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Home , Charadrius, Piping plover, Plover, Semipalmated plover

Piping Scientific Name: melodus Federal Status: Threatened in Northern and Atlantic Coast, endangered in . • State Status: Threatened

Description reduced, remnant populations occur passes are also important feeding The is a small, stocky throughout the historic range. Cur- areas, especially along the upper shorebird about 7 inches long with a rently, Piping breed on sandy Texas coast. Piping Plovers also feed wingspan of about 15 inches. Adults along the Atlantic Coast from on beaches, especially when high have a -colored upper body, to , along the cover the flats. white undersides, and orange legs sand and gravel shores of Lakes Michi- Piping Plovers often roost on throughout the year. A white rump, gan, Huron and Superior in Michigan, beaches huddled down in the sand, which is visible in flight, distin- and along Lakes Superior and Michi- or behind driftwood or clumps of guishes this species from other small gan in Wisconsin, and on river sand- seaweed and other debris. They plovers. During the breeding season, bars and islands, barren shorelines of also roost among debris in wash-over adults acquire a dark narrow breast inland lakes, and alkali in passes created by hurricanes and band, a dark strip across the fore- the northern Great Plains of Canada storms on barrier islands and head, and a black-tipped orange bill. and the . They winter peninsulas. The breast band is sometimes incom- primarily along Gulf Coast beaches plete, especially in females. Juveniles from to Mexico, along the are similar to nonbreeding adults in Atlantic Coast from North Carolina to appearance. Florida, and on islands. Sightings of color-banded Piping Plovers indicate that most of the from the Great Plains and Great Lakes breeding populations spend the winter along the Gulf Coast and adjacent barrier islands. However, some birds from the Atlantic Coast breeding population also win- ter along the Gulf Coast. Piping Plovers spend more than 70% of the year on the wintering grounds. Win- ter includes beaches, sand flats, mudflats, algal mats, emergent sea grass beds, wash-over passes, and Piping Plover © USFWS J.P. Mattsson very small dunes where seaweed (Sargassum) or other debris has Life History Although post-breeding birds accumulated sand. Spoil islands Piping Plovers spend about 3 to lose the dark bands and orange bills, along the Intracoastal Waterway are 4 months on their breeding grounds they can be distinguished from also used by wintering plovers. in the northern United States and Snowy Plovers (Charadrius alexan- Texas is estimated to winter more southern Canada, including St. Pierre drinus) by their shorter bill and than 35% of the known population and Miquelon off the coast of New- bright orange legs. Compared with of Piping Plovers. foundland. They begin arriving from the (Charadrius Wintering Piping Plovers in the wintering areas in mid-April. semipalmatus), the Piping Plover’s Texas prefer bare or very sparsely Courtship behavior includes aerial back is paler and more sand-colored. vegetated tidal mudflats, sand flats, or flights, digging of several nest algal flats – areas which are periodi- scrapes, and ritualized stone tossing. Distribution cally covered with water and then Piping Plovers are monogamous, and Habitat exposed either by tides or wind. The but mate-switching may occur both The Piping Plover is a migratory North soft sand or mud is rich with poly- during the breeding season and American shorebird. Historically, chaete worms, a primary food of Pip- between years. Piping Plovers were common in cer- ing Plovers. The extensive wind-tidal Plover nests are shallow depres- tain along the Atlantic and flats in the Laguna Madre of the lower sions in the sand, frequently lined Gulf coasts, along the river systems coast are often covered with blue- with small pebbles or shell fragments. and lakes of the Northern Great Plains green algae, which supports large The nest cups are about an inch deep and Great Lakes region, and in the numbers of and other inverte- Bahamas and West Indies. Although brates eaten by plovers. Tidal flats populations have been drastically formed at the base of jetties and tidal Piping Plover 1 and 2.5 inches in diameter. Females are non-breeders. When the plovers lay 4 eggs, which are gray to pale are on the wintering grounds, the sand-colored with a few dark spots. numbers of plovers that are detected The eggs blend almost perfectly with is generally correlated with seasonal the sand, making them very difficult high tides. Seasonal high tides cover to see. Both parents incubate the extensive flats that would otherwise eggs for about 27 days. Most adults be available to the birds during peri- raise only one brood per year, and ods of low , pushing foraging occasionally they will renest if their plovers into areas that are more visi- nest is destroyed. ble to the public and researchers. Eggs begin to hatch from late Sightings of banded Piping May to mid-June. The chicks can feed Plovers on the wintering grounds sug- themselves within hours after hatch- gest that they show some site fidelity, ing. Both parents attend the young. returning to the same stretch of Broods generally remain on the nest- year after year. On the lower Wintering habitat along the Texas coast © TPWD Leroy Williamson ing territory, expanding their move- Texas coast, individual plovers are ments as they mature or are known to use areas about 3,000 acres disturbed. The young are able to fly in size, moving 2 miles or more about 30 to 35 days after hatching. between foraging sites as tidal move- Females commonly leave broods ments shift the availability of produc- when the young are 14 to 20 days of tive tidal flats. age, but males often remain with On the wintering grounds, the them until after they have reached diet of the Piping Plover consists of flight age. marine worms, flies, beetles, spiders, The Piping Plover’s activity , mollusks, and other (home range) during the breeding small marine and their eggs season is limited to the section of and larvae. Plovers are visual preda- lakeshore or beach on which the nest tors. Therefore, they feed primarily Feeding is located. Both adults defend an during the day, but may also feed at © TPWD Glen Mills area (territory) surrounding the nest night, during full moons. They often against intruders. This territory run short distances, pausing to stare sometimes includes their foraging at the sand with a slightly tilted area. Plovers in some areas defend head, before picking a food item from both nesting and feeding territories. the substrate. Plovers feed most Piping Plovers commonly nest in aggressively during the falling tide, association with Least Terns, Arctic when the availability of exposed mud Terns, Common Terns, and flats is greatest. When foraging on American Avocets. Adults begin tidal flats, Piping Plovers are often migrating south from the breeding observed in flocks. These flocks are Resting grounds by July or early August. sometimes large (200 or more birds), © Greg W. Lasley Adult females begin leaving the but are usually much smaller (5-30 , American Avocet, breeding grounds first, followed by birds). When foraging on beaches, Willet, Marbled Godwit, Ruddy adult males. Juveniles leave a few individual plovers are usually distrib- Turnstone, Sanderling, Dowitchers, weeks later, and most are gone by uted along the beach at intervals, and Dunlin, and . late August. Although little is known occasionally have aggressive encoun- of their migration, it is believed that ters with other shorebirds or other Threats and Reasons they generally migrate non-stop from members of their own species. for Decline the breeding grounds to the winter- When not feeding, plovers rest Habitat alteration and destruction are ing grounds. and preen. Piping Plovers roost on the primary causes for the decline of Piping Plovers generally begin beaches, in wash-over passes, or on the Piping Plover. Loss of sandy arriving on the Texas coast in mid- tidal flats, often near the areas where beaches and lakeshores due to recre- July. The number of plovers appears they forage. They usually roost in ational, residential, and commercial to increase on the Texas coast spots somewhat sheltered by drift- development has reduced available through October. Plovers begin wood, accumulations of seaweed or habitat on the Great Lakes, Atlantic migrating towards the breeding sea grass, other debris, or small Coast, and the . Reser- grounds in late February. Most birds dunes. Plovers often roost together in voir construction, channel excavation, are gone from Texas by mid May, small flocks. When roosting, Piping and modification of river flows have although a few birds can be found Plovers can be very difficult to see. eliminated sandbar nesting habitat along the coast year round. Birds During the wintering period on along hundreds of miles of the Mis- found on the Texas coast during the the Texas coast, Piping Plovers are souri and Platte Rivers. Winter habi- breeding season may be adults, but often seen with other shorebirds. tats along the Gulf coast are These associated species include the threatened by industrial and urban Snowy, Semipalmated, Wilson’s, and expansion and maintenance activities 2 Piping Plover Black-bellied Plovers; American for commercial waterways. Pollution that winter on the Texas coast are are sensitive to human disturbance, found in the lower Laguna Madre, they should be observed from a safe where tidal flats are extensive and distance with binoculars or spotting productive. It is up to Texans to scopes. insure that the wintering habitat so vital to the survival of this species is How You Can Help protected. Whether you enjoy fishing, boating, swimming, or viewing wildlife, please Recovery Efforts remember that your actions, espe- State, federal, and private organiza- cially when multiplied by thousands tions are collaborating to monitor Pip- of other recreational users, can have ing Plover populations and assess an immense impact on the bays and current and potential habitat on estuaries of the Texas Coast. Respon- breeding and wintering grounds. sible recreational use should include Residential development along the Gulf coast © Leroy Williamson Research concerning reproductive suc- proper disposal of trash and other cess, food habits, habitat selection, potential pollutants, respect for pri- and limiting factors is underway. The vate property rights, preventing harm results of these studies will help biolo- to plants and wildlife, and generally gists develop management plans keeping human impacts to a mini- designed to benefit Piping Plovers. mum. Minimize driving on the beach Protective measures, such as signs or and keep pets on a leash. Extensive fences, are being implemented to driving on tidal flats on the bayside reduce human disturbance to breed- of barrier islands should also be min- Recreational use of beach habitat ing birds. Vegetation management, imized, as significant rutting can alter © Phil Glass predator control, pollution abatement, the habitat required by these birds. from spills of petrochemical products and habitat creation/restoration are Avoid disturbance to foraging shore- and other hazardous materials is also management strategies being used to birds to the greatest extent possible. a concern. benefit Piping Plover populations. You can be involved in the con- On the breeding grounds, repro- Biologists continue to assess habitat servation of Texas’ nongame wildlife ductive success can be curtailed by availability and quality throughout resources by supporting the Special human disturbance. Vehicular and the plover’s range in Texas, and iden- Nongame and foot traffic destroys eggs and chicks. tify essential habitat for management Conservation Fund. Special nongame The presence of people on beaches and protection. Finally, public infor- stamps are available at Texas Parks and sandbar islands inhibits incuba- mation campaigns concerning Piping and Wildlife Department (TPWD) tion and other breeding behavior. Plover conservation are a vital part of field offices, most state parks, and the Changes in land use such as agricul- the recovery process. License Branch of TPWD headquar- tural development, urbanization, and Critical habitat was designated for ters in Austin. Conservation organi- use of beaches has brought an wintering Piping Plovers in July of zations in Texas also welcome your increase in the number of unleashed 2001. This designation identifies participation and support. pets and other predators such as areas that are important to the plovers gulls, skunks, and . on their wintering grounds, and pro- For More Information Increased recreational use of Gulf vides the public and resource agencies Contact beaches may also threaten the quality with information that can be used to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department of wintering sites. Beach traffic, minimize impacts to these areas. Wildlife Diversity Branch including vehicles and ATV’s, as well 4200 Smith School Road as the activities of unleashed dogs, Where To See Austin, Texas 78744 can disturb birds and degrade habitat. Piping Plovers (512) 912-7011 or (800) 792-1112 Beach raking, a practice associated Piping Plovers can be seen along the or with high recreational use, removes Texas coast from about mid-July U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service driftwood, seaweed, and other debris through April. National Corpus Christi Ecological Services used by roosting plovers, and may dis- Seashore, along with Galveston Field Office rupt nutrient cycles and remove prey Island, Bryan Beach, Matagorda c/o TAMU-CC, Campus Box 338 organisms from foraging areas where Island, Mustang Island, and Goose 6300 Ocean Drive, Room 118 plovers forage on the beach. Island State Parks, are good places to Corpus Christi, Texas 78412 In 2001, the total population of visit and observe Piping Plovers and (361) 994-9005 Piping Plovers in was other shorebirds. The extensive tidal estimated to be 5,945 breeding flats on the west side of South Padre For critical habitat designation info, adults. The Texas Gulf Coast had the Island, Mollie Beattie Coastal Habitat see http://plover.fws.gov highest wintering population, with Community (near Corpus Christi), about 1,042 individuals detected. and Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary This represents about 44% of birds (near Galveston) are also good places detected on the wintering grounds to search for plovers. Look for them during the 2001 International Piping on large mud, sand, or algal flats, or Plover Census. Most of the plovers on Gulf beaches. Since these birds Piping Plover 3 References Eubanks, T. (in press). The status and distribution of the Piping plover in Texas. Bulletin of the Texas Ornithological Society. Ferland, C.L. and S.M. Haig. 2002. 2001 International Piping plover census. U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Corvallis, Oregon. 293 pp. Haig, S.M. 1992. “The Piping plover” In Birds of North America No. 2 (A. Poole, P. Stettenheim, F. Gill, eds.). American Ornithologists Union, Philadelphia, PA. pp. 1-18. Haig, S.M. and J.H. Plissner. 1993. Distribution and abundance of Piping plovers: results and implications of the 1991 international census. Condor 95:145-156. Johnson, C.M. and G.A. Baldassarre. 1988. Aspects of the wintering of Piping plovers in coastal Alabama. Wilson Bulletin 100(2):214-223. Nicholls, J.L. and G.A. Baldassarre. 1990. Winter distribution of Piping plovers along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. Wilson Bulletin 102(3):400-412. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1994. Great Lakes and northern great plains Piping plover recovery plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Twin Cities, MN. 116 pp. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2001. Final determination of critical habitat for wintering Piping plovers. Federal Register 66(132):36038-36143. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2002. Piping plover (Charadrius melodus), Great Lakes population, agency draft recover plan. Ft. Snelling, Minnesota. viii + 121 pp. Wilcox, L. 1959. A twenty year banding study of the Piping plover. 76(2):129-153.

Funds for the production of this leaflet were provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, under Section 6 of the Endangered Species Act.

4 Piping Plover