From time to time, one chick hatches much later than the other, which is called Asychronous. The survival rate of the late hatching chick is not good. Normally all three Snowy Plover eggs hatch the same morning and the chicks spend a couple of hours drying off under the adult and then makes short trips to began feeding. Later in the day, the adult(s) will move the chicks out of the nest site, never to return, as the food supply is in other areas.
I was documenting this chicks struggle 45 minutes after hatching as it pushed and pulled itself through the sand, trying to join the other 2 chicks in the feeding area. The adult, much to my surprise, came back to brood the chick, which made for an awkward composition. In the end, the chick could not keep up and the adult had to abandon him in order to provide and protection and brooding for the other two.
Thanks for looking.
Hugh






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