonstrating what will be very important lifelong skills. I’ve observed both routinely tilt their heads sideways to check the sky for predators. Just this morning, there were 3 Kestrels roaming the protected beach and a Peregrine Falcon made a brief visit the previous day. I also witnessed Siewka independently flatten in the sand when a Kestrel appeared on the beach, without prior warning from Dad Monty.

Imani checking the sky for predators. Photo credit: Tamima Itani.

Siewka flattens on the sand at Montrose Beach, upon the appearance of an American Kestrel. Photo credit: Tamima Itani.

Imani’s growing independence led them to a foray inside the Dog beach this morning. Worried, I gently walked them out of the dog beach, not once, not twice, but three times! Each time, Imani scurried out of the dog beach onto the public beach then reversed course, flew past me and went straight back to the dog beach! Little trickster! It took a dog running along the shoreline on the dog beach to convince Imani it was time to fly back to the east end of the public beach.

Imani at the Dog Beach. Photo Credit: Tamima Itani.

I got to spend a lot of “quality time” with Imani and Siewka. They are home at Montrose, among gulls, shorebirds, humans and dogs. Sometimes they feed alongside each other, often they are apart, each doing their own thing. Each day will see an improvement in flight and survival skills, and soon they will be ready to do forays outside the confines of Montrose Point.

August 14 Update -- I did not have the opportunity to go to Montrose today, and did not check eBird until this afternoon. Kevin Lin, who birds Montrose frequently and is very in tune with our little plover family reported the following on his eBird checklist from this morning:

“Monty and 2 chicks on the public beach - at about 7:15am, we saw a shorebird take flight from the beach, that we suspect may have been Monty, flying northeast out over the lake and then turning southeast around the end of the fishing pier. Monty was not seen the rest of the morning.”

Sure enough, all subsequent eBird checklists report only the two Piping Plover chicks. We have been tricked before, with Monty or Rose taking a trip away for a few days then returning. Maybe it’s their way to find out if the rest of the family is OK without them. If this was the start of Monty’s flight back to Texas, my heartfelt wishes to him for a safe flight. Miles and miles of beach will await him at Bolivar Flats and Galveston beach, while we start counting the days until he and Rose return to us. Thank you Monty for another season with us, you have so patiently taken care of your chicks, and while fate had it that one clutch of eggs and two chicks would be lost, you made sure Imani and Siewka were well cared for and learned the skills they need to be independent. Love you Monty!

Monty, August 13. Photo credit: Tamima Itani