Fox-proof cage for Kentish plover nests

Torre del Cerrano : a protected marine area just a stone's throw from Pineto, in the province of Teramo. Six kilometers of beach open to the public and a perfect habitat for various bird species, one of which is particularly endearing. It weighs just a few grams, is a few centimeters tall, its scientific name is Charadrius alexandrinus , and just a year ago it hit the headlines for Jovanotti's idea to use Italian beaches as venues for mega concerts , regardless of the danger this would pose to the coastal ecosystem.

FOX-PROOF CAGE FOR LITTLE PLATTER NESTS

Yes, because that little microcosm of sand, marine plant debris, shells, cuttlefish bones, shrubs, driftwood, and sea sponges is perfect for nesting for this little bird, a migratory species that prefers the beach as a place to lay its camouflaged eggs, no more than three, and which need incubation for about twenty days.

During the terrible months of Covid-19, thanks to the less frequented and underused beach, the coastline bordering the marine protected area between Silvi Marina and Pineto was chosen as a nesting site by as many as 12 pairs of Kentish plovers. This is almost a miracle, considering the concern surrounding the Kentish plover's survival, which is trending negatively across the peninsula: numbers are declining, and conservation initiatives are multiplying in many quarters. A total of twelve nests scattered across the beach, nearly 36 eggs, and therefore as many chicks, were laid.

But nature, as it reclaims its spaces, has cruel rules, based on predators and prey: eleven of these twelve nests were attacked by foxes, with no surviving eggs. Therefore, determined to prevent further attacks on the last remaining nest, Fernando Di Fabrizio, an environmental activist, volunteer, and director of the WWF Oasis of Lake Penne, and editor of the magazine De Rerum Natura, an Italian monthly magazine about parks, animals, conservation, protected areas, and sustainability, intervened. Together with other volunteers, they decided to sharpen their ingenuity and build a fox-proof cage. A heat-sealed, indestructible protective "box," with spaces to allow for the movement and passage of the nesting parents while preventing fox attacks. Furthermore, they decided to monitor the cage 24/24 via a camera connected to cell phones.

A video-monitored fence to prevent foxes on an ABRUZZO beach

Hours and hours of footage, hundreds and hundreds of videos, through which Fernando Di Fabrizio not only watched from afar the miracle of life unfolding, but also made sensational discoveries. First, that fortunately there were six eggs in the nest, double the number a Kentish plover normally lays, but also that two females took turns covering all the eggs with their bodies. This is a rare behavior for these small wading birds, because typically, despite protecting their eggs from the cold or sun, they move away from the holes in the sand they choose as nests if they feel threatened by human presence or natural predators.

For this reason, Di Fabrizio's intervention is all the more important as it informs us of Kentish plovers' unique behavior, reminding us that the beach is a complex ecosystem governed by its own rules, where we often move carelessly. From March to July, we must be extremely careful when walking on the beach or organizing cleanup activities, as this is Kentish plovers' nesting season. Each nest is invaluable for the conservation of this endangered species. Therefore, let's be very careful where we step so as not to accidentally crush the eggs. If we find a nest, however, we should move away immediately to avoid disturbing the nesting process: if the parents stay away too long, the eggs will not hatch.

The project, and the prototype of the anti-fox cage, are in the competition for the 2020 edition of the Non Sprecare Award.

To submit your projects, please follow the instructions here.

DON'T WASTE AWARD 2020:

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