Tag: how to help piping plovers

SUPER EXCITING NEWS: PIPING PLOVERS COURTING ON GOOD HARBOR BEACH!!

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

The Piping Plovers have returned to nest on Good Harbor Beach. Last night IĀ counted fiveĀ plovers, andĀ today four!

Above the wrack line, males are creating nest scrapes for females to approve (or disapprove, as is oftenĀ the case). The gents use their back legs to vigorously dig a slight depression. They thenĀ sit inĀ the scrapeĀ and beckon to the ladies with a continuous piping call to come inspect the potential nesting site.

Dave Rimmer, Essex County Greenbelt director of land stewardship,Ā this morning installed fencing around a possible nesting area. We are all hoping that the Piping Plovers will quickly establish a nest and the chicks will have hatched before the July 4th crowds descend upon the beach. Dave’s message toĀ everyone enjoying GHB is that ifĀ the Plovers are left undisturbed, the chicks will have a far better chance of survival the earlier in the season they hatch. If the nest site is continually disturbed and egg layingĀ is delayed again and again, the Plovers will be here all that much longer.

It’s not easy being a Piping Plover. Rest time between foragingĀ and courting.

TheĀ Plovers haveĀ traveled many thousands of milesĀ to reach our shoresĀ and areĀ both weary from traveling and eager to establish nesting sites.

What can you do to help the Piping Plovers? Here are four simple things we can all do to protect the Plovers.

1) Donā€™t leave behind or bury trash or food on the beach. All garbage attracts predators such as crows, seagulls, foxes, and coyotes, and all four of these creatures EATĀ plover eggs and chicks.

2) Do not linger near the Piping Plovers or their nests. Activity around the Plovers also attracts gulls and crows.

3) Respect theĀ fenced off areasĀ that are created to protect the Plovers.

4) If petsĀ are permitted, keep dogs leashed.

The last is the most difficult for folks to understand. Dogs threatenĀ PipingĀ PloversĀ in many ways and at every stage of their life cycle during breeding season, even the mostĀ adorableĀ and well-behaved of pooches.

Dogs love to chase Piping Plovers (and other shorebirds)Ā at the waterā€™s edge. After traveling all those thousand of miles, the birds needĀ sustenance. They are at the shoreline to feed toĀ regain their strength.

Dogs love to chase piping PloversĀ at the wrack line. Here theĀ birdsĀ are establishing where to nest. Plovers are skittish at this stage of breedingĀ and will depart the area when disturbed.

Dogs love to chase Piping Plover chicks, which not only terrifies the adult Plovers and distracts them from minding the babies, but the chicksĀ are easily squished by a dog on the run.

 

THREE ACTIONS WE CAN ALL TAKE TO HELP THE PIPING PLOVER CHICKS SURVIVE

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Piping Plover chicks nestlings -2 copyright Kim Smith 6-13-16ACTIONĀ NO. 1)Ā HELP NEGATE THE LITTER PROBLEM

The number one threat to the Plover’s survival is the trash left on the beach. If you see someone littering, please remind them to clean up after themselves. Explain that we have a threatened species nesting on the beach and that the trash left behind attracts gulls and crows, which will undoubtedly eat the baby Plovers. Additionally, if you are so inclined and can lend a hand, please bring a trash bag and fill it on your way out. I know tons of friendsĀ already do this and it is a huge help. If more of us did it, and folksĀ saw us doing it, they might be inspired not to leave theirs behind. If you see me on the beach filming, I now carry trash bags in my gear bagĀ and would be happy to give you one. Getting rid of the trash on the beach doesn’t just help the Plovers, but all marineĀ and wildlife.

ACTIONĀ NO. 2) HELP NEGATE THE THOUGHTLESS DOG OWNER PROBLEM

Inform the dog owner about the law. Explain to them that their dog, leashed or unleashed, can easily squish cotton-ball sized chicks. The babies are all over the beach now, not just in the roped off area.Ā IfĀ theĀ dog ownerĀ still disregards and if you can, take down their license plate number. I did it today for the first time and Diane, who is the animal control officer, just happened to be at the beachĀ shortly after it happened. SheĀ asked for the information and studiedĀ the photo that I took to determine what type of dog.

ACTION NO. 3) HELP INFORM BEACH GOERS ABOUT THE CHICKS

The baby Plovers are at their most vulnerable in the first 10 to 14 days. As of this writing, allĀ three chicks have survived the first threeĀ days, and that is nothing short of a miracle.Ā The Plovers chicks are now running to the water’s edge. Please walk carefully on the beach and along the shoreline as they are not yet quick enough to get out of theĀ way. Upload a photo of a Piping Plover chick to your phone and show it to folks on the beach. Explain that they aren’t much larger than a cotton ball. Additionally, David Rimmer, Director of Land Stewardship at Essex County Greenbelt, who was checking on the Plovers this morning, is concerned that a child may see aĀ Plover chick and try to catch it. This has happened! In case of any kind of emergency situation such as this, David urges that the the Plover be place in the cordoned off area.

Thank you for you help, and the Piping Plovers thank you, too!

Piping Plover chicks nestlings copyright Kim Smith 6-14-16InĀ the above photo you can see how tiny the Plover chick is in relation to the sunbather.

DSCF2770This woman claims she brings her dog every evening after five and states sheĀ has for fifteen years.

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