This rare bird once nested along the shores of all the Great Lakes, but now nests at only a few sites in Michigan. A small percentage of Michigans shoreline is suitable for the birds and cooperation in these key areas may be the plovers last hope for recovery.
The wide sand and cobble beaches that it requires for nesting have been affected by shoreline development, recreational use, and high lake levels. Piping plovers are protected by State and Federal laws, but recovery of the birds will require cooperative efforts in addition to legal protection.
The Great Lakes population of piping plover is one of the most endangered populations of birds in North America. Only 23 nesting pairs of Great Lakes piping plovers were found in 1996 (three near Grand Marais). This is a considerable increase from the low of only 12 nesting pairs in 1990, and the largest number of nesting pairs in 17 years. Researchers are cautiously optimistic that the increase in young plovers may result in more breeding adults in future years.
The publics help is needed to make this nesting season successful. People can help by cooperating with protection efforts near nesting sites and notifying resource agencies about sightings of piping plovers, nests, or chicks. Cooperative beach users, landowners, and volunteers have been instrumental in protecting nesting plovers in past years. They have carefully monitored nesting birds and have informed many of their neighbors and other beach users about piping plovers and how to avoid disturbing them.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) can help landowners protect plovers that nest on private property. For example, wire exclosures to keep raccoons, skunks, crows, pets, and other animals away from the nest can be put up (with the landowners permission) to increase the survival of nesting plovers and their eggs. Signs also can be provided and posted (with permission) to let other beach users know that piping plovers are in the area.
The following are common reasons for piping plover nesting failures in shoreline areas with high levels of human use:
. Frequent disturbance from people and their pets cause piping plovers to abandon nests and avoid nesting in otherwise suitable habitat.2. Dogs and cats may damage eggs and kill plover chicks if allowed to run free in plover nesting areas. Chicks cannot fly for about a month after hatching and are easy prey for free roaming pets. Pets are suspected of killing two chicks near Grand Marais in 1996.
. Piping plover nests and eggs are well camouflaged and may unintentionally be crushed by people walking, or driving off-road vehicles in the nesting areas.
4. Garbage and litter left on beaches attract gulls, crows, raccoons, and other predators that prey on piping plovers or their eggs. Garbage should be kept in containers that predators and pets cannot get into and please do not feed gulls or crows during the summer.
People and piping plovers can coexist on Michigans beaches if a few simple precautions are taken to minimize disturbance to nesting birds. Cooperation in controlling pets until the young birds can fly (usually mid to late July) will help piping plover populations and other wildlife and will be appreciated by neighbors and other beach users.
Continued support of piping plover recovery from agencies, universities, organizations, landowners, and public citizens is necessary to ensure the survival of one of Michigans most endangered species.
The piping plover and the open beach habitat it requires are a part of what makes Michigan unique. These rare resources belong to all of us.
Please call the Fish and Wildlife Services East Lansing Field Office (517-351-2555) or the DNRs Endangered Species coordinator (517-373-1263) if you have any information or are interested in cooperative efforts to recover the piping plover.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 93-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses more than 530 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 66 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies. For further information about the programs and activities of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region, please visit our home page at: http://midwest.fws.gov
