The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that the western snowy plover is still a threatened species. In response to two lawsuits that charged the plover was not a sufficiently distinct species to merit the distinction, the Service ruled that it is markedly separate from other populations and that it meets the requirements for protection as a distinct population segment .

The western population of the tiny shorebird that breeds in coastal areas in California, Oregon and Washington has been listed as threatened since 1993. The current population estimate for the U.S. portion of the Pacific Coast population is approximately 2,300, based on a 2005 survey. The largest number of breeding birds occurs south of San Francisco Bay to southern Baja. It is classified as a "distinct population segment" under the ESA, separate from populations that nest in inland areas from Nevada and Utah to Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.

The USFWS says the population has made significant progress toward delisting, and is proposing a new rule that will allow incidental "takings" of plovers in counties that have met their breeding bird management goals.  The goal of the rule is to increase public support for recover of the species.

The Service seeks public comment on the proposed rule for 60 days to the Field Supervisor (Attn: WSP-4d), Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1655 Heindon Road, Arcata, California 95521 or by fax at 707-822-8411. 

Lisa Ketcham sent us this photo of a new slide behind Pillar Ridge Mobile Home Park.  This slide is just north of the slide we showed earlier behind the community center.  Google maps has a great satellite picture showing the relative positions of these two locations [Google maps].  These tanks are in the top center of the satellite photo and the pool of the community center can be seen just below it.

Lisa Ketcham

In a battle between conservation groups, the Coastal Commission has permitted the Pescadero Conservation Alliance to renovate a lodge and cabins for up to 63 visitors a day near a marbled murrelet nesting area near Gazos Creek, says the County TImes.

Humans, and the food they bring with them, are known to attract predatory birds such as ravens and Steller’s jays, which steal murrelet eggs and kill their chicks, according to biologists.

It’s difficult to know precisely how many murrelets still exist in Northern California, according to Stacy Martinelli, a biologist with the California Department of Fish and Game. For many years, nobody knew where they nested; the first murrelet was spotted at Big Basin Redwoods State Park in 1974.

On one side was the PCA, the California Department of Fish and Game, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Department of Parks and Recreation. Coastal Commission staff supported the appeal [PDF of staff recommendation] by the Committee for Green Foothills [CGF article on the issue], the Center for Biological Diversity, Coastside Habitat Coalition, and coastside resident Jim Rourke.  Lennie Roberts, of the CGF, predicts that at least one of the opposing groups will appeal the decision.

Click below to read PCA’s letter requesting support on April 3.

Seagulls feeding at the Ox Mountain Landfill ("the dump") are suspected to be the cause of elevated E. coli bacteria levels at Venice Beach, reports Julia Scott in the San Mateo County Times.  The beach is currently posted for no swimming by the county Department of Health.

Data collected along the beaches of San Mateo County over the past 13 years by Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary will help answer that question. The agency has documented an unprecedented, localized seagull die-off just in the area surrounding the mouth of Pilarcitos Creek, according to research coordinator Jan Roletto.

A single day’s survey of a 3-mile stretch of Half Moon Bay State Beaches typically finds 60 to 80 dead seagulls, Roletto said.

None of the gulls are ever older than one year, and they are always emaciated by the time they die, she added.

The team concluded that the gulls were being killed by a fungal parasite, because they were already in a weakened state from eating unnatural food. And they suspect the dump is the source. A few weeks ago, I drove to the top of the road leading to the landfill and I was stunned by what can only be described as clouds of seagulls feeding on the garbage.  The article describes the steps that Allied Waste (formerly BFI) is taking to scare off the seagulls.

Note: The gull die-off occurred last year. There has not been another occcurance so far this year.

Yes, it has been a cold day. The National Weather Service has issued a snow advisory through Friday afternoon for areas about 1,000 feet, including Skyline Blvd:

Snow levels will drop to 1000 feet overnight. Expect around 1 inch of snow at 1000 feet with 3 to 6 inches at 000 feet or higher. Snow levels this low will affect many highways and secondary roads including highway 29 in napa county…Skyline boulevard...Highway 17 and highway 152 near pacheco pass. Expect roadways to become snow covered and slick overnight.

Click "read more" for details.

Don’t be fooled by this morning’s beautiful weather. Another powerful storm is expected to hit the coast Saturday night through Sunday. After a brief reprieve this morning, southerly winds will increase across coastal waters this afternoon and evening. Winds are expected to reach gale force by midnight.

Click "read more" to see the complete report.