Kentish plover: Ecology and conservation of the species
The Kentish plover (Anarhynchus alexandrinus) is a small coastal bird that lives primarily along sandy beaches, in salt marshes, and in lagoons, where it finds ideal conditions for feeding and breeding.
One of its most distinctive characteristics is ground nesting: it generally lays 3 eggs directly on the sand, a behavior that makes it extremely vulnerable to human disturbance, trampling, and predators.
The breeding season runs from March to July, under optimal conditions, it may produce a second clutch. However, breeding success is very low today: in Italy, losses of up to 90% among eggs and chicks have been recorded.
The Kentish plover is a protected species at the European level (Birds Directive) and is currently considered to be in decline. Its survival is closely linked to the quality of coastal ecosystems: protecting it means safeguarding the entire natural balance of our beaches.
The Kentish plover is considered a “sentinel” species for the health of coastal environments and a symbol of biodiversity to be protected.
