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Since the Kentish Plover nests directly on the sand of the beach, and because of its size and muted colors it is a difficult bird to detect, it is very important not to cross the temporarily delimited area, and even try to get as far away as possible of her when she walks or sunbathes
10.03.2023
In 2022, for the third consecutive year, the Kentish Plover returned to nest successfully on the beach of La Mata, achieving that a total of 3 pairs nested, with 8 being the total number of pups that emerged.
The Department of the Environment of the Torrevieja City Council has once again taken the protection measures that were already adopted in the last two years, to try to make the use of the beaches compatible with the nesting of the Kentish Plover ( Charadrius alexandrinus ) in the Natural Area Municipal "Molino del Agua" (La Mata beach). Some measures that are carried out in collaboration with the Wildlife Service of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Provincial Coastal Service.
In this way, operators from the Department of the Environment have established a new additional beacon on the beach of La Mata of more than 400 linear meters that will be removed once the main breeding period of the species ends. Since the Kentish Plover nests directly on the sand, and because of its size and dull colors it is a difficult bird to detect, it is very important not to cross the temporarily delimited area, and even try to get as far away from it as possible when walks or sunbathes.
The Department of the Environment has once again emphasized that one of the main threats to the Kentish Plover is loose dogs, for this reason it appeals to all citizens, in the sense that, although they should not go with their pets to the stretch of beach that coincides with the Molino del Agua, take your pets on a leash to prevent them from chasing the plovers during their games and damaging a nest or harming the defenseless young. Likewise, the beach cleaning service is also involved in this campaign to protect the Kentish Plover.
The Councilor for the Environment and Beaches of the Torrevieja City Council, Antonio Vidal, reports that last year, and for the third consecutive year, the Kentish Plover returned to nest successfully on the beach of La Mata in 2022, achieving a total of 3 couples will nest in the dune front of the Municipal Natural Area "Molino del Agua", located on the beach of La Mata de Torrevieja, having been 8 the total number of hatchlings that emerged, which is great news at the local environmental level , regional and national.
The Kentish Plover is a small bird typical of coastal lagoons and beaches with dune systems, which is endangered due to the sharp decline experienced by its populations in recent decades. In the official regulations for the protection of species of the Department of the Environment, it is classified as "vulnerable", although the Spanish Ornithological Society, in its latest edition of the Red Book of Birds, raised the category of threat to "ENDANGERED" species.
La Mata beach, both for housing a protected space in its central section such as the Molino del Agua, and for being in possession of the distinctive blue flag, must have active biodiversity conservation programs.