Western Snowy Plovers in San Francisco
“All species, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, are critical components of the earth’s biodiversity.”
– USFWS Western Snowy Plover Recovery Plan -
Before the Gold Rush, a vast wilderness of coastal dunes extended from the Pacific Ocean eastward over much of the San Francisco peninsula. As the City grew westward, this coastal dune ecosystem was consumed by development and much of the remaining wildlife habitats of today are limited to the immediate coastal areas, where a glimmer of wilderness still exists.
Though they currently do not breed in San Francisco, Western Snowy Plovers can still be found in this sliver of wilderness, at Ocean Beach and at Crissy Field, where they reside during most of the year. Both of these locations are now under Federal jurisdiction managed by the National Park Service.