page_title: Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
section_title: Western snowy plover
hierarchical_section_title: Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area / Plants and animals / Birds / Western snowy plover
caption_attribution_description: Photo by Ron LeValley/USFWS.
context_page_description: The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area is located on the Oregon Coast, stretching approximately 40 miles north of the Coos River in North Bend to the Siuslaw River in Florence, and adjoining Honeyman State Park on the west. It is part of Siuslaw National Forest and is administered by the United States Forest Service.
  The Oregon Dunes are a unique area of windswept sand. They are the largest expanse of coastal sand dunes in North America and one of the largest expanses of temperate coastal sand dunes in the world, with some dunes reaching 500 feet above sea level. They are the product of millions of years of erosion by wind and rain on the Oregon Coast. The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area provides numerous recreational activities, including off-highway vehicle use, hiking, photography, fishing, canoeing, horseback riding, and camping. The Carter Dunes Trail and Oregon Dunes Day Use provide forest access for the disabled.
  Frank Herbert's science-fiction novel Dune was inspired by the author's research and fascination with the area.
context_section_description: The western snowy plover uses the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area as a nesting site. In 1993, it was identified as a "threatened" species by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, with only 68 birds remaining in Oregon. Multiple agencies used a multi-pronged approach to protect the plovers and increase their numbers. Techniques included restoring the plover habitat along the sand dunes by removing invasive beach grasses and maintaining the appropriate structures optimal for nest building. Protection of nesting sites is achieved by education, signage, and beach restrictions during the nesting season from March 15 through September 15. When necessary, these restrictions are enforced by police officers.  Other techniques include removal of predators and accurate population monitoring. As of 2012, the number of plovers had increased to 403 birds.
caption: Western snowy plover chicks
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