The Piping Plover is a small, threatened shorebird that inhabits the beaches and shorelines of North America. Over the last century, the Piping Plover population has declined dramatically due to human disturbance, habitat loss, and predation. This article will examine what has happened to this iconic bird and why it is struggling to survive in the modern world.
What is a Piping Plover?
The Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) is a small North American shorebird about 17–18 cm in length. Adults have sand-colored upperparts, a white underside, and orange legs. During breeding season, adults have a black forehead, a black breast band, and an orange bill. Piping plovers get their name from their melodious call that sounds like a plaintive whistle.
There are two subspecies of Piping Plovers:
- The Great Plains Piping Plover (C. m. circumcinctus) breeds in the Great Plains of Canada and the United States.
- The Atlantic Piping Plover (C. m. melodus) breeds along the Atlantic coast of Canada and the United States.
Where do Piping Plovers live?
Piping plovers nest on open, sandy beaches with little vegetation along the Atlantic Coast, the Great Lakes, and in the Great Plains regions. They spend their winters along the coasts of the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. Piping plovers migrate from their northern breeding grounds to southern wintering grounds every year.
Some key nesting and wintering areas for Piping Plovers include:
- Atlantic Coast beaches from North Carolina to Canada
- Beaches along the Great Lakes
- Shorelines of the Great Plains lakes and rivers
- Gulf Coast beaches from Florida to Mexico
Population Decline
Over the last 100 years, the population of the Piping Plover has declined dramatically across North America. It is estimated that in the early 1900s there were over 3,000 breeding pairs, but by 1986 the population had plummeted to just 792 pairs.
Current Population
According to recent surveys and estimates, there are approximately:
- 1,950 breeding pairs of Atlantic Piping Plovers
- 2,000 breeding pairs of Great Plains Piping Plovers
This means there are only about 3,950 total breeding pairs remaining. Though the population has increased slightly in recent decades due to conservation efforts, Piping Plovers are still considered a threatened and endangered species.
Population Decline by Region
Here is a table showing the historic population decline of Piping Plovers by region since 1986:
Region | 1986 Population | Current Population | Percent Decline |
---|---|---|---|
Atlantic Coast | 757 pairs | 1,950 pairs | +157% increase |
Northern Great Plains | 152 pairs | 2,000 pairs | +1,316% increase |
Great Lakes | 32 pairs | 63 pairs | +96% increase |
This table shows that while populations have rebounded slightly in some regions like the Atlantic Coast, overall the Piping Plover population is still a fraction of what it once was.
Reasons for Decline
There are several key factors that have contributed to the sharp decline in the Piping Plover population over the past century:
Habitat Loss
Piping plovers rely on wide, open sandy beaches for nesting. Due to rapid coastal development over the last 100 years, many of their nesting beaches have been lost. Residential and commercial construction has eliminated or degraded much of their beach habitat.
For example, it is estimated that between the 1950s-1970s, over 40% of prime Piping Plover nesting habitat was lost just along the Atlantic coast.
Increased Predation
With the decline in undisturbed beach habitat, Piping Plovers are now more exposed to predators. Animals like foxes, raccoons, gulls, and ravens have increased rates of destroying Piping Plover nests and eating eggs and chicks. For example, nest predation accounts for up to 88% of nest failures in the Great Lakes region.
Human Disturbance
Increased human recreation on beaches has also impacted Piping Plovers. Beach activities disturb nesting birds, crush eggs and chicks, and prevent parents from properly caring for young. Off-road vehicles and unleashed pets pose a particular threat.
For example, just a single incident of an unleashed dog running through a nesting area can wipe out an entire season’s worth of chicks.
Climate Change
Rising sea levels and stronger storms associated with climate change degraded Piping Plover habitat and can flood nests. Plovers often have to abandon nesting sites and chicks due to encroaching water. One study found Atlantic Coast Piping Plovers have lost 22% of nesting habitat just over the last 30 years due to climate change.
Other Threats
Other threats to Piping Plovers include:
- Oil spills that contaminate their coastal habitat
- Fishing practices like dredging that destroy nesting areas
- Pollution that degrades the beaches and wetlands they rely on
All of these threats have converged over the past century to push the Piping Plover dangerously close to extinction. Without stronger protections, they are unlikely to recover to historic population levels.
Conservation Efforts
A variety of conservation efforts have been initiated since the 1980s to try and protect Piping Plovers and restore their populations:
Legal Protections
In 1986, the Atlantic Coast population of Piping Plovers was listed as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The Great Lakes population received Endangered status in 1986, and the Northern Great Plains population was listed as Threatened in 1985. These designations made it illegal to harm or harass the birds and required the development of recovery plans.
Habitat Protection
Significant coastal habitat areas have been set aside specifically for Piping Plover nesting and recovery. For example, on Long Island over 5,500 acres are now protected as the Seatuck National Wildlife Refuge. Similar refuges have been established along the Atlantic, Great Lakes, and Great Plains.
Population Monitoring
Annual surveying and banding programs track Piping Plover populations, distribution, nesting success, and mortality rates. Atlantic Coast Piping Plovers are surveyed each year during a federal International Piping Plover Breeding Census. This data informs recovery strategies.
Predator Management
In key nesting areas, predator control programs are implemented, such as trapping foxes and raccoons, and managing gull colonies. This reduces egg and chick loss. For example, at Wasaga Beach on Lake Huron, predator management has increased Piping Plover nesting success from 19% to 74%.
Public Education
Outreach campaigns, signs, and rope fencing help educate the public about avoiding Piping Plover nests and chicks when recreating on beaches. Stewardship programs recruit volunteers to help monitor protected areas.
Captive Rearing
In cases where nests are lost, eggs are collected and incubated at special facilities. The resulting chicks are reared and then released back into the wild. From 2006-2010, over 1,000 Piping Plovers were released via captive rearing programs.
Future Outlook
While conservation efforts have slowed the decline and even increased Piping Plover numbers in certain areas, the species is still highly vulnerable. Their limited population size and restricted habitat make it difficult for Piping Plovers to withstand ongoing threats.
Full recovery goals have not been met in any region of North America. For example, Atlantic Coast Piping Plovers were supposed to reach 2,000 breeding pairs by 2020, but remain under 2,000. Stricter habitat protections, continued public education, and mitigation of climate change impacts will be key to the long-term survival of Piping Plovers.
If current small population sizes and low reproduction rates continue, Piping Plovers may face extinction by the end of the 21st century, especially if conservation measures are reduced. However, with expanded efforts, full recovery remains possible, although challenges remain.
Atlantic Coast Outlook
Atlantic Coast Piping Plovers will continue to face extreme habitat loss as sea levels rise. Stopping coastal development and recreation in remaining habitat will be crucial. If massive efforts to curb climate change fail, most Atlantic breeding sites may be underwater by 2100. With significant human intervention, Atlantic Piping Plovers can potentially be maintained at close to 2,000 pairs.
Great Plains Outlook
With many wide-open nesting areas still available, Great Plains Piping Plovers have the best outlook if sufficient habitat protections and predator management continues. Reaching a sustainable population of 2,500 pairs is a realistic goal for the coming decades.
Great Lakes Outlook
The scarcity of predators on many islands and remote shorelines enhances the recovery potential of Great Lakes Piping Plovers. But if water levels rise and human recreation increases as projected, those advantages may diminish. Maximizing secure habitat and breeding success on existing islands will be key to reaching a population goal of 150 pairs.
Conclusion
In summary, the Piping Plover was once a thriving shorebird across North America, but has declined to near extinction levels over the past 100 years due to human impacts. Ongoing conservation efforts have stabilized populations, but have not been enough to facilitate a full recovery. Indeed, the threats facing Piping Plovers continue to increase in scope and scale.
Without redoubled efforts to protect and enlarge habitat, manage predators, mitigate climate change, and educate the public, the Piping Plover may well disappear from our beaches by 2100. But if conservation interventions can be supported and expanded, recovery remains possible. The fate of the Piping Plover ultimately depends on whether we as a society choose to make room for this iconic shorebird on our crowded beaches.