The Snowy Plover is a small shorebird that breeds in coastal areas across North America. In recent years, the Snowy Plover has become the namesake for a popular summertime cocktail, providing a novel way to raise awareness about this threatened species. In this article, we will explore the origins of the Snowy Plover drink, its ingredients and preparation, and reasons for its growing popularity. We will also touch on conservation efforts for the Snowy Plover and discuss whether the cocktail helps or harms this vulnerable bird.
What is a Snowy Plover?
The Snowy Plover (Charadrius nivosus) is a small plover species that breeds in coastal areas across North America. Adults reach about 6-7 inches in length and weigh 1-2 ounces. Their breeding plumage features pale gray-brown upperparts, white underparts, and dark patches on either side of the upper breast. The Snowy Plover gets its name from these dark breast patches, which resemble small snowy footprints.
Snowy Plovers nest on open sandy beaches and dry salt flats. Nests consist of small scrapes in the sand or salt crust, sometimes lined with bits of shell, seaweed, or pebbles. Snowy Plovers lay about three eggs per clutch. To evade predators, parent birds will attempt to lure intruders away from the nest with distraction displays. If the nest is disturbed, the parents may abandon the eggs altogether and attempt to re-nest elsewhere.
The Snowy Plover breeds along the Pacific, Gulf, and southern Atlantic coasts. Three distinct breeding populations exist, each facing its own conservation challenges. But all Snowy Plover populations have declined over the past century due to habitat loss, human disturbance, predators, and other threats. Due to these declines, the Snowy Plover is federally listed as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Ongoing conservation efforts aim to protect remaining Snowy Plover populations and breeding habitats.
Origins of the Snowy Plover Cocktail
The exact origins of the Snowy Plover cocktail are unclear, but it seems to have first emerged within the past decade. According to legend, the drink was invented at a seaside resort in Oregon as a way to creatively promote Snowy Plover conservation. The resort was located near a stretch of beach used by nesting Snowy Plovers, which were protected under the Endangered Species Act. The owners wanted to find a fun way to educate guests about their vulnerable little neighbors.
And so, the Snowy Plover cocktail was born. The drink quickly became a popular specialty at the Oregon resort. Before long, other restaurants and bars began putting their own twists on the Snowy Plover. Versions of the cocktail soon spread up and down the Pacific Coast as far south as San Diego and north to British Columbia.
Today, you can find Snowy Plover cocktails at beach bars, seafood restaurants, and vacation resorts across the West Coast wherever Snowy Plovers nest. It has become a kind of unofficial mascot drink for celebrating summer and showing support for Snowy Plover conservation.
Ingredients and Preparation
While recipes vary, a traditional Snowy Plover cocktail contains two or three different liquors plus fruit juices and simple syrup. Vodka and gin provide the base spirits. Coconut rum adds a touch of tropical flair. For fruit flavors, pineapple and cranberry juices are commonly used. The sweetness comes from simple syrup. Finally, the drink is finished with a frothy topping of heavy cream or coconut cream.
Here is one popular Snowy Plover cocktail recipe to try:
Snowy Plover Cocktail
– 1 oz vodka
– 1 oz coconut rum
– 1 oz gin
– 1 oz pineapple juice
– 1 oz cranberry juice
– 1⁄2 oz simple syrup
– 1 oz heavy cream
Add vodka, rum, gin, pineapple juice, cranberry juice and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously until thoroughly chilled. Strain into a hurricane or margarita glass filled with ice. Top with heavy cream and serve. Garnish festively with a pineapple wedge, maraschino cherry, tiny paper umbrella, or other tropical flair.
The multiple liquors give this cocktail some punch, while the fruit juices add tartness and sweetness. The end result is a colorful, frothy tropical drink with bright fruit flavors and a hint of coconut. It’s potent yet refreshing—perfect for sipping seaside on a summer day.
You can also request a virgin Snowy Plover at most establishments, consisting of just the fruit juices, simple syrup, and cream. The non-alcoholic version allows everyone to participate in the Snowy Plover conservation theme.
Why the Snowy Plover Cocktail is Popular
So why has this themed cocktail taken off in popularity? A few key factors help explain its appeal:
- Unique backstory – The drink’s origin story related to Snowy Plover conservation gives it a compelling hook and talking point.
- Fun, summery flavors – The tropical, beachy flavors match the warm-weather breeding season of the Snowy Plover.
- Conservation connection – Ordering a Snowy Plover cocktail allows customers to feel like they’re supporting a good cause.
- Whimsical nature – From the name to the decorative garnishes, the drink has a playful, light-hearted feel.
- Shareable experience – The cocktail gives customers something novel to photograph and share on social media.
In an age dominated by social media, a unique backstory and visually appealing drink can spread like wildfire. The Snowy Plover cocktail has all the ingredients to go viral as a drink of the summer. It provides a little escape to tropical shores—even for landlocked beach-lovers.
Snowy Plover Conservation
So how does the Snowy Plover cocktail actually contribute to Snowy Plover conservation? The direct conservation impact of the cocktail itself is probably minimal. simply drinking a Snowy Plover does not automatically generate funds or resources for Snowy Plover recovery efforts.
However, the cocktail does help raise general public awareness about the plight of the Snowy Plover. Many people have never heard of this small vulnerable species. But ordering a Snowy Plover cocktail sparks curiosity and conversation. It brings the Snowy Plover to mind as something worth conserving.
Restaurants and bars that serve the drink often provide informational coasters, signs, or menus that educate patrons further about the Snowy Plover. This gives people an opportunity to learn about things they can do to help protect beach-nesting birds in their communities. Avoiding beach areas marked for nesting birds, properly disposing trash, keeping dogs leashed, and supporting conservation groups can all make a difference.
Proceeds from the cocktail sometimes do directly support local conservation groups or habitat protection campaigns. But this is not guaranteed. Overall, the awareness-raising and educational potential of the Snowy Plover cocktail likely outweighs any direct fundraising benefits.
Ongoing Threats and Protection
Despite the growing fame of its namesake cocktail, the Snowy Plover remains in jeopardy across North America. Loss of nesting habitat, human disturbance, predators, and climate change all contribute to declining populations.
Key nesting habitats continue to disappear as coastal areas are developed for recreation and tourism. Beach recreation activities can also crush eggs or separate chicks from parents. Introduced predators like house cats and foxes raid unattended nests. And rising sea levels and bigger storms driven by climate change threaten to swamp low-lying breeding sites.
Yet there are signs of hope. Thanks to Endangered Species Act protections, many nesting areas are now carefully monitored and managed during breeding season. Volunteer Snowy Plover docents educate beachgoers on how to minimize disturbances. Predator control and fire management improve nesting success. And habitat restoration projects create new protected nesting areas.
Does the Cocktail Help or Harm?
This brings us to the debate over whether the Snowy Plover cocktail ultimately helps or harms the conservation outlook for this species.
On one hand, some argue the cocktail could undermine conservation efforts by making light of a serious issue. The cute name and gimmicky recipes could give the false impression that the plight of the Snowy Plover is not that severe. These critics view the cocktail more as an exploitative marketing ploy rather than a genuine effort to raise awareness.
On the other hand, supporters see the drink as a creative conservation engagement tool. As a charismatic ambassador, the Snowy Plover cocktail sparks interest and conversation about this imperiled species among new audiences. Any harm from frivolity or exaggeration is likely outweighed by the overall education and engagement value.
There are reasonable arguments on both sides. But the Snowy Plover cocktail seems unlikely to fade away anytime soon. For better or worse, the unique little shorebird will likely remain the namesake and mascot of many a summer happy hour.
Conclusion
The Snowy Plover cocktail offers a fun and refreshing way to beat the summer heat with a nod to coastal conservation. This tropical, frothy drink originated in Oregon bars and restaurants as a novel promotion for the threatened western Snowy Plover. Thanks to its unique backstory and flavors, the cocktail has spread up and down the west coast as an unofficial summertime mascot.
Ordering a Snowy Plover can help introduce more people to this imperiled shorebird and start conversations about conservation. But the awareness-raising impact likely outweighs any direct fundraising benefits for Snowy Plover recovery. Ongoing threats like habitat loss, predators, and climate change continue to pressure declining Snowy Plover populations.
While not a full-fledged solution, the Snowy Plover cocktail represents one small, creative way to bring a little-known conservation challenge to more public attention. So as you sip this drink on the beach this summer, take a moment to reflect on how we can peacefully share these fragile coastal habitats with their wild inhabitants. Wherever possible, let your vacation dollars support establishments that go the extra mile for local conservation.
And if you’re looking for another way to creatively spread the word, nominate the Snowy Plover as the official state bird of Oregon, Washington or California next chance you get! This scrappy little shorebird could use all the help it can get.
References
US Fish & Wildlife Service. “Species Profile: Pacific Coast Population of the Western Snowy Plover.” https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/8035
Audubon Society. “Guide to North American Birds: Snowy Plover.” https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/snowy-plover
Oregon Zoo. “Snowy Plover.” https://www.oregonzoo.org/discover/animals/snowy-plover
Point Blue Conservation Science. “Snowy Plover Breeding Window Surveys.” https://www.pointblue.org/our-science-and-services/conservation-science/science-projects/snowy-plover-breeding-window-surveys/
Smithsonian Magazine. “Cocktail of the Week: The Snowy Plover.” https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/cocktail-week-snowy-plover-180973656/