Project monitors plovers 
     
    
   
   
    
     BY PAMELA MacEACHERX 
     
    

    
     The Natural History Society of Prince Edward Island initiated a project to 
     
     monitor the Piping Plover in the Crowbush - Lakeside area. The 1987 Piping 
     
     PLover survey carried out by the Society showed that approximately 50% of the 
     
     plovers nesting on the Island outside the National Park use the beaches at this 
     
     site. 
     
    

    
     The Piping Plover is a small North American shorebird whose status was 
     
     changed from threatened to endangered on the Canadian Endangered Species List 
     
     in 1986. Its favored nesting sites are flat beaches with lots of pebbles and 
     
     shells close to the sand dune systems, and above the high tide line. The 
     
     plovers generally lay a clutch of 4 eggs in a small depression in the sand, 
     
     usually surrounded by rock and broken shells. 
     
    

    
     There is a 28 day incubation period during which both the female and male 
     
     take turns sitting on the eggs. This is an extremely important period of time 
     
     for the population as both the eggs and the parents are vulnerable to predation 
     
     by animals in the area. Through nest protection schemes, it is quite probable 
     
     that the numbers of Piping Plovers can be increased. 
     
    

    
     The 1988 Natural History Society Piping Plover Project had two aspects. 
     
     The first was the monitoring of the Piping Plover in its natural habitat to 
     
     assess population numbers and to observe nesting activities. The second was to 
     
     implement a landowner contact program distributing information materials to 
     
     increase awareness among the summer residents in the areas of Crowbush and 
     
     Lakeside used by this endangered species. As well, the project staff ( Pamela 
     
     MacEachern and Shelley Barrett )participated in the Brudenell Provincial 
     
     Environment Days, July 23rd - 24th by establishing an information booth and 
     
     display about the Piping Plover and the Natural History Society. 
     
    

    
     An important aspect of the information material is the Piping Plover 
     
     conservation poster which outlines the problems related to plover conservation 
     
     and tips on how to counteract these. This Piping Plover poster is a result of 
     
     the combined efforts of the Natural History Society of Prince Edward Island, 
     
     The Prince Edward Island Conservation Strategy and the Qlf Atlantic Centre For 
     
     the Environment. Tips include: 
     
    
   
   
    
     - RESPECT all areas fenced or posted for protection ~_“ 
     
     of wildlife; '~~» 
     
     - CARRY your trash and food scrapes away with you 
     
     when leaving the beach. Garbage attracts 
     
     predators, even if deposited in receptacles or 
     
     buried; 
     
    

    
     - DO NOT approach or linger near Piping Plovers, 
     
     their nests or their young; 
     
    

    
     - KEEP pets leashed at all times when at or near 
     
     nesting beaches; 
     
    

    
     - DO NOT operate any motorized vehicle on or near 
     
     nesting beaches, especially in May to August; 
     
    

    
     - SUPPORT research efforts and beach closures 
     
     conducted to protect wildlife. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     During the month of July we were fortunate to have Roland Chiasson and 
     
     Sabine Dietz join the monitors for a few days in the field. Mr. Chiasson has 
     
     conducted studies on the Piping Plover in New Brunswick and Nova Scoitia during 
     
     past summers. he is presently working on his M.Sc. at York University in 
     
     Ontario. His thesis dealing with the Piping Plover. Sabine Dietz is an 
     
     exchange student from Germany working with the Atlantic Centre for the 
     
     Environment and will be attending Trent University in Ontario this fall. 
     
    
   
   
    
     -3-