Recovery poor for Endangered Piping Plover

To: sust-mar@chebucto.ns.ca
From: Anna McCarron <amcarron@istar.ca>
Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2002 17:28:32 -0400
Precedence: bulk
Return-Path: <sust-mar-mml-owner@chebucto.ns.ca>

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Piping Plovers, an endangered shorebird species, are having a hard time
this year. The recovery of this species depends on a successful nesting
season. So
far, it doesn't look good. These birds began nesting on our Nova Scotia
beaches in April and May, and of 25 nests found and monitored (searching and
monitoring is allowed only for those issued permits from the Canadian
Wildlife Service), at least 15 have been lost! Most of these nest losses
have been due to
predators such as crows, or by the high storm tides that have washed out
their nests. But because Piping Plovers may nest a second time, all is not
lost! The later the nesting season goes, however, the less liklihood for
success.
Piping Plovers need our help more than ever this season!

Here's how you can help . . .

If you are going to a Piping Plover beach (which are well-marked with
signs) in June, July, and August, please remember:

 *    Please do not walk along or in the dunes.
 *    Walk below the high water line (indicated by seaweed lining the shore)
close to the water. Predators follow human tracks because they know there
may be a meal in the offing. By walking below the high water mark, predators
are not attracted to critical nesting areas.
 *    Please, please keep your dog on a leash and out of the areas indicated
above. Plovers view dogs (and humans) as predators. They will leave their
nests when predators are near (exposing the eggs to weather) and chicks will
stop feeding until they are long gone (losing valuable feeding time before
they fly south in August and September). 
 *    Please do not drive vehicles on the beach. Vehicle noise causes plovers
to react the way they do for predators. Vehicles can also crush nests and
chicks.
 *    Put your own and other's litter in its place - in a trash or recycling
can. Litter attracts crows, gulls, racoons and other predators to where
Piping Plovers nest, contributing to egg loss.
 *    Please respect the signs posted and keep away from these areas.

If you observe an adult Piping Plover that is behaving as if it has a
broken wing, displaying head bobbing or vocalizing, you are likely very near
a nest or young chicks. Move to the water's edge and observe Piping Plovers
through binoculars.

If you would like more information, please contact me or your local
Department of Natural Resources or Environment Canada office.

Let's work together to help protect this species. Thank you!

 Anna

 Anna McCarron
 Program Coordinator
 Nova Scotia Coastal Guardian Program
 19 Thompson Drive, Wellington, NS B2T 1J4
 Phone/fax (please call first): (902) 860-1263
 Email: plover@istar.ca
Anna McCarron
19 Thompson Drive
Wellington, NS B2T 1J4
phone / fax: (902) 861-3624



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