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Piping Plover
Piping
Plover (Charadrius melodus) - Sauble
Beach, Ontario Canada - 2008 July
Photo
credit: Mdf
This month I am back home in Rhode Island.
Nothing beats going for a hike in the woods
or taking a leisurely stroll along one of
the many beautiful beaches. It all too often
sounds exotic and fascinating to be working
overseas in tropical climates with wildlife,
including primates. However, I never forget
my roots and the absolutely gorgeous scenery
and menagerie of wild fauna and flora that
literally surrounds us in the small humble
state of Rhode Island, and all of New
England. My blog would be better labeled
"Letters From Home" for the month of July.
This month I have decided to write a brief
piece on the Piping Plover (Charadrius
melodus).
The piping plover gets its name after its
bell-sounding whistle. These small birds are
listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red
List and listed as Endangered throughout the
United States. They are divided into two
subspecies: (1) Charadrius melodus
circumcinctus distributed in the
mid-west and (2) Charadrius melodus
melodus distributed along the east
coast. Piping plovers look very much like,
and are often mistaken for, the more common
Western Sandpiper (Callidris mauri).
The piping plover is a small grey colored
bird with orange legs, a black stripe across
the forehead, eye to eye, and a black ring
around the neck. During breeding season this
neck ring is typically wider in males and is
the primary means of sexing the birds. These
small seabirds both nest and feed along
coastal areas including both rocky and sandy
shorelines. Their diets consist mainly of
small insects and crustaceans.
Initially in the 1800s and early 1900s,
piping plovers were hunted for their
feathers (also known as plumes) for hat
decoration, which caused population decline.
Today, populations continue to decline
primarily due to loss of habitat from human
interference near nesting sites, loss of
shoreline habitat, and human development. As
a conservation measure, nesting sites have
been fenced off to ensure that these
endangered birds have a fighting chance. It
is paramount that we protect the piping
plover's habitat, not only to protect them
but also to protect the various other
species occupying similar habitats. We
should consider ourselves privileged to have
such a beautiful bird come back our beaches
to nest annually. The power to ensure the
survival of these truly unique birds is in
our hands; Think Global, Act Local.
Take action:
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Contact local conservation organizations
like Save the Bay or the US Fish and
Wildlife Service to see how you can help
participate in piping plover and other
local wildlife conservation projects.
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Help ensure a clean and safe environment
for our feathery friends.
Next time you are at the beach, pick up
5 pieces of trash or, even better,
organize a beach clean up with friends.
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If you notice any interference on
protected piping plover breeding areas,
make sure you contact your local
authorities.
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