Piping Plover

Charadrius melodus

In Canada, the piping plover is found in all provinces except British Columbia. Its numbers have been decreasing everywhere, particularly in the Great Lakes region. The most important limiting factor for piping plovers is loss of habitat, mostly caused by human use of beaches, and the consequent human disturbance around nesting sites. Dogs and cats predate on the eggs and young, as do gulls which are initially attracted to the nesting areas by garbage left by picknickers.