Snowy plovers are small shorebirds that live in coastal areas. As with all animals, having access to fresh, clean drinking water is essential for their health and survival. However, getting snowy plovers to drink can be challenging at times. In this article, we will discuss some quick tips and methods for providing drinking water to snowy plovers in both wild and captive settings.
Why Do Snowy Plovers Need Water?
Like all living creatures, snowy plovers need water to survive. Here are some of the key reasons snowy plovers need access to drinking water:
- Prevent dehydration – Snowy plovers can become dehydrated without adequate water, which can be dangerous or even fatal.
- Digestion – Water helps digest their food and keep their digestive system functioning properly.
- Thermoregulation – Water helps snowy plovers maintain proper body temperature and avoid overheating.
- Waste removal – Water flushes wastes and toxins from the body through urination and defecation.
- Healthy organs – Water allows important bodily organs like the brain, heart, and lungs to function optimally.
Ensuring snowy plovers have access to drinking water helps maintain good health and survival outcomes. Dehydration can quickly take a toll on the birds’ well-being.
Challenges in Providing Drinking Water to Snowy Plovers
While providing drinking water may seem straightforward, there are some unique challenges when it comes to snowy plovers specifically:
- Small body size – Their small bodies have high surface area to volume ratios, increasing risk of dehydration.
- Limited habitat – Snowy plovers have very specific habitat preferences, limiting drinking water access.
- Wariness – Snowy plovers can be wary of novel food and water sources in their environment.
- Salt tolerance – They can drink brackish or salt water but still require fresh water primarily.
- Captive settings – Providing appropriate drinking water receptacles in zoos or rehabilitation settings.
- Migration – Maintaining hydration during long seasonal migrations between coastal habitats.
These factors mean providing water to snowy plovers takes some special considerations. Methods that work for larger shorebird species may not be effective. Let’s look at some specific methods and tips.
Methods to Provide Drinking Water to Snowy Plovers
Here are some methods that can be used to provide snowy plovers with access to drinking water both in the wild and captive settings:
Natural Water Sources
When possible, utilizing natural water sources in their habitat can be an effective approach:
- Coastal ponds and pools – Small freshwater pools near coastal areas are ideal drinking spots if available.
- Free-flowing streams – Slow streams and seeps flowing towards the coast can provide freshwater.
- Intertidal zone – Snowy plovers will drink freshwater in the intertidal zone between high and low tides.
- Dew – Snowy plovers will peck dew drops off of plants as a hydration source.
Promoting conditions that allow these types of small, natural freshwater sources to persist in coastal habitat helps provide snowy plovers with drinking water. Removal of such water sources should be avoided if possible.
Artificial Water Sources
In areas where natural water is limited, providing artificial water sources can be helpful:
- Shallow pans or trays filled with fresh water – These should be placed near shorebird habitat and refilled regularly to provide clean water.
- Freshwater ponds – Creating freshwater ponds or pools near the upper beach area can provide a drinking source.
- Drippers or sprinklers – Dripping or sprinkling systems can supplement water intermittently.
- Water bottles – In rehabilitation or temporary holding settings, small bird water cups or bottles can provide water to individuals.
The key is keeping any artificial water sources very shallow and full of clean, fresh water. Provide small pebbles or rocks for perching near the edges. Locate them away from disturbances.
Captive Care
Special care should be taken to provide drinking water for captive snowy plovers in zoos, rehabilitation centers, and temporary holding:
- Use very shallow, wide water dishes – These allow shorebirds to wade and drink comfortably.
- Refill with fresh water multiple times per day – This prevents contamination.
- Position near heat lamps – Having open water under heat lamps helps snowy plovers stay well-hydrated.
- Add vitamin supplements if needed – Supplements can help counteract stress and rehydrate birds.
- Offer moist foods – Items like moistened mealworms or soaked bird pellets help increase fluid intake.
Careful monitoring of water intake and bird health is important. Veterinary assistance should be sought if birds seem under-hydrated.
Strategies to Encourage Drinking
In some cases, encouraging snowy plover to use water sources provided can be challenging. Here are some useful strategies:
- Start with very shallow depth – Just 1/4 inch of water can work well to start.
- Slowly increase depth over time – Gradually make water dishes deeper once birds start drinking.
- Use dripper systems – Dripping or trickling water can stimulate initial drinking behavior.
- Add floating food items – Adding in a few floating food bits can attract the birds to the water.
- Use textured bottoms – Pebbles or rocks in the bottom of dishes provides secure footing.
- Perfume free soap bubbles – A few soap bubbles can trigger investigative drinking.
Being patient and using these techniques can encourage reluctant snowy plovers to begin using provided water sources. Do not overwhelm the birds initially with deep water dishes. Go slowly.
Signs of Proper Hydration
To make sure snowy plovers are drinking enough, look for these signs of adequate hydration:
- Active use of water sources – The birds should regularly access clean water sources multiple times per day.
- Wet feathers around the beak – Feathers near the mouth will get splashed when drinking and remain visibly wet.
- Urinating and defecating – Well-hydrated birds will produce normal amounts of urine and feces on a daily basis.
- Alert activity – Hydrated snowy plovers remain active and alert in their daily routines and habits.
- Healthy organs – Internal tissues like the heart, brain and air sacs should maintain good moisture levels.
- Normal skin elasticity – Well-hydrated birds will have good skin elasticity when pinched.
Careful observation combined with basic health measures can confirm birds are consuming adequate clean water daily.
Signs of Dehydration
Be vigilant for any of these signs that snowy plovers may be becoming dehydrated:
- Lethargy or weakness – Birds may become listless and weak as dehydration sets in.
- Wrinkled skin – Dehydrated birds may have wrinkled, dry looking skin.
- Sunken eyes – Eyes may appear recessed if severely dehydrated.
- Inelastic skin – Skin may not snap back when pinched on a dehydrated bird.
- Reduced urination/feces – Dehydration leads to production of less excretory waste.
- Panting – Rapid panting can signal heat stress and emerging dehydration issues.
- Dry mucous membranes – Mucous membranes in the mouth become dry.
Catching dehydration early and taking prompt action improves outcomes. Sick, injured or stranded snowy plovers should be rehydrated under guidance of a wildlife rehabilitator or avian veterinarian when possible. Providing accessible drinking water reduces dehydration risk.
Conclusion
Snowy plovers are a unique shorebird species with specific fresh water needs. By understanding their natural history, being aware of hydration challenges, and using special techniques, we can provide the essential clean drinking water snowy plovers require. Monitoring for signs of proper hydration ensures the birds remain healthy. Simple actions can go a long way towards supporting snowy plover survival. With some effort and planning, we can help make fresh water available to snowy plovers across their coastal habitats.