Piping Plover Recovery Program

Piping plovers are small, black and white, short-billed Endangered shorebirds that nest and feed along gravel beaches. They face a number of threats including high rates of predation and damage to their nesting and feeding habitat. ACA is working with landowners across east-central and southern Alberta to improve habitat and promote awareness of the plight of the piping plover. Each year, we also conduct piping plover counts on key breeding lakes that allow us to monitor population numbers and distribution, and help us guide habitat improvement activities. We surveyed 22 waterbodies, on which we found 50 adults on eight lakes, with ten or more adults on three of these lakes. We worked with our partners to improve over 5 km of shoreline habitat through the implementation of seasonal grazing, mechanical and chemical control to reduce the encroachment of vegetation that impairs this habitat for piping plovers. Since large-scale recovery efforts began in 2002, we have improved over 58 km of shoreline habitat, with the majority of “critical” piping plover habitat being protected or improved through fencing.

Partnerships

Environment and Climate Change Canada – Habitat Stewardship Program, Government of Alberta, Landholders

Annual Summaries

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