The kentish plover is becoming serene

Journal Identification = NRP Article Identification = 0653 Date: June 12, 2021 Time: 4:42 pm

doi:10.1684/nrp.2021.0653

REVUE DE NEUROPSYCHOLOGIE

NEUROSCIENCES COGNITIVES ET CLINIQUES

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Point of view

Rev Neuropsychol

2020 ; 12 (S1) : 125-8

The kentish plover is becoming serene ^*

Le gravelot à collier interrompu est redevenu serein

Francis Eustache Inserm, EPHE, Université de

Caen-Normandie, Unité de recherche U1077,

«Neuropsychologie et Imagerie

de la Mémoire Humaine», Pôle Formations Recherche en Santé, rue des Rochambelles, 14032 Caen cedex, France

<francis.eustache@unicaen.fr>

To cite this article: Eustache F. The kentish plover is becoming serene.Rev Neuropsy- chol 2020;12(S1):125-8 doi:10.1684/nrp.

2021.0653

I

Beyond the health crisis and its human and socio- economic consequences, this unprecedented situation, by its magnitude, its suddenness and its strong media coverage, is leading to perceptible changes in our relationship to our environment and in our way of life in society. These changes are not only punctual, linked to the COVID-19 period still in progress, but some are likely to be long-lasting. It all starts with a new perception, analysis and evaluation of our way of life, what we value but also what we no longer want at all costs, the essential and the superfluous, new balances to be found in our family and social relationships, the place of work, friendly relations, our sense of freedom, how we feel it, the way we find ourselves constrained or, on the contrary, accompanied by the public authorities in the great choices that do not depend only on us. All these subjects, and others, feed the discussions, the observations and positions being very different from one individual to another. What will hap- pen next? Not everything is going to be decided in a few

∗This article is an English language translation of the following article:

Eustache F. Le gravelot à collier interrompu est redevenu serein.Rev Neuropsychol2020 ; 12 (2) : 251-4. doi:10.1684/nrp.2020.0543.

Correspondence:

F. Eustache

weeks, especially since developments concern the whole planet and multiple problems will arise here and there, partly linked to the socio-economic situation. But all points of view, even the most unexpected, must be considered in this period of possible questioning of fundamentals, of uncertainty, of crucial political and environmental choices.

The kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) was not informed of the lockdown situation because he was in full migration in mid-March when this measure was decided.

But at the same time a great traveler and a passionate contemplative, he is an attentive and enlightened observer of the state of our world and its evolutions. This discreet bird has the habit of first carefully analyzing the situations that present to him – it is a question of survival – before form- ing an opinion, and always with kindness. Let ourselves be immersed in his thoughts on these particular days...

Lockdown: the kentish plover on the abandoned beach

The kentish plover (called in French gravelot à col- lier interrompu; i.eplover with an interrupted collar) is a small shorebird, such as sandpipers or plovers. Some French speaking teasing spirits sometimes ask: “But how does it hold its collar if it is interrupted?” This is one of the good questions, which have not been answered so far, and this text does not provide more answers, but suggests reflections on other subjects. The kentish plover lays its three eggs – not one more – at the beginning of April and raises its young on a beach (on the upper part of the foreshore, at sea level, or between the first plants of the lower dune). This is where it feeds small worms, arthropods, crustaceans and insects.

Until the end of the 19^thcentury, all went well for him and his little family; he prospered in peace on the beaches of Normandy, Brittany and elsewhere. Then the fashion for sea bathing, paid vacations, bikinis, monokinis, burkinis,

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Point of view

Photos 1 to 4. Kentish plovers (adults and juveniles; see text).

kitesurfs, sand yachts, green motorcycles, boisterous hik- ers armed with sticks, beach cleaning, garbage collection, in short the socio-cultural progress of the human species, were almost fatal to him. Long before that, he had been confronted with the vicissitudes of History, had had to face the Atlantic Wall, the landing of the allied troops and the battle of Normandy... not to mention the climatic hazards, the erosion of the shoreline at the base of the dune.

For decades, our lineage of plovers spent the winters in Morocco and the beautiful season on a beach in Normandy, always the same. They had learned to understand humans, their sensitivity, their excesses, their capacity to cope, to build and to rebuild after the torments, which sometimes seemed overwhelming and even irreversible. Our plover was admiring and drew his strength from humanity, he who dug a simple basin in the sand as a nest and makeshift shel- ter. When he flew over the human constructions, from the Mont Saint-Michel to the Normandy Bridge, passing by the roadstead of Cherbourg, the port of Barfleur, the fort of La Hougue, he was full of praise.

And yet, the humans made him go through the mill, as shown in this photo which shows a juvenile, barely out of the nest, under the protection of one of his parents (here, the father whose it is usually the role;photo 1). It was necessary to leave the top of the beach and the dry sand, invaded by summer visitors and bath towels, and wander on the wet sand at the mercy of multiple dangers. When we see these two protagonists, it is difficult not to identify with one of them... The other photos show the prowess of mimicry: the eggs, the body of the adult which turns into a pebble on the beach (photos 2 to 4)... But what a lot of worries, dramas

sometimes, stress transmitted from generation to generation via epigenetics and transgenerational memory!

In this spring of 2020, in the period of breakdown related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the government of France decided to prohibit humans from accessing beaches; their frenetic, diverse and varied activities have come to a com- plete halt there.

Our kentish plover has just arrived from migration:

departure of the shorelines from Casablanca, between the port and the Great Mosque, via Gibraltar, the shores of Portugal, Spain and the beaches of the Atlantic. Now fly- ing over Normandy in this second half of March, he finds his native beach, as he does every spring, but the beach is deserted, abandoned, and similar to what it must have been in the early days, in the paradise of yesteryear. He knows that humans protect him. In past years, some went so far as to build colorful enclosures around his nest to keep out predators or to alert inconsequential walkers. But this time, the measures are draconian since the beach is reserved for him. The bird measures the luck offered to him; he will be able to raise his offspring in all serenity. He is very grateful to the welcoming humans.

Here is a snapshot that is meant to be soothing and reas- suring about the state of our world and that, I hope, will make us all think about the meaning of our lives, in this period dominated by apprehension for our fellow human beings and for ourselves. Somehow, this is a wonderful time:

the kentish plovers have become serene again and, most likely, they will raise many chicks and, perhaps, they will find time to fasten their collars that have been interrupted for too long.

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Point of view The end of lockdown: the plover

on the dynamic beach

A few weeks passed. We are on Saturday, May 16, 2020, somewhere on this same beach in Normandy. Father plover has raised his first brood of youngsters of the year. The three little waders, two girls and a boy, are now able to fly, move at will and join other juveniles, play with the sun rays and the sea spray and run in front of the last waves that come to get lost in the sand. Father plover, who has devoted himself to the education of the young, still gives them some advice from time to time, but they have now become independent and explore the surrounding coastline. Many plover fami- lies gather in the evening at the top of the foreshore or on a sandbank in the middle of the bay. The female left the matrimonial home as soon as the young were born to find another male and thus allow, very quickly, another brood.

It seems that this is for the good of the species... But that is not the point.

This Saturday, May 16, some beaches in Normandy are open again to humans, after two months of total prohi- bition and unusual calm. But the use of the beaches is subject to strict conditions, such as a ban on sitting or lying down, hence the official and regulatory concept of

“dynamic beach”.

Our now serene kentish plover is observing humans with its benevolent, compassionate gaze. He could not have made such a sacrifice, he could not have left the shore for two months, he cannot even imagine it. He looks at the adult humans, who look so happy to go to the seashore and contemplate the sea, as he does every day. And their lit- tle humans who are cheering up on the beach and even rubbing against the surf. Our plover is sensitive to this moment of shared happiness. The Channel Sea took on a turquoise color on this sunny spring afternoon. Everything seems frozen in this scene, in these characters enjoying a prolonged moment of tranquility. Life could be like that.

Our kentish plover thinks humans look like him. They raise their young, they play with them and they look at the sea with wonder. Moreover, to better admire it peacefully, some lay a towel on the sand.

But there, our plover finds again his worried look of the past years (when he was not serene) by seeing two men dressed in blue, of strong corpulence. Their red faces con- trast with the blue of their uniforms. The rhythm of their movements is much faster than that of the serene humans present on the beach. They go from one group to another, and seem particularly attracted by the towels on the ground (perhaps their bright colors?). Their pace is fast, but inel- egant, not like that of the joggers that our plover usually admires on Sunday mornings. Moreover, curiously, they whistle before addressing every other human. But this is not the discreet whistle of a modest shorebird or even the more distinctive calls of the butter curlew or the crested lapwing, no, it is a shrill whistle emitted by a small device that these blue humans put in their mouths. They blow

into this object vigorously, puffing up their cheeks and frowning.

It is most impressive! But our kentish plover does not enjoy this scene and decides to join his little ones who must be at this moment on a distant sandbank, outside the tumult. Flying over the beach and these humans who started to move incessantly, fueled by the frenetic whistling of the blue men, our plover is momentarily saddened and wonders if this episode of quietness, captured during the beginning of this spring afternoon, was not but a furtive moment of grace.

Our kentish plover finds his chicks and a whole colony of ringed plovers, sanderlings, sandpipers, turnstones and other knights on the sandbank a few hundred meters from the shore. They are huddled together to protect themselves from the sea breeze and to stand together in case of dan- ger. Our kentish plover likes this place and this moment, because he is with the others and from there he can see the front of the villas that look out over the beach (photo 5). All you can hear there is the sound of the waves. He thinks of the humans who care so much for him. He sees them in the distance, like a swarm of feverish gnats in the immensity of the beach, but he remains confident that they will soon become serene again.

Back to normal: the plover on the intergenerational beach

After lockdown was lifted on May 11^th, people are still very tightly controlled, but the restrictive instructions have been loosen, leaving the possibility of moving freely, at least within the national territory. In the green zone, of which Normandy is a part, cafés and restaurants have reopened, children are back to school, trains are running, but all activities are governed by prevention measures and all sorts of accompanying recommendations. Older people, especially in nursing homes, can receive their families again and even, in some cases, go on outings with them. After so many weeks of painful separation, during which the few authorized visitors had to stay behind glass, in an improvised visiting room, the families finally get together and share moments of exchange on a beach that has become intergenerational.

We are now in the early summer of 2020. The beach has taken on its summery allure, the sun is at its zenith and bright colors have invaded the space. The blue men are less present and no longer whistle when another human lays his towel on the warm sand. Our kentish plover, on his sandbank, sur- rounded by his children and a few other shorebird families, the activities of humans, really numerous this day. As an attentive observer, he immediately noticed the diversity of generations: parents and their young children, as usual, but also old men and old women. Some stay close to the dike, pushed in a wheelchair, others hold the arm of a younger one before settling down on a beach chair, a deckchair,

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Photo 5. Ringed plovers.

or other inventions that allow them to enjoy the sun and the sea view without being bothered by sand or other wor- ries. Only humans are capable of inventing such ingenious instruments. The older ones are dressed differently, they wear light-colored clothes, without garish colors, unlike the younger ones, and large straw hats. They look good. Our plover finds these old people very elegant; he would have preferred their skin to be a little less white but he knows for sure that the sun and the open air will be able to remedy this.

The kentish plover is pensive and feels tender when he sees humans, young and sometimes very young, who take care of the old and the very old. In turn, the elderly take care of the younger ones, take part in their games or read them stories in books illustrated with all kinds of wild or farm animals. Our plover is aware that he does not know an elderly plover; he cannot even imagine an elderly plover.

Our plover put all his energy into the breeding, education and protection of the young. But then, there is the great jour- ney of migration, twice a year at the mercy of winds that can

deflect the race, confronting it with cliffs or rocks, storms, moments of cold and scarcity, and very often, between departure and arrival, there are many individuals missing – perished at sea – so that the link between families never lasts long and the track of these never buried ancestors is lost.

Yet it would be nice to talk to the elder plovers, who saw other summers, other winters, other journeys in other times.

What an invaluable richness for the youngest and what a joy for the oldest. Humans have this privilege because they chose to take care of their elders; they accompany them on the beach which has become a place of exchange between generations and for our plover pitcher this scene sums up a social life he would have liked to know.

Our kentish plover still wears his interrupted collar. He is thus between two worlds. His is that of the shorebirds constrained by their migration, its hazards, the ongoing dan- gers of wildlife, but what a freedom! The other world is the one he perceives and understands of civilized humans, in whom most of the time is devoted to taking care of others, all generations combined, with other forms of constraint and freedom.

After this most special period that we have just lived, beyond its source and its very nature, its complexity, the choices we have been confronted with in our actions and our positions - the truth is not attainable - the important thing is the determined benevolence that one grants to this situation, towards others and towards oneself, and the reflections that this moment of thought provokes on the future of humanity[1].

Acknowledgments

The author thanks Yannick Lohier for photos, and colleagues and friends for encouragements.

Conflict of interest None.

Reference

1.Eustache F, Desgranges B. Les nouveaux chemins de la mémoire.

Paris : Le Pommier, 2020.