Gros Morne National Park of Canada

Extraordinary Visitors: Endangered Piping Plovers Return to Shallow Bay Beach

What is a Piping Plover?

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. They are sand-coloured with a white belly, which helps them blend into their surroundings.

Piping Plovers at Shallow Bay Beach
© Parks Canada / Darroch Whitaker, 2009

We’ve observed a pair of piping plovers nesting on the north end of Shallow Bay Beach, and it’s important that we create a safe environment for them.  It’s estimated that there are about 44 adult piping plovers which nest on the island of Newfoundland each year, however these two are the first ones we’ve seen in Gros Morne since 1975!  The closest known nesting site is Stephenville Crossing.

What Parks Canada is Doing to Protect Our Piping Plovers

Parks Canada is committed to providing opportunities for visitors to learn about and enjoy their experiences in our special places while protecting the plants and animals in our parks.  In order to make sure that we meet both of these objectives, we’ll be taking the following steps to ensure that both our piping plovers and our beach users have the best time possible at Shallow Bay: 

• Together with the Cow Head Town Council and residents of Gros Morne, we’ll be bird watching, monitoring, researching, and spreading the word about the return of the piping plover!  We’ll be speaking with visitors, media and school groups to let everyone know that we think that this is a pretty special event, and a great opportunity to learn about protecting piping plovers and other species at risk.
  
  
• We’ll be roping off the section of the beach that the piping plovers are currently using.  These areas will be well-marked with special signage and will help keep disturbances in the area to a minimum.  We’ll also be posting maps and notices around the campground and day-use area which explain why this section of the beach is closed.


• We’ll be offering interpretation activities and information sessions so that community residents and park visitors can learn more about this plucky pair and see how the courtship progresses throughout the summer.  More details about these activities will be posted in communities and on-site as they become available.

Female piping plover on the nest
© Parks Canada / Darroch Whitaker, 2009

What You Can Do to Help the Piping Plover

If we’re going to be successful in creating a welcoming environment for piping plovers and park visitors, Parks Canada staff members are going to need a lot of help!  Here are some ways you can get out and get involved in plover protection: 

• Respect the signs:  stay out of areas of the beach that are closed for the piping plover, and keep your dog on a leash at all times. 
• If you see a bird that you think may be a piping plover, give it lots of space and stay close to the tide line.  That way you’ll avoid disturbing the adults or walking on a nest in the upper beach.   
• Remember to take any litter home with you that you may have brought to the beach as litter can attract predators to the area.
• Share what you know with friends and family and then get in touch!  We’d love to talk with you about how we can celebrate the piping plover’s return!

Male piping plover near the nest.
© Parks Canada / Darroch Whitaker, 2009

More Information

Would you like to know more about the piping plover and what you can do to help protect our Shallow Bay plovers?  Read more here, call us at 709-458-2417, or come visit our park interpreters at Shallow Bay campground!