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Piping Plover Soars Back from Brink in Great Lakes
7 May
Summary
- Piping plover numbers rose from 17 to 88 nesting pairs in the Great Lakes.
- Once absent for decades, 11 pairs now nest in Wisconsin.
- Conservation efforts focused on rebuilding habitat for the endangered bird.
The piping plover, a small shorebird, has experienced a significant population rebound in the Great Lakes region. Once listed as endangered in 1986 with only 17 pairs remaining, the species now boasts at least 88 nesting pairs. This recovery is particularly notable in Wisconsin, where the birds had not nested for several decades but now host 11 pairs.
These small birds, standing about 7 inches tall, nest on beaches, preferring gravelly shorelines vital for their survival. Factors like high water levels and shoreline development previously threatened their existence, though increased predator numbers, such as coyotes and merlins, pose a more recent challenge.
Conservation initiatives, like the rebuilding of a 272-acre section of the Cat Island Chain in Wisconsin in 2012, have contributed to the plover's return. While Michigan remains a stronghold for the species, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service aims for a total of 150 pairs in the Great Lakes, with a significant portion nesting outside of Michigan.
