Ask SAM: Mountain plovers nest on short grass prairie

This column is provided by Larimer County Extension's Small Acreage Management (SAM) Program to assist rural residents.

Dear SAM,

What can I do to make my property safe for mountain plovers?

Jason H.

Dear Jason,

Mountain plovers are ground-dwelling birds that breed on the western Great Plains, including eastern Larimer County. The plovers are light brown and about 8-inches long. They are similar to killdeers in appearance, but lack the dark bands across the breast. Their diet consists of insects, especially ants, beetles and grasshoppers.

The Colorado Division of Wildlife categorizes mountain plovers as a species of concern. There are an estimated 5,000 to 11,000 mountain plovers in the western United States.

The mountain plover nesting season stretches from April through June. Each nest usually contains three speckled olive-colored eggs. It is not unusual for a pair of birds to maintain two nests at the same time. The female attends to one nest while the male cares for the other.

Mountain plovers build nests on the ground in areas with short vegetation and about 30 percent bare soil. If you are planting grasses, short grass prairie species such as blue grama and buffalograss are preferred. Low-density grass stands, which might look like planting failures to landowners, can become home to the plovers.

Plover nests are also found in disturbed areas along fence lines or near the edges of fields. Recently plowed fields can provide nesting habitat.

Mountain plovers sometimes nest on heavily grazed lands where vegetation is scarce. I would not, however, recommend overgrazing as a means of helping the bird. The negative ecological consequences of overgrazing, such as erosion and weed invasions, outweigh the benefits of creating mountain plover habitat.

Recent research suggests that mountain plovers and prairie dogs make good partners. Prairie dogs create areas with short vegetation and bare ground through foraging and burrows. Once they colonize an area, prairie dogs feed on grass and keep it from growing tall, thus maintaining good habitat conditions for the mountain plover.

Once a nest is established, predation and agricultural activity, depending on the timing, are potential threats to the bird. If you find a nest, keep cats and dogs away until the young birds are big enough to fly away. Limit tractor and ATV traffic, as well.

To report a nest, to have your fields surveyed before working the land, or to receive more information on mountain plovers, call the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory at 970-482-1707.

SAM

Have a question about rural living? Write to Ask SAM, Larimer County Cooperative Extension, P.O. Box 543, Fort Collins, CO 80522.