areas devoid of vegetation, it is hardly found more than 50m from the water's edge. The nest is a round scrape in calcareous soil, dry mud or stony ground. It usually has a diameter of 5 cm and is 1 cm deep. Non-breeding Habitat During non-breeding season, the chestnut-banded plover is increasingly found in its coastal habitat. It now occurs up to 1 km away from the water. Diet The exact diet is unknown but believed to consist of insect larvae and small crustaceans. Habitual Threats Two key sites face ongoing threats by the human population. Walvis Bay Walvis Bay on Namibia's central coast, premier site for this species, faces pollution by Namibia's largest port and siltation by a salt works at the southern end of the lagoon. Pollution by the port includes concentrations of fish oils and other detritus from ships. Lake Natron Despite its unwelcoming climate and inaccessibility, Lake Natron in Tanzania may suffer reduced water input in future, reducing the chestnut-banded plover's habitat greatly. An irrigation project on the Ewaso-Ng'iro River and a soda-extraction plant along the lake's south-western shores threaten to use much of the water that would otherwise flow into the lake. Conservation The three most important habitat sites are designated Ramsar sites and Important Bird Areas. Sandwich Harbour is additionally a National Park while Lake Natron is a game controlled area. References BirdLife International (2007a): [ 2006-2007 Red List status changes ]. Retrieved 2007-AUG-26. BirdLife International (2007b): Chestnut-banded Plover - BirdLife Species Factsheet. Retrieved 2007-AUG-26. External links Chestnut-banded plover - Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds. chestnut-banded plover Birds of Southern Africa Fauna of Kenya Fauna of Tanzania chestnut-banded plover Taxonomy articles created by Polbot Taxa named by Hugh Edwin Strickland