Residents in Guardamar del Segura spotted a Kentish plover nest close to a busy beach walkway and alerted authorities, prompting a coordinated response that helped protect the eggs and, ultimately, two chicks. The nest was on Les Ortigues beach, outside the usual protected zones and only steps from a popular access point.
Authorities in Guardamar del Segura and Torrevieja responded after residents contacted Torrevieja’s environmental police unit. Technical teams from both municipalities inspected the site and agreed on immediate measures to reduce disturbance as beach use increased with warmer weather. For a ground-nesting bird, even ordinary foot traffic can put eggs and chicks at risk. Dogs and other disturbances add further pressure.
Emergency Protection Measures
Teams installed a temporary exclusion barrier around the nest, allowing adult birds to reach it while keeping people and animals out. They later added a second perimeter to increase the distance between the nest and beach users. The eggs and adult birds were left undisturbed during the work.
The response brought together environmental agents from the Generalitat Valenciana and the regional Department of Environment. Conservation groups Territorio Natura/Xaloc and Chorlitejos y Patinegros also took part, alongside GESNET Servicios and Guardamar del Segura local police. Ornithologists and naturalists familiar with the coastline joined the effort in the following days, advising on the birds’ needs and habitat.
Risks from Human Activity
The Kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) is listed as vulnerable in the Valencian Catalogue of Threatened Fauna and Flora. Spanish conservation frameworks use different classifications: the Spanish Red Book of Birds describes the species as vulnerable, while the national catalogue of threatened species calls it “of special interest.” The categories are distinct, but both reflect conservation concern. Spanish conservation expert Tejera, quoted by La Provincia, said the plover’s populations are declining and called for measures informed by the species’ biology.
Uncontrolled coastal use puts pressure on the species because it can damage or alter the habitat the birds depend on. The Guardamar nest was especially exposed, near a walkway in an area not previously marked for protection. Dogs and stray cats can also threaten nests and chicks, while repeated disturbance can lead birds away from breeding sites.
In a separate report on Montaña Roja in El Médano, El Día described environmental groups’ concerns that heavy visitation and informal paths had damaged coastal habitat and contributed to the loss of Kentish plover nesting there. The groups also cited erosion and damage to dune vegetation, alongside insufficient surveillance and visitor information. The case shows why separating beachgoers from exposed nests can help protect ground-nesting birds.
SEO/BirdLife says Kentish plovers rely on undisturbed coastal habitats, including beaches and dunes, as well as salt flats. These areas have been substantially altered in recent decades. The Diputación de Valencia also identifies mechanized beach cleaning during the breeding season as a impressive threat. At Les Ortigues, residents alerted authorities, and many beachgoers respected the new boundaries. Their actions show how public awareness can support conservation measures on busy shores.
Successful Hatching and Lessons Learned
Two chicks hatched after the incubation period and left the nest with their parents for nearby dunes within hours. The outcome shows the value of a rapid, site-specific response when a nest is discovered in a high-traffic area. It also points to the importance of cooperation among local governments and residents, with environmental personnel and conservation groups.
Protecting the Kentish plover remains a challenge as Spain’s Mediterranean beaches grow more popular. Balancing tourism with biodiversity is difficult, especially as coastal ecosystems face wider hazards, including those discussed in recent warnings about Mediterranean coastal threats. The successful hatching in Guardamar shows how timely action and community involvement can help protect wildlife on a heavily used shoreline.
