Description

This is Minerva, one of this season’s Wilson’s Plover chicks. Named after the Roman goddess of wisdom and strategic warfare, this chick is quite crafty—when we found Minerva, she was hidden under some white beach flowers. When she’s not strolling the beach with her parents, we like to think that Minerva can be found enjoying a game of chess—in fact, (according to her) she’s an internationally ranked Grandmaster, one of the youngest plovers ever to attain the title. Banded on 6/3/20, her band number is 2501-84620.

The Wilson’s Plover is a shorebird species of high concern that GCBO researchers and protects. These birds nest on the sand and shells of our Texas beaches and scurry around the dunes inter-tidal zone finding invertebrates to eat. Their chicks are precocial, meaning that they can walk and feed themselves almost immediately after hatching. Our biologist Taylor and intern Morgan have been monitoring these birds all season, and have gotten to know the parents and their chicks!

When you adopt a chick, you will receive a photo of your chick, and an adoption certificate. Your adoption fees will go towards GCBO’s efforts to research and protect birds like these chicks!