Special Places: Eco-lessons from the National Parks in Atlantic Canada

Information Sheet: Piping Plover

Introduction

The piping plover is an endangered shorebird that nests and feeds along coastal sand and gravel beaches. The adults can be recognized by their size, shape and colouring. They are about the same size as a sparrow, and have orange legs, a black band across their foreheads from eye to eye, and a black ring around their necks. Their body is sand-coloured, which helps them blend into their surroundings.

© Parks Canada / Don Pentz

Population and Range

The piping plover has been on the endangered species list since 1982. By 1996, there were only about 5900 adult piping plovers in the world. They range from Canada to the United States and the Caribbean. They are here in Canada for the summer months – around the Great Lakes in Ontario, in the Prairie Provinces and in Atlantic Canada. In Atlantic Canada, they can be found in each of the four provinces. In the summer of 2000 there were 32 piping plovers nesting in Prince Edward Island National Park, 12 in Kouchibouguac National Park and 14 in Kejimkujik National Park. In the winter, they migrate to the southern United States and the Caribbean.

Nests

Piping plovers usually arrive in Atlantic Canada in April to establish nesting areas and form pairs. The nest of the piping plover is different from many other birds’ nests. Their nest is a small depression in the sand, just above the high tide line, which may contain a few small shells and rocks for camouflage. They usually lay four eggs. Both adults help with incubation and after about 28 days, the young hatch. Within hours, they leave the nest and follow their parents in search of their first meal. A favourite food is beach hoppers (small, shrimp-like crustaceans) or marine worms and insects, which they find in the sand. If all goes well, after about 20 to 25 days, the young are able to fly.

Reasons for Species Loss

• Human use of beaches. Piping plover nests are very difficult to see and are sometimes walked on by accident.
• Piping plovers will stop feeding when people get too close.
• People sometimes bring dogs with them to the beach. Piping plovers see them as predators, which keeps them from feeding. Unleashed dogs have also been known to destroy piping plover nests.
• Garbage, which people sometimes leave on the beaches, can attract predators.
• Increased populations of predators such as red foxes, raccoons, skunks, crows, and gulls.
• Storms will sometimes cause the tides to rise to such a level that the piping plover nests are flooded and the adult plovers will have to “re-nest”.

© Parks Canada / Don Pentz

Defences

To protect themselves from danger, piping plover chicks crouch motionless in the sand so that they are almost impossible to see because of their camouflage. The adult plovers try to lure predators or danger away from the eggs or young chicks by pretending to have a broken wing and then flying away when they have lead the predator a safe distance away. While these are very good strategies, too much time spent not eating, or too much time spent away from the nest, can also be harmful. If the young chicks aren’t able to gain enough weight, the migration will be extremely difficult, if not impossible, for them. Also, if the adults spend too much time away from the nest while the eggs are incubating, they will get cold and won’t hatch.

Efforts to Conserve the Piping Plover in National Parks

• Piping plover monitors begin looking early in the spring for signs of plover activity on the beaches in the national parks where they are found.
• When the piping plovers have established their nesting area, that section of the beach is closed to the public until the chicks have fledged, or grown. Nesting areas are usually closed from early May until late July or early August, depending on the success of the season.
• The plover monitors also check for signs of predators around the nests and if there is a need, an enclosure can be placed around the nest for protection. The enclosures are made of wire mesh with openings large enough for both adult plovers and chicks to pass through with ease. The openings are too small for predators to enter, thus protecting the nest.
• During severe storms, plover monitors will place clay models of the piping plover eggs in the nest and put the real eggs in an incubator until the storm has passed. The eggs are then replaced in the nest. This helps save many piping plover eggs from being washed away or buried by blowing sand during storms.
• A banding program is also in place to help identify the adult birds and where they nest from year to year.
• Public education programs, such as guided walks, audio-visual programs, signage and exhibits, are provided to encourage visitors to help protect the piping plover.

© Parks Canada / Don Pentz

What You Can Do to Help the Piping Plover

• Respect signs and stay out of areas of the beach that are closed for the piping plover.
• Share what you know about the piping plover with your friends and family.
• Remember to take any litter home with you that you may have brought to the beach.
• Learn more about this and other endangered species in your area.
• Find out how you can help through guardian programs in your area, either with Parks Canada or with a local conservation group.

References

Environment Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service. ‘Who’s Who’ Publications – The Piping Plover.

Parks Canada. The Osprey – Guide to Kouchibouguac National Park.

Parks Canada. Piping Plover Monitoring Program Report – Prince Edward Island National Park, 2000.

Parks Canada. Visitor Guide, Kejimkujik National Park.

Parks Canada. Visitor Guide, Prince Edward Island National Park.

Environment Canada Web site: www.ec.gc.ca

Parks Canada Web site: www.parkscanada.gc.ca

Species at Risk Web site: www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca