Manitoba’s Species At Risk

Endangered Piping plover Charadrius melodus he Piping plover (Charadrius melodus) is days after hatching. Migration begins in early T a provincially and nationally endangered August when the birds leave for the wintering bird, found in many provinces and states, grounds. including Manitoba. It is a stocky shorebird Any native Manitoba species with a white breast, abdomen and rump and Piping plovers feed on small insects and threatened to disappear pale brown to grey back, head and wings. worms found on the surface of the sand through all or most of its It is identifiable by a black stripe across the along shorelines. Manitoba range. Endangered forehead from eye to eye, a long white species are declared as such by eyestripe and a single black band across the Distribution regulation under the chest. The Piping plover resembles both the The Piping plover has three distinct locations Endangered Species Act. Semipalmated plover (but is lighter in colour), of breeding in North America: the northern and the Killdeer (but is smaller and has one Great Plains, the Great Lakes region and the band across its chest, not two). Atlantic coast. The wintering grounds include During breeding season, the bird's colours the southern Atlantic shore of the United become brighter. A black tipped orange bill, States and the Gulf of Mexico coastline. orange legs and a black band reaching from In Canada, Piping plovers breed along the eye to eye across the forehead, vibrantly stand Atlantic shore, Lake of the Woods in out on the breeding Piping plover. northwestern Ontario, and along lakeshores and saline wetlands of southern Manitoba, Habitat Saskatchewan and Alberta. In Manitoba, Piping plovers are most consistently found The Piping plover can be found on lakeshores nesting on broad beaches along Lake and river sandbars. It nests on gravel shores of Winnipeg, Lake Manitoba, West Shoal shallow, saline lakes and on the sandy shores Lake, and occasionally Oak Lake and of larger prairie lakes. It tends to use only Whitewater Lake. unvegetated or sparsely vegetated areas for nesting. Status

Life History The Piping plover is considered provincially rare by the Manitoba Conservation Data The Piping plover arrives at its breeding Centre, and globally uncommon by the grounds in Manitoba in late April or May. Association for Biodiversity Information. Once paired, the male scrapes a shallow nest Threats to the Piping plover include loss of in the sand or gravel, which he will present to habitat due to human use of beaches, all the female for her inspection. The nest is often terrain vehicle traffic, and pets. High water lined with shells or pebbles, which keeps the levels can flood nests and reduce important eggs off the wet sand, drains rainwater and feeding areas, while low water levels allow acts as camouflage. encroachment of vegetation and reduce the beach area. Piping plover predators include In May, the female lays two to four cream- gulls, crows, Northern harriers, skunks, coloured eggs covered with small dark spots. raccoons, foxes and coyotes. The Piping plover is listed as Endangered In June, the chicks hatch and emerge fully by regulation 25/98 under the Manitoba feathered. Within hours they can run and feed Endangered Species Act. It has also been on their own. They can fly between 20 and 25 Manitoba’s Species At Risk Cool Facts Get Involved in Recovery If you see a Piping plover on your property, congratulations. Your land management skills have helped to maintain the population When the eggs or young are of one of Canada’s rarest birds. Contact the Wildlife Branch, or your nearest Manitoba threatened, adults attempt to lure Conservation office, if you would like more the danger away by feigning a wing information on what you can do to further enhance your land for this and other native injury. The adult will fly away once Manitoba plant and animal species. the predator is a safe distance from You can help by learning to identify these the nest. birds and avoid disturbing nesting areas during June and July. Also, as a landowner, you can maintain natural habitat around wetlands and reduce disturbances by humans, pets and livestock. Most summers, Piping plovers share Grand Beach with thousands of If you see a Piping plover, contact assigned a status of Endangered by Manitoba Conservation at one of the sunseekers. To help protect the birds, the Committee on the Status of Endangered numbers listed below. Provincial Park staff fence Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). It is listed in the United States Endangered Species Manitoba Conservation off plover nesting areas. Act, and in many provincial and state Wildlife Branch endangered species acts. It is also protected Box 24, 200 Saulteaux Crescent in Canada under the federal Migratory Birds Winnipeg, Manitoba Convention Act. R3J 3W3 (204) 945-7764 The Great Plains population of Continent wide surveys in 1991 and 1996 www.gov.mb.ca/natres/wildlife/index.htm Piping plovers is the largest, suggest that there are approximately 2,700 pairs in North America with almost 900 pairs • consisting of approximately 1,400 found to breed in Canada. In Manitoba, the breeding pairs. numbers of Piping plovers have declined from Manitoba Conservation over 100 pairs in the late 1980's to fewer than Regional Offices 20 pairs in recent years. Eastern Region Lac du Bonnet Stewardship and Recovery (204) 345-1427 There have been no successful The Piping plover Recovery team has a goal Piping plover nests recorded on the Central Region of maintaining and increasing the prairie Gimli Great Lakes for over 20 years. population. To make this goal a reality, more (204) 642-6077 awareness and education about the Piping plover and its habitat are important. Western Region Brandon To improve Piping plover breeding success, (204) 726-6450 people must be willing to share beaches with these birds. This might require completely • fencing off designated nesting areas and Partners in production of this fact sheet: placing predator enclosures over nests to Manitoba Conservation, Wildlife Branch protect the eggs. Environment Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service

Extirpated Species Endangered Species Threatened Species Vulnerable Species Any species once native to Any native Manitoba species Any native Manitoba species likely Species not regulated under Manitoba that has disappeared threatened to disappear through to become endangered or at risk the Endangered Species Act through all of its Manitoba range. all or most of its Manitoba range. due to low or declining numbers in but which could eventually Extirpated species are declared as Endangered species are declared Manitoba if the factors affecting it be considered Endangered such by regulation under the as such by regulation under the don’t improve. Threatened species or Threatened if the factors Endangered Species Act. Endangered Species Act. are declared as such by regulation affecting them do not under the Endangered Species Act. improve.