STATE: Michigan

GRANT TITLE: Endangered Species Program – Great Lakes Shoreline Project

FEDERAL IDENTIFIER: E-15 SEGMENT: 1

REPORT TYPE: Annual Performance Report

REPORTING PERIOD: 26 September 2004 - 30 September 2008

Summary:

This Annual Performance Report covers the entire grant period of 26 September 2004 - 30 September 2008 spanning the federal fiscal years of 2005-2008. The overall goal of this grant was to aid in the recovery of federally listed species along Michigan’s shoreline habitats. This goal was addressed through objectives detailed in the grant proposal. The amount of each objective to be achieved during this reporting period was established in this grant segment. A summary of the accomplishments completed by objective is given below.

Accomplishments:

The accomplishments by each project statement objective are summarized in the following table. Reporting units given are those established in the grant proposal. Explanations of any slippages greater than +/- 10% are provided following the table if necessary.

Planned Reporting Units Actual Project Statement and Objectives Accomplishments Accomplishments Great Lakes shoreline prioritization, protection and management for threatened and endangered species in Michigan and Illinois (Michigan Portion). 1. Threatened and Endangered species 1 Database 1 concentration analyses analysis and development of report 2. Surveys and monitoring – Michigan Field confirmation Confirmation of Completed species’ concentrations from Objective 1 3. Surveys and monitoring – Illinois N/A N/A N/A 4. Site protection & management All Active Piping 144 Plover nests 5. Site conservation planning 1 Site conservation 2 plan with local partnership

STATE OF MICHIGAN – E-15 Endangered Species Program – Great Lakes Shoreline Project – Annual Performance Report Segment 1 – 26 September 2004 - 30 September 2008 Page 1 of 6 6. Information and education As needed Public information Multiple provided and landowner contacts

Reported Expenses:

The expenses reported below are the total reported for activities reimbursable under this grant segment, but were not necessarily charged to these federal assistance funds1. Labor and expenses were queried using activity codes rather than the funding and appropriation codes as are typically used to verify federal aid expenses.

Planned Actual Project Statement and Objectives Expenditures Expenditures1 Great Lakes shoreline prioritization, protection and management for threatened and endangered species in Michigan and Illinois (Michigan Portion). 1. Threatened and Endangered species concentration analyses $40,530 $41,822 2. Surveys and monitoring – Michigan $84,192 $86,876 3. Surveys and monitoring – Illinois $0 $0 4. Site protection & management $40,162 $41,442 5. Site conservation planning $35,620 $36,756 6. Information and education $21,515 $22,201 Project Totals $222,019 $229,097 1The expenses provided are for grant evaluation purposes only and may include expenses that were eligible for reimbursement but were not actually charged to the grant. These values are not necessarily included in Financial Status Reports nor are they subject to financial audits. Actual grant expenditure tracking with supporting documentation necessary for audit purposes is not maintained by MDNR at the objective level. All financial tracking and reporting for the purposes of audits is at the grant level only.

Slippages/Discussion of Accomplishments and Expenditures:

Objective 1. Threatened and Endangered species concentration analyses

Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI) was contracted to conduct the concentration analyses. In 2006, MNFI conducted an analysis to identify and prioritize sites along the Great Lakes shoreline that support concentrations of threatened and endangered species. The first step of the analysis involved selecting all natural community element occurrences and all plant and animal occurrences from the MNFI database within a distance of 0.5 miles of the Michigan portion of the Great Lakes shoreline. Plant and animal occurrences greater than 20 years old were removed. The shoreline layer was derived from the Michigan County layer, at 1:24,000 scale, and consists of a line delineating the entire Great Lakes shoreline of Michigan. The resulting features were buffered by 0.5 km., and the boundaries between overlapping buffers were dissolved to create a new layer of shoreline sites.

The newly created sites were scored using specific criteria outlined in the biological rarity score. The biological rarity model is generated by assigning each element occurrence a value based on

STATE OF MICHIGAN – E-15 Endangered Species Program – Great Lakes Shoreline Project – Annual Performance Report Segment 1 – 26 September 2004 - 30 September 2008 Page 2 of 6 several criteria including the date of last observation. This value is used to represent the probability that the occurrence still exists. Each element occurrence is also assigned three other values, one based on the species global status, one based on the species State status and one based on the element occurrence quality rank. The greater the threat of imperilment to the species and the higher the quality of each occurrence, the higher the value assigned to the occurrence. Sites were then ranked based on the summed biological rarity scores of each element occurrence within the site.

A total of 1,960 element occurrences (all natural communities and plant and animal occurrences observed within the last 20 years) were located within 0.5 miles of one of the Great Lakes. This represents 13% of the statewide database. Once these occurrences were buffered by 0.5 km. and merged together, 461 distinct sites were identified along the Great Lakes shoreline. Scores ranged from a low of four to a high of 1,957. The five highest sites were Isle Royale-NE half, Schoolcraft County shoreline, Wilderness State Park in Emmet County, Seiner’s Point to Big Knob Campground in Mackinac County, and Drummond Island-Maxton Plains in Chippewa County.

Objective 2. Surveys and monitoring – Michigan

MNFI conducted field surveys at the five highest ranked sites to verify the concentration site analyses. Results of these surveys were used to assist in developing the site conservation plans reported under Objective 5.

Piping Plover surveys were conducted from 2005 through 2008. In 2005, 27 sites were surveyed and lacked nesting plovers; another 12 sites had 58 nesting pairs. In 2006, all beaches with historic records of use by Piping Plovers were checked once, and all beaches with recent nesting activity were checked at least twice. In Michigan, 58 sites were surveyed but lacked nesting Piping Plovers. Another 10 sites were surveyed and had 53 nesting pairs. In 2007, 34 sites were surveyed and lacked nesting plovers; another 11 sites had 63 nesting pairs. In 2008, 34 sites were surveyed and lacked nesting plovers; another 11 sites had 63 nesting pairs.

Piping Plover nesting population decreased 9% from 2005 to 2006, increased 19% from 2006 to 2007 and was unchanged from 2007 to 2008. Many beaches along Lake Huron were surveyed in 2006, but no Piping Plovers were found. Historical habitat along Lake Huron has been largely developed.

Objective 3. Surveys and monitoring – Illinois

Not covered by this grant segment.

Objective 4. Site protection and management

The number of breeding sites protected as well as the number of individual nests enclosed for the 2005, 2006 and 2007 nesting seasons is summarized in the table below. Support for these activities in 2008 was provided through a different federal assistance grant, E-20-R-1, and are not reported here.

STATE OF MICHIGAN – E-15 Endangered Species Program – Great Lakes Shoreline Project – Annual Performance Report Segment 1 – 26 September 2004 - 30 September 2008 Page 3 of 6 Nests Protected during Nesting Season: Site 2005 2006 2007 Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore 22 20 12 Ludington State Park 4 7 5 Petoskey State Park 1 0 0 Au Sable Point 0 0 1 Gulliver Lake Outlet 0 0 2 Indian Point 0 0 3 Cross Village Township 5 3 3 Bliss Township 2 2 0 Wilderness State Park 4 2 2 Pointe aux Chenes 6 8 9 Port Inland 5 4 4 Grand Marais 1 1 3 Vermilion 1 0 0 Escanaba, Ludington City Park 0 1 1 Totals 51 48 45

In addition to protecting nests, a number of other monitoring and protection activities were completed. Summaries of the numbers of plovers banded, recaptures and resightings of banded piping plovers, nest abandonments and captive rearing results are provided in the attached reports according to nesting season:

Westbrock, M., Roche, E., Cuthbert, F., and J. Stucker. 2005. Piping Plover Breeding Biology and Management in the Great Lakes, 2005. A Report Submitted to: East Lansing Field Office of the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service, East Lansing and Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Programs of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Lansing, MI on 21 November 2005 by: Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota.

Cuthbert, F.J. and E.A. Roche. 2007. Great Lakes Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus): 2006 – activities conducted under endangered and threatened species permit # TE 125333. A Report Submitted to: East Lansing Field Office of the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service, East Lansing and Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Programs of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Lansing, MI in March 2007 by: Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota.

Cuthbert, F.J. and E.A. Roche. 2008. Great Lakes Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus): 2007 – activities conducted under endangered and threatened species permit # TE 125333-1. A Report Submitted to: East Lansing Field Office of the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service, East Lansing and Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Programs of the Michigan

STATE OF MICHIGAN – E-15 Endangered Species Program – Great Lakes Shoreline Project – Annual Performance Report Segment 1 – 26 September 2004 - 30 September 2008 Page 4 of 6 Department of Natural Resources Lansing, MI in January 2008 by: Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota.

Breeding success both in terms of nesting pairs and fledged young hit their highest point in the 2007 nesting season (Figure 1). Sixty-three pairs fledged 137 young, up drastically from 13 pairs fledging 13 young in 1984.

Objective 5. Site conservation planning

Based on the results from the concentration analyses, MNFI worked with stakeholders and local partners in Schoolcraft and Figure 1: Piping Plover nesting success in Michigan from 1984 through 2007. Mackinac Counties to create a site conservation plan for the shoreline area from Thompson (just west of Manistique) to Naubinway. This site was chosen because it contains the highest percentage of private lands of the five highest scoring sites. This plan is intended as a guide for landowners, local, state and federal officials interested in conservation planning for the shoreline communities that occur in these counties. This plan is designed to stimulate interest and discussion and result in concrete policies and actions to conserve these biologically rich and unique shoreline communities. Because the area is so large, a separate plan for each county was developed.

Due to their size, these plans are not included in this report, but they are available in electronic or print format upon request:

Hyde, D.A., Enander, H.D., and J.J. Paskus. 2008. Schoolcraft County Shoreline Site Conservation Plan. Michigan Natural Features Inventory Report Number 2008-07. Submitted December 15, 2008 to MDNR Wildife Division. 50p.

Hyde, D.A., Enander, H.D., and J.J. Paskus. 2008. Mackinac County Shoreline Site Conservation Plan. Michigan Natural Features Inventory Report Number 2008-09. Submitted December 15, 2008 to MDNR Wildife Division. 42p.

Objective 6. Information and education

Information was provided to the public to help protect Great Lakes shoreline-dependent threatened and endangered species, particularly where plover nests coincide with species concentrations. At known and suspected Piping Plover nesting beaches, area closure signs,

STATE OF MICHIGAN – E-15 Endangered Species Program – Great Lakes Shoreline Project – Annual Performance Report Segment 1 – 26 September 2004 - 30 September 2008 Page 5 of 6 multi-species information signs and plover informational signs were installed. Examples of some specific information and education efforts completed are detailed as follows:

• Met with Schoolcraft County Officials on August 23, 2006 to discuss the high quality features located along the shoreline.

• Met with the plant manager and environmental coordinator of Ogelby Norton Minerals, Port Inland Operation in Schoolcraft and Mackinac Counties on August 24, 2006 to discuss the high quality features located on land owned by the plant and to receive permission to conduct further surveys on their property.

• Provided one educational workshop for Schoolcraft Township Supervisors and County Zoning Officials and MSU County Extension Director on September 7, 2007.

• Met with Richard Stevenson, MDNR Service Forester, and Sherri MacKinnon, MDNR Wildlife Biologist in Newberry to discuss the unique natural shoreline features in Mackinac County, identify threats to these features and brainstorm ways to protect shoreline communities and the plants and animals they support.

• Provided one educational workshop for the Schoolcraft County Planning Commission, CUPPAD (Central Upper Peninsula Planning and Development) and the general public on April 3, 2008.

• Provided one educational workshop for the general public and Schoolcraft County officials at a session to discuss updating the county’s master plan on August 14, 2008.

• Met with Thompson Township Supervisor Laurie Jasmin, (also Thompson Historic Advisory Committee member) at the Thompson State Historic site on August 15, 2008. We discussed potential additions to the interpretive panels at the shoreline historic site to include information on threatened and endangered species. In addition, brief surveys for rare plants and animals as well as invasive species were conducted at this site.

• Met with the plover monitor (hired by the Central Lake Superior Land Conservancy through USFWS funds) and interested public August 15, 2008 at the Gulliver Lake outlet plover nesting site to discuss long term protection strategies for plovers in Schoolcraft and Mackinac County.

• Copies of abstracts of rare shoreline plants, animals and natural communities were provided to meeting participants and those who attended the presentations (abstracts found at MNFI website).

• Copies of the publication “Between Land and Lake: Michigan’s Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands” were made available at all presentations.

• Digital copy of the Powerpoint presentation was provided to MDNR by MNFI.

STATE OF MICHIGAN – E-15 Endangered Species Program – Great Lakes Shoreline Project – Annual Performance Report Segment 1 – 26 September 2004 - 30 September 2008 Page 6 of 6 Westbrock et al. 2005

For Inter-agency Use Only N O T F O R P U B L I C A T I O N

Piping Plover Breeding Biology and Management in the Great Lakes, 2005

A Report Submitted to: East Lansing Field Office of the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service, East Lansing, MI Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Programs Michigan Department of Natural Resources Lansing, MI

21 November 2005

by: Mark Westbrock Erin Roche Francesca Cuthbert Jennifer Stucker

Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA 1980 Folwell Avenue St. Paul, MN 55108 (612) 624-1202 [email protected]

1 Westbrock et al. 2005

Contents:

Introduction 2 Methods 3 Results 5 A. Overview 5 B. Individual Site Summaries 5 Lower Peninsula – Michigan 5 Ludington State Park 6 Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore 6 Beaver Island 10 Cross Village Township 12 Bliss Township 12 Wilderness State Park 12 Upper Peninsula – Michigan 13 Pointe aux Chenes 13 Port Inland 14 Grand Marais 15 Vermilion 16 Wisconsin 16 C. Banding 16 D. Captive rearing 16 Discussion 17 Recommendations 18 Acknowledgements 19

2 Westbrock et al. 2005

Introduction: Historically, Piping Plovers (Charadrius melodus) nested along the shoreline of all the Great Lakes and were once considered locally common throughout the region (Hatt et al. 1948, Cotrille 1957, Lambert & Ratcliff 1981). Increased human use (e.g. recreation; residential development) of plover habitat over the past 100 years is believed to be the most important cause of population decline and current federal endangered status of the Great Lakes Piping Plover population. By 1986, only 17 pairs remained (USFWS 1988). Since listing (USFWS 1988) in 1986, nesting has been restricted to Mason, Benzie, Charlevoix, Emmet, Leelanau and Cheboygan counties in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula and Alger, Chippewa, Schoolcraft, Delta and Mackinac counties in the Upper Peninsula. Additionally, plovers have also nested in Bayfield and Marinette counties in Wisconsin. This report summarizes monitoring and management activities in the 2005 breeding season.

Methods: Surveys.—To document breeding activity or presence of nonbreeding plovers, we surveyed all Michigan shoreline occupied by nesting plovers since the population was listed and sites with historic records of nesting. Michigan surveys were conducted by field staff from USFWS East Lansing Field Office, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Little Traverse Band of Odawa Indians, National Park Service, US Forest Service, University of Michigan Biological Station (University of Minnesota), Central Michigan University, Lake Superior State University, and local volunteers. Wisconsin surveys were completed by the USFWS Green Bay Field Office, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (APIS), and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WI-DNR). Monitoring.--To monitor Piping Plover activity in 2005, we visited sites in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula that are known breeding areas (Stucker and Cuthbert 2004) and/or areas designated as Critical Habitat. Sites were checked repeatedly from late April to early-August. Sites where no plovers were found during visits early in the season were monitored less frequently. Participating cooperators searched all areas on foot along the shoreline and behind the foredune, where habitat appeared suitable. If plovers were sighted, we retreated to a distance at which the plovers resumed normal activity. We observed plovers through binoculars or a spotting scope for signs of breeding behavior or nesting activity. We monitored each pair of plovers periodically from nest initiation (or from when the nest was first located) until the chicks fledged or the pair left the site after the nest was destroyed or offspring disappeared. As in the past, close communication with landowners and agency personnel was critical to documenting plover movements and fate of chicks before and after fledging. GPS locations of nests were recorded at time of exclosure construction, banding or after plover families moved from their immediate nesting areas. Nest site protection.--At all areas except for Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, we erected a lower profile mini-exclosure, approximately 1 m square and 0.6 m tall of 2

x 4

(5 x 10 cm)

3 Westbrock et al. 2005 galvanized welded mesh, to protect the nest before clutch completion. Predator exclosures, similar to those described by Rimmer and Deblinger (1990), were erected around all nests (except High Island) upon clutch completion. We used three or four corner posts and 50
(15m) of 2

x 4

(5 x 10 cm) galvanized welded mesh to create a large exclosure. The tops of exclosures were covered with ¾” Bird- X netting. On North Manitou Island, all exclosures used three posts; clear 20 lb. test monofilament, strung at intervals of approximately 2”x 4” (5-10 cm), was used instead of Bird-X netting. After exclosures were erected, pairs were observed until one bird returned to incubate and often until a pair completed a nest exchange. Nesting areas were posted with Michigan DNR “Unlawful to Enter” signs, USFWS “Closed Area” signs, and/or modified Piping Plover signs for use on private or township properties. Nesting areas were closed with psychological fencing (twine and signs) where possible. Banding.-- We captured and banded adults and chicks according to procedures stipulated by our USFWS permit. We used a single-chamber Potter trap (Lincoln 1947) to capture adults while they incubated eggs on the nest. We replaced eggs with ceramic replicas (fake eggs) as a precaution against damaging eggs during trapping. In consultation with USFWS, Michigan DNR and other cooperators, we initiated a new banding system in 2005. The change in banding protocol was instituted to: standardized with the international shorebird banding scheme, potentially reduce risk of band wear/band injuries, and increase visibility/ease of identifying birds throughout the annual cycle. Adults were banded with a USFWS aluminum leg band above the tibiotarsal joint on one leg, an orange plastic flag above the tibiotarsal joint on the other leg, and a unique combination of three plastic color bands on the tarsi. We also weighed each bird, recorded sex of adults based on plumage characteristics (Wilcox 1959) and observed post-release behavior. We ensured eggs were not left exposed for excessive lengths of time, birds were handled as carefully and as briefly as possible, and adults were released near the nest after they were banded. We captured chicks by hand. Each was weighed and banded with a USFWS aluminum leg band above the tibiotarsal joint on one leg, an orange band above the tibiotarsal joint on the other leg, and one colored plastic band on the tarsus to indicate its brood. We attempted to capture all chicks from a single brood simultaneously and released them together to facilitate safe return to their parents. After release, we observed parents and chicks from a distance to verify parents reaccepted chicks. Captive rearing.--In the event of nest or egg abandonment, we watched nests until we were certain they were deserted (as per guidelines outlined in USFWS Permit PRT 810834) and then transported abandoned eggs to the University of Michigan Biological Station (UMBS) where we candled them to determine fertility. We placed eggs that appeared viable in our new Grumbach incubator (obtained by Tom Schneider, Detroit Zoo, through funding from National Fish and Wildlife Foundation) until they hatched or no development occurred as determined by candling; unhatched or inviable eggs were held in the refrigerator until they were sent to USFWS for contaminant analysis. General captive rearing methods were the same as described in previous annual reports (e.g. Stucker and Cuthbert 2004). Prior to release each chick was banded with an aluminum band and three plastic color bands. After release

4 Westbrock et al. 2005 the chicks were monitored for ~2 hrs. Thereafter, daily or every other day checks were conducted at the release sites to locate captive reared fledglings.

Results: A. Overview In 2005, 58 pairs of Piping Plovers nested in the Great Lakes region. Of these, 37 nested successfully (i.e. naturally fledged at least one chick), producing a total of 93 wild-reared fledglings (Table 1). Nests at North Manitou Island, Platte River, Ludington State Park and Pointe aux Chenes contributed the largest number of wild fledglings to the wild population; additional 2005 fledging estimates are detailed in Table 1. Average reproductive success was 1.60 wild-reared fledglings per nesting pair. Piping Plovers in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula produced an average of 1.7 wild-reared fledglings per pair, while Piping Plovers in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula produced an average of 1.3 wild-reared fledgling per nesting pair. The captive-rearing facility produced an average of 3 captive-reared fledglings per viable abandoned clutch. In 2005 58 nests were distributed across federal, state and private land in Michigan (Table 2). The percent of nests on private land appears to be decreasing as the population increases and plovers reoccupy federal and state owned habitat (e.g. Ludington State Park).

B. Individual Site Summaries

Lower Peninsula – Michigan

The following sites were surveyed by plover monitors in 2005, but no Piping Plovers were observed.

Lake Michigan Lake Huron Christmas Cove Alpena

Fisherman's Island State Park Cheboygan State Park Nordhouse Dunes, Huron-Manistee National Forest Grass Bay

South Fox Island Oscoda

Thornswift Preserve Tawas

5 Westbrock et al. 2005

Ludington State Park Four pairs were known to nest in Ludington State Park, two on the beach north of Big Sable Point lighthouse, one behind the foredune in this area, and one north of the public beachhouse and concession stand. Ludington State Park, north of beach house The pair was first seen on 9 May and a mini- exclosure was placed over a three-egg nest on 20 May. A full exclosure was constructed around the four-egg nest on 23 May. Four chicks hatched on 18 June, were banded on 28 June, and fledged on 8 July. The female was last seen on 8 July. Ludington State Park, Big Sable Point Lighthouse – East A four-egg nest was found behind the foredune on 8 June and a full exclosure was constructed around it on the following day. This was a renesting attempt for the female, after nest failure at Waugoshance West. Three chicks hatched on 18 June, were banded on 7 July; the fourth egg was abandoned and taken to UMBS. Two chicks were banded on 28 July. No fledging data reported. The female was last seen on 19 July. Ludington State Park, Big Sable Point Lighthouse - West A four-egg nest was found on 21 June and a mini exclosure was deployed. A full exclosure was constructed on 23 June. Four chicks hatched on 15 July, were banded on 28 July, and fledged on date unknown. The female was last seen on 19 July. Ludington State Park, Big Sable Point Lighthouse – North The pair was first seen on 5 May and were observed copulating on 12 May. The nest was found with three eggs on 18 May; exclosure construction date unknown. Four chicks hatched on 14 June, were banded on 30 June, and fledged on 8 July. The female was last seen on 8 July.

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Twenty-five pairs of Piping Plovers nested in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in 2005; 48 young fledged.

SLBE-Platte River Fourteen pairs nested in the vicinity of Platte River mouth; twenty-six individuals comprised these fourteen pairs because two individuals renested after their partners were apparently killed by predators (A Merlin was suspected). Platte- Railroad A pair was first seen on 29 April and a nest with three eggs was found on 9 May. The four-egg nest was fully exclosed on 16 May. Four chicks hatched between 6 and 7 June; one was lost on 15 June, the day after severe rain and wind. The remaining three chicks were banded on 21 June and one of these disappeared on 25 June; presence of crows, gulls, and dog tracks was noted. Two chicks fledged on 3 July and the parents were last seen on 5 July.

6 Westbrock et al. 2005

Platte- Tiesma One The male was first seen on 21 April and the female on 29 April; a three-egg nest was found on 9 May. The four-egg nest was fully exclosed on 16 May. On 21 May the male was not present and the female was not incubating. Four eggs were collected and later determined to be inviable. Male believed killed by a Merlin. Platte- Tiesma Two The female from Platte – Tiesma One renested with a new male, seen for the first time on 21 May. A four-egg nest was found on 2 June and was exclosed the following day. Four chicks hatched between 28 and 29 June and were banded on 6 July. The male was last seen on 11 July. One chick was lost on 22, and the remaining three fledged on 27 July with the female still present. Platte Point – North One The pair was first seen on 16 May and a four-egg nest was found and exclosed on the following day. Four chicks hatched between 12 and 13 June and were banded on 21 June; the female was last seen the day before chick banding. One chick disappeared on 25 June and the remaining three chicks fledged on 10 July. Platte Point – North Two The pair was first seen on 9 May and a four-egg nest was found and exclosed on 17 May. Four eggs were removed and taken to UMBS on 20 May, after the female was not seen and the male was not incubating. All four eggs hatched in captivity; one chick died, one escaped, and two were released at Platte Point on 6 July. The male was seen in the area on 5 June. Female believed killed by Merlin. Platte Point – North Three The pair was first seen on 5 May and a two-egg nest was found on 23 May. Four eggs were present on 27 May, when a full exclosure was erected. Following the erection of the exclosure, the adults did not return to incubate for over an hour and the exclosure was removed. An exclosure was successfully erected on 3 June when five eggs were present in the nest. Three eggs hatched on 26 June and a fourth egg hatched on 1 July. The remaining egg was removed from the nest on 2 July and was determined to be inviable. Two chicks disappeared between 5-6 July and the remaining two chicks were banded on 6 July. An aggressive killdeer was present in the area at the time of chick disappearance. The female was last seen on 11 July and two chicks fledged on 24 July. Platte Point - Central One The pair was first seen on 27 April and a three-egg nest was found on 2 May; the nest still had three eggs when a full exclosure was erected on 4 May. Three eggs were removed and taken to UMBS on 13 May, after it was determined that the male had a new nest with two eggs and a new female (Platte Point – Central Two) and the original female was not observed. All three eggs were determined to be inviable. Female believed killed by a Merlin. Platte Point - Central Two The pair was first seen together on 12 May with a two-egg nest; ; three eggs were present the following day. The nest had four eggs when a full exclosure was erected on 16 May. Four chicks hatched on 13 June and were banded on 21 June.

7 Westbrock et al. 2005

The female was last seen on 1 July. Four chicks fledged between 11-12 July. The male was last seen near the nest on 12 July but was observed at Dimmick’s Point on North Manitou Island on 20 July. Platte Point – South One The pair was observed copulating on 21 April and a three-egg nest was found and exclosed on 6 May. The male was last seen on 17 May and four eggs were collected and taken to UMBS on 20 May. It rained the day and night before the abandonment. Three chicks from the collected eggs hatched in captivity and were released at Pointe aux Chenes. Male believed killed by Merlin. Platte Point – South Two The pair was first observed and a one-egg nest found on 12 May. A full exclosure was erected around the four-egg nest on 16 May. Four chicks hatched on 16 May and were banded on 1 June. The female and male were last seen on 7 July and 11 July, respectively. Four chicks fledged on 11 July. Platte Point – South Three The pair was first seen and a four-egg nest found on 21 May; a full exclosure was erected the following day. The male was last seen on 29 May and is suspected to have been killed by a merlin. Four eggs were collected and taken to UMBS, where three of them hatched. The female was last seen on 1 June. Platte Point – South Four The pair was first seen together on 20 May; this was a renest effort for the female following failure of Platte Point – South One. A two-egg nest was found on 30 May; four eggs were present on 2 June and the nest was exclosed on the following day. Three eggs hatched on 28 June; the fourth was removed the following day and later determined to be inviable. Three chicks were banded on 6 July, one of which was found dead on 9 July with cause of death unknown; the carcass was sent in for necropsy. The remaining two chicks fledged on 27 July. The female was last seen at Platte on 8 July and was reported at Sturgeon Bay the following day. Boekeloo A female was seen with one older chick for the first and last time on 30 June. The chick is presumed to have died before fledging. South Old Indian Trail The pair was first seen on 2 May; a four-egg nest was found behind the foredune on 30 May and exclosed the following day. Four chicks hatched on 12 June and disappeared the following day. The female was last seen on 17 June and the male on 1 July, both in the Platte Point area.

SLBE-Glen Haven One pair nested near Glen Haven in 2005. Sleeping Bear Point A pair was first seen on 2 May but not seen again until 24 June when they had four chicks. Estimated hatch date is 7 June. The female and two chicks disappeared on 25 June. Two unbanded chicks fledged on 5 July; the male was still present.

8 Westbrock et al. 2005

SLBE-North Manitou Island Ten nests were initiated on North Manitou Island at Dimmick’s Point in 2005. No nests were found at Donner Point. NMI Dimmick - East One The pair was first seen on 10 May and a four-egg nest was exclosed on 18 May. Four chicks hatched between 11-12 June, were banded on 27 June, and fledged on 9 July. The female was last seen on 12 July. NMI Dimmick - East Two The pair was first seen on 11 May and a three-egg nest was found on 19 May. The nest was exclosed with four eggs on 26 May. Three chicks hatched between 18 June and the remaining inviable egg was collected on the following day. Three chicks were banded on 27 June and fledged on 15 July. The female was last seen on 14 July. NMI Dimmick - East Three The female was first seen on 26 May and the male on 6 June; a three-egg nest was found on 6 June. The nest was exclosed with four eggs on 9 June. Four chicks hatched on 2 July and were banded on 17 June. Two chicks disappeared on 20 July and the remaining two fledged on 30 July. The female was last seen on 11 July. NMI Dimmick - East Four The pair was first seen on 1 June, and a four-egg nest was found on 20 June. The nest was exclosed on 28 June. Four chicks hatched on12 July, were banded on 17 July, and disappeared on 20 July. The female was last seen on 14 July. NMI Dimmick - Central One The pair was first seen on 11 May and an exclosure was constructed around a three-egg nest on 18 May. Four chicks hatched on 14 June and were banded on 27 June. One chick disappeared on 29 June and the remaining three fledged on 12 July. The female was last seen on 4 July. NMI Dimmick - Central Two The pair was first seen on 10 May and an exclosure was constructed around a four-egg nest on 25 May. Four chicks hatched on 15 June and two were banded on 27 June. Two banded and two unbanded chicks fledged on an unknown date. The female was last seen on 10 July. NMI Dimmick - Central Three The pair was first seen with a three-egg nest on 26 May and an exclosure was constructed on the same day. A fourth egg was seen on 2 June and all four hatched on 24 June. One chick disappeared on 11 July and the remaining three fledged, unbanded, on 17 July. The female was last seen on 2 July. NMI Dimmick - Central Four The pair was first seen copulating on 10 May and an exclosure was constructed around a four-egg nest on 1 June. Four chicks hatched on 18 June; two disappeared on 20 June. The remaining two chicks were banded on 27 June and fledged on 16 July. The female was last seen on 3 July. NMI Dimmick - West One The male was first seen on 10 May; the first sighting of the female was unreported. A four-egg nest was found and exclosed on 26 May. Four chicks hatched on 12 June; one disappeared on 18 June and another on 20 June. The remaining

9 Westbrock et al. 2005

two chicks were banded on 27 June and fledged on 9 July. The female was last seen on 5 July. NMI Dimmick – West Two The pair was first seen on 10 May and an exclosure was constructed around a four-egg nest on 26 May. Four chicks hatched on 9 June, three were banded on 27 June. One chick disappeared on 3 July; it was not noted whether or not this chick was banded. The remaining three chicks fledged on 4 July, the same day that the female was last seen.

Beaver Island - The pair was first seen on in late May. Three of 4 eggs hatched and were banded n 11 June. Three chicks fledged in early July. The adult male from this nest was observed limping on his banded (leg) foot. J. Stucker attempted to capture him on 18 and 29 June but failed to do so. After 29 June, the foot improved. He was no longer limping right before he departed the nest territory for fall migration. .

High Island – NE Spit I The pair was first seen the week of the 16th of May. One of the adults was believed to have been banded as a chick on South Fox in 2004. Biologists from the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa found a four egg nest but by 18 June no eggs, chicks or adults were observed. This pair failed to produce any fledglings.

Petoskey State Park A pair of Piping Plovers nested at Petoskey State Park for the first time since intensive monitoring was initiated (1980s). The pair was first observed by local birders on 14 May; a single-egg nest was found on 18 May and a mini-exclosure was erected. A full exclosure was constructed around the three-egg nest on 28 May. The fourth egg was laid on 30 May and four chicks hatched on 24 June. The adult female was last seen on 28 June. In the time between hatching and fledging, the chicks and the male parent moved > 1 mi north onto private land. One chick disappeared on 30 June. The remaining three chicks were banded on 7 July and fledged on 17 July.

Cross Village Township Cross Village Central Two pairs of Piping Plovers nested on private property at Cross Village Central in 2005. All full-sized exclosures had netting tops. Pairs were seen as early as 1 May by Nan Hogan.

Cross Village Central – Township No birds nesting on this property in 2005, although the point area adjoining the old breakwall was used extensively for chick rearing by “north” pair (see below).

Cross Village Central – North A pair was observed on 1 May and a 2 egg nest located 8 May; a mini exclosure was placed over the nest. On 11 May a full sized exclosure was constructed around

10 Westbrock et al. 2005

the four-egg nest. Four chicks hatched from the nest on 5 June, but only two remained by 6 June. Two chicks were banded on 20 June; one of these disappeared subsequently One chick fledged and was last seen on 8 July.

Cross Village Central – South A pair was observed on 10 May and a 1 egg nest was located on 22 May; a mini exclosure was placed over the nest immediately. On 27 May, a full sized exclosure was constructed around the four-egg nest. On 2 June, the nest was discovered abandoned; the exclosure appeared to be disturbed; large dog footprints surrounding the perimeter. Four eggs were salvaged and captive reared (Table 5).

Cross Village North Three pairs of Piping Plovers nested on the beach in the Cross Village Shores development in 2005. Two nests (1 & 2) were on property owned by Bill and Mary Lou Sommerville. The third nest was 400 m to the south.

Cross Village North-1 A pair was observed on 7 May. A 3 egg nest was located the same day. A mini exclosure was placed over the nest on 7 May and on 9 May a full sized exclosure was constructed around the four-egg nest. Four chicks hatched from the nest on 5 June, but all disappeared by 12 June. The number of gulls in the immediate area increased dramatically around the time of hatching and disappearance of the chicks.

Cross Village North – 2 A pair was observed on 7 May; a two egg nest was located on 11 May and protected with a mini-exclsoure. A full exclosure was constructed on 15 May when there was a four-egg nest. Four chicks hatched from the nest on 12 June;all four had disappeared by 13 June.

Cross Village North – 3 A pair was first seen on Sommerville’s property; they moved ~200 meters south and were observed on 16 May. A three-egg nest was discovered by local homeowners on 18 May and a mini-exclosure was placed over the nest on the following day. After meeting with landowner on 27 May, the nest was moved toward the dune by ~2 m to prevent washout and a full exclosure was constructed around the four-egg nest. Three chicks hatched ~13-15 June, but disappeared on the same day. The exclosure and closed area were removed on 20 June.

Bliss Township Two nests were discovered at Bliss Beach in 2005, both on Bliss Township land.

Bliss Township Beach The pair was first seen on 15 May and a single-egg was nest found; a mini- exclosure constructed on 16 May. A full exclosure was erected around the three-egg nest on 21 May; a fourth egg was laid the following day. On 23 May, neither parent was seen in the vicinity of the nest for three hours, so the four eggs were removed and taken to UMBS; fake eggs were placed in the nest cup. During the above three-hour period, the female was seen foraging at Sturgeon Bay. On 24 May, the fake eggs were incubated, so the real eggs were returned to the nest. Three chicks hatched on 19 June; one chick disappeared between 25-26 June. The remaining two chicks were banded on 2 July and one of these disappeared between 5-6 July. One chick fledged on 8 July.

Bliss Township Beach – North A single bird was seen and a single-egg nest found on 11 June, approximately 200 meters north of the above nest. A mini-exclosure was placed over the nest on 12

11 Westbrock et al. 2005

June and two more eggs were laid by 16 June. No adults were observed near the nest after 13 June and the eggs soon became buried in sand. Eggs were collected about 16-20 June for captive rearing. 2/3 eggs failed to develop and one died during development.

Wilderness State Park Wilderness State Park provided habitat for five pairs of Piping Plovers in 2005. All completed nests were protected with full-sized exclosures with net tops.

Sturgeon Bay A pair was observed on 11 May and a four-egg nest discovered on 20 May. A mini-exclosure was used to protect the nest until 21 May, when a full sized exclosure was constructed. Four chicks hatched on 18 June; one disappeared within two days of hatching. The remaining three chicks were banded on 2 July and fledged on 6 July.

Waugoshance East A pair was first seen on 23 May and a three-egg nest found and fitted with a mini-exclosure on 30 May. The four-egg nest was fully exclosed on 2 June. Four chicks hatched on 27 June; two disappeared before fledging. The remaining two chicks were banded on 13 July and fledged on 25 July.

Waugoshance West The pair was first seen on 14 May and a copulation was observed on 23 May. A four-egg nest was found on 25 May, but was not fitted with a mini-exclosure. The nest and both parents were gone on the following day. The female from this nest later renested at Ludington State Park, Big Sable Point Lighthouse – East.

Waugoshance Point The pair was first seen on 14 May; a four-egg nest was found and protected with a mini-exclosure on 23 May. A full exclosure was erected on 26 May. Three chicks hatched on 16 June; two chicks disappeared before fledging. The remaining chick was banded on 4 July and fledged on 12 July.

Temperance Island - Backside A pair was first discovered in this area on 24 May, and a four egg nest located and fitted with a mini-exclosure. On 2 June, the mini-exclosure was found mangled, with welds ripped apart, next to the nest which was still being incubated. It was later speculated that a bear was responsible for the damage. The mangled mini-exclosure was replaced by a full exclosure on the same day. This nest was not visited again until two weeks later, 16 June, when the nest was found empty; no Piping Plovers were present.

12 Westbrock et al. 2005

Upper Peninsula – Michigan

Surveys in suitable habitat were conducted by Nicole Lamp and Christie Deloria-Sheffield (USFWS), Hiawatha National Forest St. Ignace office personnel, and U of Minnesota field biologists stationed at UMBS. The following locations were checked in 2005 and no Piping Plovers were observed.

Lake Superior Lake Michigan Lake Huron

Beaver Creek River, mouth Naubinway, west St. Vital's Bay and Point

Chapel Beach

Crisp Point Grand Marais, Coast Guard Point Grand Marais, Inner West Bay Hurricane River, mouth Lake Superior State Campground, beach Little Lake Harbor Mosquito Bay Muskellunge State Pakr Naomikong Point Sullivan's Creek, mouth Twelve-mile Beach Two-hearted River, mouth Whitefish Point

Pointe aux Chenes Six nests were found in the Pointe aux Chenes area in 2005; four on private property and two on Hiawatha National Forest land.

Pointe aux Chenes - East A pair of plovers was first observed on 2 May; the birds were seen copulating on 22 May; they were also seen scraping near the Brevort River mouth. A mini-exclosure was placed over the single-egg nest on 22 May. A full exclosure was erected around the four-egg nest on 31 May. Four chicks hatched on 26 June; three were banded on 5 July and the fourth on 11 July. All four chicks fledged on 19 July. The female was last seen on 12 July and the male on 20 July.

Pointe aux Chenes - Central The male was first observed on 4 May and the female on 7 May; the pair was seen copulating on 16 May. A mini-exclosure was placed over the single- egg nest on 16 May and a full exclosure was erected around the four-egg nest on 26 May. Four chicks hatched on 18 June; one disappeared on 19 or 20 June. The remaining three were banded on 28 June and fledged on 16 July. The female was last seen on 4 July and the male on 20 July.

13 Westbrock et al. 2005

Pointe aux Chenes - West The pair was first observed on 7 May; the male was seen tatooing on 19 May. A mini-exclosure was placed over the single-egg nest on 22 May and a full exclosure was erected around the four-egg nest on 31 May. One chick hatched on 22 June; the three unhatched eggs were taken to UMBS and determined to be inviable. The remaining chick was banded on 5 July and fledged on 14 July. The female was last seen on 7 July and the male on 17 July.

Pointe aux Chenes - West West The pair was first observed on 11 June and a was copulation observed on 18 June. A mini-exclosure was placed over the single-egg nest on 24 June; the clutch was completed on 29 June and a full exclosure was erected on 5 July. The female was last seen on 17 July and the nest was abandoned on the following day. The eggs were not salvaged due to the late date. The male was last seen on 18 July.

Pointe aux Chenes, US-2 & V-ball net The male was first observed on 4 May and the female on 15 May; the pair was seen copulating on 15 May. A mini-exclosure was placed over the single-egg nest on 22 May and the clutch was completed on 27 May; a full exclosure was erected on 31 May. Four chicks hatched on 24 June and were banded on 5 July. Two chicks fledged on 14 July. The female was last seen on 7 July and the male on 10 July.

Brevort River Mouth A pair was first observed making nest scrapes on 12 June;. A one-egg nest was found on 16 June and a four egg clutch was completed by 24 June. A full exclosure was constructed on 28 June. Four chicks hatched on 17 June and three chicks were banded on 27 July. One chick fledged on 6 August and was last seen on 10 August. The male was last seen on 8 August.

Indian Point A pair was first observed on 22 June; the female and male were last seen on 24 and 25 June, respectively. No nest was found for this pair.

Port Inland Five nests were found in the Port Inland area in 2005; one was located on private property and four were located on state land.

Port Inland 1, east A pair was first observed on 18 May. On 25 May a mini exclosure was erected over a four egg nest. A full exclosure was constructed on 27 May. Four chicks hatched on 18 June. The female was last seen on 29 June. The chicks were last observed on 1 July. Chicks were likely predated by red fox, Ring-billed Gulls or American Crows,

14 Westbrock et al. 2005

all of which were observed in the nest site area from 1 to 5 July. The male was last observed 5 July. No chicks fledged from this nest.

Port Inland 2, Central A pair was first observed 25 May. On 27 May a one-egg nest was located and a mini-exclosure was erected. The male and female were banded on 11 and 14 June respectively. Four chicks hatched on 27 June and were last seen on 1 July. Chicks were likely predated by red fox, Ring-billed Gulls, or American Crows; all were observed in the nest site area from 1 to 5 July. Both adults were last seen on 1 July. No chicks fledged from this nest.

Port Inland 3 West at Breakwall - A pair was first observed on 18 May. On 6 June a 3-egg nest was discovered and a mini exclosure was constructed. On 30 June, 25-30 mph winds put the nest in danger of wash out. Eggs were recovered and transported to the University of Michigan Biological Station for captive rearing. Four chicks hatched on 2 July and were released at Wilderness State Park on 29 July (Table 5).

Port Inland 4 (between east and central) A captive-reared male and an unbanded female were observed nest scraping and copulating on 12 June. A four-egg nest was located on 20 June and a mini exclosure was subsequently erected. The nest was located about 3 meters from the lake shore and on 23 June washed out during a storm. Eggs were not salvageable. The female was last seen on 30 June and the male was last seen on 24 June.

Gulliver Lake Outlet A pair was first observed on 25 May. On 31 May a four-egg nest was discovered and a full exclosure was constructed by 1 June. The male was banded on 11 June. Four chicks hatched on 28 Jun and two chicks were banded on 5 July. The female was last observed on 2 July. The chicks are believed to have fledged, but the monitors were not able to visit this site after 21 July.

Grand Marais East Bay A pair was observed on 7 May. A one-egg nest was located on 23 May and the nest was protected using a mini-exclosure. A full-sized exclosure was constructed on 27 May. Three chicks hatched on 24 June and were later banded on 8 July. The female was last observed on 17 July. Three chicks fledged from this location. The male and one chick were last observed on July 28. Two remaining chicks were last observed foraging on 16 August.

15 Westbrock et al. 2005

Vermilion Vermilion ~E6 A 4 egg nest was located on the Vermilion property in late May. A mini- exclosure was used to protect the nest until a full-sized exclosure was constructed. Both adults were banded on 17 June. Four chicks hatched; one chick was banded on 15 July. One chick fledged from this location.

Wisconsin Long Island A four nest was located in May on Long Island, Wisconsin and an exclosure was constructed. At the next visit on 6 June, only 1 chick was observed. On a return visit, one chick was banded by Sumner Matteson, WI DNR about 13 July. The chick was about 2-3 weeks old. Only one chick is estimated to have fledged from this location.

C. Banding At the beginning of the 2005 season, 32% of the breeding individuals (26 of 110 breeding adults) were identifiable by color band combinations. Of the 84 birds originally without unique band combinations in 2005, three were identifiable because of physical or behavioral characteristics, 17 were not banded, and 62 had partial band combinations. Two breeding adults were not identified before their nests failed. During the summer we were able to capture and uniquely band 46 individuals that had partial combinations and 13 that were unbanded, for a total of 59 adults banded in 2005. We replaced incoloy bands with USFWS aluminum bands on five of these individuals. The average handling time for each adult was about six minutes. No nest abandonments could be attributed to banding activity. At the end of the summer, we were able to individually recognize 80% of adults (88 of 110); 3.6% of the adult population remained unbanded. Of 145 chicks known to hatch in the wild in 2005, we banded 99 (68%). Of 91 chicks assumed to have fledged in the wild, 83 (91%) were banded. Only one leg injury was observed in 2005. In mid-June the adult male and the Donagal Bay, Beaver Island nest was observed limping on its banded leg. It was observed in this condition for several weeks. J. Stucker visited the site to attempt to capture the bird to inspect the “injury” but the bird could not be trapped. Bird began using the foot again and appeared normal prior to migration. The nature of the problem was never determined. Therefore, we do not know if it was band related or not.

D. Captive rearing Fifteen chicks were successfully released from the captive-rearing facility at the University of Michigan Biological Station, Pellston, MI. Three of the five clutches were salvaged from Platte River nests. At this site, several of the adult breeders were believed to have been killed by Merlins, which

16 Westbrock et al. 2005 caused an unprecedented increase in localized nest abandonment. Captive-reared Piping Plovers were released at Point aux Chenes, Platte Pointe and Wilderness State Park (see Table 5 for detailed collection/release site information). The captive rearing effort was significantly enhanced by participation from the Detroit Zoo and 25 keepers from zoos across the country. Keepers (approximately one/week) assisted with rearing efforts. Zoo personnel contributed important expertise and insights, enabling field staff to focus on wild plover recovery.

Discussion: The Great Lakes Piping Plover population increased by 9% between 2004-2005 thus building on the significant population increase recorded in 2002. The 2005 wild-fledging success estimate of approximately 1.6 chicks/pair was above the long-term average. Despite proper use of nest exclosures, chick mortality remained an important issue in 2005. In 2003, Sleeping Bear Dunes and USDA Wildlife Services initiated a program of lethal and non-lethal avian predator (e.g. crows, ravens, gulls) control to reduce predation on North Manitou. This program appears to be working as measured by number of nesting pairs (10 in 2005 compared to an average of 5 for the years 2000-2002), fledged chicks (26 in 2005 compared to an average of 5 for the years 2000- 2002) and reproductive success (2.6 fledged chicks per pair in 2005 compared to an average of 1.15 fledged chicks per pair for the years 2000-2002). In 2005, North Manitou produced > 25% of all chicks fledged in the Great Lakes region. However, multiple protection strategies will continue to be important for plover chick protection post-hatching. Of additional concern is the continued loss and local extirpation of nesting pairs from traditionally occupied breeding habitat, particularly the south shore of Lake Superior (e.g. Grand Marais and Vermilion). Increased plover abundance and nest density at Sleeping Bear Dunes and Wilderness State Park makes larger portions of the population more susceptible to local, possibly catastrophic events (e.g. smart predators, disease transmission, inclement weather). This was experienced at the Platte River in 2005 when 5 breeding adults were believed to be killed by a Merlin. These stochastic events are of great concern because they could impact reproductive success and reduce population gains made in the last 10 years. In the 2005 season there was a significant effort to uniquely band/reband breeding Great Lakes Piping Plover adults, allowing us to detect all pairs and nests with confidence. Based on observations of unbanded fledglings from June – August, and numerous banded and unbanded adults, we believe there were ≥2 additional pairs that nested successfully on the northern shore of Lake Michigan and possibly another 2-3 pairs attempted nesting on the western shore of Lake Huron between Tawas and Alpena. We also believe it is likely that pairs are nesting in Wisconsin but remain undetected. As the population increases, we will likely reach a point where census by direct nest count may need to be replaced by a population wide sampling effort.

17 Westbrock et al. 2005

RECOMMENDATIONS:

MONITORING

• Standardize collection of GPS locations at each nest site; we recommend GPS locations be taken at the time the exclosure is placed (preferably the mini; ideally location should be taken when nest is first discovered); instructions and practice using a GPS should be integrated into pre-season field training program.

• Verify adult identity (color bands; gender) at all nest sites.

• Require monitors to carefully record color combinations and activities of all non-breeding adults in their study area.

• Develop method to use surveillance equipment to monitor low productivity sites for cause of chick deaths/disappearances. This will require additional funding.

• Continue close monitoring of potential Piping Plover breeding sites; nest checks every 1-2 days are recommended.

• Continue communication with Canada and neighboring states; request reports of color banded birds.

• Continue banding adult Piping Plovers and chicks.

MANAGEMENT • Evaluate protection of beaches used by nesting plovers on a site-by-site basis and strengthen efforts as appropriate.

• Actively pursue protection and preservation of Piping Plover habitat; we especially recommend removal of invasive vegetation where it encroaches on recently occupied nesting habitat.

• Continue to work with and inform local law enforcement, including conservation officers and county sheriffs, about Piping Plover occurrence, legal status, enforcement needed for recovery (vandalism, trespassing and leash laws), and the presence of plover monitors in their area.

• Allocate funding and personnel for monitoring in an adaptive manner.

• Provide priority attention to sites with highest potential for new colonization or increased protection during April and May when birds arrive; react quickly when recolonization occurs to secure appropriate protection.

• Foster and promote communication and cooperation among Piping Plover researchers, agency

18 Westbrock et al. 2005 personnel, and the public.

• Increase public awareness and knowledge about the Piping Plover through special programs, especially in areas where conflict between the public and plover conservation develops. Research

• Identify and quantify amount and quality of existing habitat on private lands outside Michigan .

RESEARCH

• Investigate the impact of hatching location on fledgling return-rate.

• Explore the influence of parental male territoriality on reproductive success (i.e. number of fledglings/pair).

• Estimate the nutrient productivity of current and historic Piping Plover nest site locations.

• Ascertain the contribution of captive-rearing to Great Lakes Piping Plover recovery

• Identify the cause of lower return-rates observed in captive-reared Piping Plovers relative to wild- reared Piping Plovers.

• Project the future viability of the Great Lakes Piping Plover population given current status and demographic parameters.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: This report was possible through the cooperation and assistance of the numerous people who work for the following agencies or institutions: USFWS East Lansing Field Office, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Little Traverse Band of Odawa Indians, National Park Service, US Forest Service, University of Michigan Biological Station (University of Minnesota), Central Michigan University, Lake State University, and local volunteers. Wisconsin surveys were completed by the USFWS Green Bay Field Office, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (APIS), and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WI-DNR). The captive rearing program was supervised by the Detroit Zoo (particularly Tom Schneider and Bonnie VanDam). Staff from multiple zoos from across the U.S. participated in this program. We thank them for their enthusiasm and insights about raising plovers in captivity. Finally, private citizens committed to plover conservation dedicated significant time to plover recovery; we are extremely grateful for their dedication and time. This project was funded through the USFWS and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation; additional logistical support was received from the National Park Service, Detroit Zoo, the University of Michigan Biological Station and the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station.

19 Westbrock et al. 2005

LITERATURE CITED: Cotrille, B. D. 1957. Summer distribution of the Piping Plover in Michigan. Jack-Pine Warbler 35:26-33. Hatt, R. T., J. Van, L. C. Stuart, C. H. Pope, and A .B. Grobman. 1948. Island life: A study of the land vertebrates of the islands of Lake Michigan. Cranbrook Press, Bloomfield Hills, MI. Lambert, A., and B. Ratcliff. 1981. Present status of the Piping Plover in Michigan. Jack-Pine Warbler 59: 44-52. Lincoln, F. C. 1949. Manual for Bird Banders. U.S. Dept. of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. Powell, A. N., F. J. Cuthbert, L. C. Wemmer, A. W. Doolittle, and S. T. Feirer. 1997. Captive rearing piping plovers: developing techniques to augment wild populations. Zoo. Biol. 1166: 461-477. Rimmer, D. W. and R. D. Deblinger. 1990. Use of predator exclosure to protect Piping Plover nests. Journal of Field Ornithology 61(2):217-223. Stucker, J. H. and F. J. Cuthbert. 2004. Piping Plover breeding biology and management in the state of Michigan, 2004. Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Endangered Species Office, Lansing, MI. USFWS. 1988. Great Lakes and Northern Great Plains Piping Plover recovery plan. USFWS, Twin Cities, MN. Wemmer, L.C., U. Ozesmi, and F.J. Cuthbert. 2001. A habitat-based population model for the Great Lakes population of the piping plover. Biological Conservation 99: 169-181. Wilcox, L. 1959. A twenty year banding study of the Piping Plover. Auk 76:129-152.

20 Westbrock et al. 2005

Table 1. Contribution of nest regions to Piping Plover productivity (chicks fledged) in the Great Lakes in 2005. 2005 Site Contributions Percentage of Total Percentage of Total Wild Fledglings Captive Fledglings Lower Peninsula of Michigan Ludington State Park 14.0% Sleeping Bear Dunes

Platte River 21.5% 53.3% Glen Haven 2.2% North Manitou Island 28.0% High Island 0.0% Beaver Island 3.2% Petoskey State Park 3.2% Cross Village Township

Cross Village South 0.0% Cross Village Central 1.1% 20.0% Cross Village North 0.0% Bliss Township 1.1% Wilderness State Park 6.5% Upper Peninsula of Michigan Pointe Aux Chenes 11.8% Port Inland 0.0% 26.7%

Seul Choix 2.2% Grand Marais 3.2% Vermilion 1.1% Wisconsin Long Island 1.1%

Table 2. Summary of land ownership at 2005 Great Lakes Piping Plover nest sites. I suggest you bold private nests like you did for public

Number of Nests Ownership Lower Peninsula of Michigan Upper Peninsula of Michigan Wisconsin Total Public 38 11 1 50 (86%) Federal 25 6 1 32 (55%) State 11 5 0 16 (28%) Township 2 0 0 2 (3%) Private 6 2 0 8 (14%)

21 Westbrock et al. 2005

Table 3. Reproductive Success of Great Lakes Piping Plover Nests in 2005.

Nest Location County Ownership Incubation Date Hatch Date Eggs Hatched Fledged Chicks Banded

Lower Peninsula of Michigan L udington State Park, north of Beach house Mason state 22-May-2005 19-Jun-2005 4 4 4 4 Ludington State Park, south @ light pan Mason state 11-Jun-2005 8-Jul-2005 4 3 3 2 L udington State Park, south @ light beach Mason state 21-Jun-2005 17-Jul-2005 4 4 4 3 Ludington State Park, north of light Mason state 27-May-2005 27-May-2005 4 4 2 2 P latte North -1 Benzie federal 17-May-2005 12-Jun-2005 4 4 3 4 P latte North -3 Benzie federal 27-May-2005 26-Jun-2005 5 4 2 2 Platte Central -2 Benzie federal 15-May-2005 13-Jun-2005 4 4 4 4 P latte South - 2 Benzie federal 12-May-2005 13-Jun-2005 4 4 4 4 P latte South - 4 Benzie federal 1-Jun-2005 28-Jun-2005 4 3 2 3 Platte North -2** Benzie federal 16-May-2005 9-Jun-2005 4 4 2 2 P latte Central -1* Benzie federal 6-May-2005 3 0 0 P latte South - 1** Benzie federal 6-May-2005 4-Jun-2005 4 3 3 3 Platte South - 3** Benzie federal 22-May-2005 14-Jun-2005 4 4 3 3 P latte Tiesma* Benzie federal 4 0 0 Platte South - 5 Boekeloo Benzie federal 1-Jun-2005 1 1 0 - P latte-SOIT Benzie federal 16-May-2005 12-Jun-2005 4 4 0 - P latte Tiesma 2 Benzie federal 1-Jun-2005 29-Jun-2005 4 4 3 4 Platte - Railroad Grade -1 Benzie federal 9-May-2005 7-Jun-2005 4 4 2 3 G len Haven-Sleeping Bear Point Leelanau federal 4 4 2 N MI - Dimmick, East 1 Leelanau federal 15-May-2005 11-Jun-2005 4 4 4 4 NMI - Dimmick, East 2 Leelanau federal 21-May-2005 17-Jun-2005 4 3 3 3 N MI - Dimmick, East 3 Leelanau federal 7-Jun-2005 2-Jul-2005 4 4 2 4 N MI - Dimmick, East 4 Leelanau federal 13-Jun-2005 12-Jul-2005 4 4 0 4 NMI - Dimmick, Central 1 Leelanau federal 17-May-2005 14-Jun-2005 4 4 3 4 N MI - Dimmick, Central 2 Leelanau federal 25-May-2005 15-Jun-2005 4 4 4 2 N MI - Dimmick, Central 3 Leelanau federal 26-May-2005 24-Jun-2005 4 4 3 1 NMI - Dimmick, Central 4 Leelanau federal 30-May-2005 18-Jun-2005 4 4 2 2 N MI - Dimmick, West 1 Leelanau federal 26-May-2005 12-Jun-2005 4 4 2 2 N MI - Dimmick, West 2 Leelanau federal 26-May-2005 9-Jun-2005 4 4 3 3 Petoskey State Park Emmet state 30-May-2005 24-Jun-2005 4 4 3 3 C ross Village Central - North Emmet private 10-May-2005 Jun-5-2005 4 4 1 2 Cross Villlage North- 1 Emmet private 9-May-2005 5-Jun-2005 4 4 0 - C ross Villlage North - 2 Emmet private 15-May-2005 12-Jun-2005 4 4 0 - C ross Villlage North - 3 Emmet private 22-May-2005 19-Jun-2005 4 3 0 - Cross Village Central - South* Emmet private 27-May-2005 24-Jun-2005 4 3 3 B liss North - Wilderness** Emmet state 13-Jun-2005 3 0 0 B liss Township Beach Emmet township 21-May-2005 19-Jun-2005 4 3 1 2 Sturgeon Bay Emmet township 19-May-2005 18-Jun-2005 4 4 3 3 W augoshance East Emmet state 31-May-2005 27-Jun-2005 4 4 2 2 W augoshance Point Emmet state 25-May-2005 16-Jun-2005 4 3 1 1 Waugoshance West* Emmet state 25-May-2005 4 T emperance Central* Emmet state 1-Jun-2005 4 0 0 B eaver Island Charlevoix private 7-May-2005 4 3 3 3 High Island NE Spit, 1 Charlevoix state 4 0 0 -

Upper Peninsula of Michigan P oint Aux Chenes E Mackinac federal 31-May-2005 24-Jun-2005 4 4 4 4 Point Aux Chenes Central Mackinac federal 23-May-2005 18-Jun-2005 4 4 3 3 P oint Aux Chenes W Mackinac federal 27-May-2005 22-Jun-2005 4 1 1 1 P oint Aux Chenes, Rt 2 V-ball net Mackinac federal 27-May-2005 20-Jun-2005 4 4 2 4 Brevort River mouth Mackinac federal 17-Jun-2005 4 4 1 P oint Aux Chenes W2* Mackinac federal 4 0 0 P ort Inland, 3 (West @ Breakwall)** Mackinac state 9-Jun-2005 2-Jul-2005 4 4 4 4 Port Inland, 1 (East) Mackinac state 25-May-2005 19-Jun-2005 4 4 0 - P ort Inland, 2 (Central) Mackinac state 31-May-2005 4 4 0 - Port Inland, 4 (between 2 & 4) Mackinac state 20-Jun-2005 4 0 0 - S eul Choix, Gulliver Lake outlet Schoolcraft private 31-May-2005 4 4 2 Grand Marais, Lonesome Point Alger state 26-May-2005 24-Jun-2005 4 3 3 3 V ermilion E6 Chippewa private 4 4 1 1 W isconsin Long Island, WI Bayfield federal 5-Jun-2005 4 4 1 1

* - nest abandoned; ** - chicks captive-reared 228 166 93 109 Total

22 Westbrock et al. 2005

Table 4. Summary of Great Lakes Piping Plover reproductive success, 1984-2005. *includes captive reared young Eggs laid C hicks hatched Fledglings Year Nesting pairs Fledglings (% hatched) (%fledged) per Pair

1984 13 25 (68%) 17 (77%) 13 1 1985 19 90 (30%) 27 (56%) 15 0.79 1986 16 72 (35%) 25 (40%) 10 0.63 1987 16 66 (30%) 20 (70%) 14 0.88 1988 14 62 (71%) 44 (66%) 29 2.07 1989 18 71 (55%) 39 (59%) 23 1.28 1990 12 49 (71%) 35 (60%) 21 1.75 1991 17 65 (77%) 50 (68%) 34 2 1992 16 71 (54%) 38 (47%) 18 1.13 (1.25*) 1993 18 72 (71%) 51 (26%) 13 0.72 (0.83*) 1994 19 82 (71%) 58 (48%) 28 1.47 1995 21 84 (77%) 65 (65%) 42 2 1996 23 90 (70%) 63 (41%) 26 1.13 (1.22*) 1997 23 92 (83%) 76 (51%) 39 1.70 (1.87*) 1998 24 94 (81%) 76 (51%) 39 1.63 (1.96*) 1999 32 148 (76%) 113 (43%) 49 1.53 (1.59*) 2000 30 131 (75%) 98 (41%) 40 1.33 (1.63*) 2001 32 139 (81%) 113 (63%) 71 2.22 (2.31*) 2002 51 207 (67%) 139 (44%) 61 1.20 (1.57*) 2003 50 198 (84%) 166 (53%) 88 1.76 (1.92*) 2004 55 223 (82%) 182 (51%) 92 1.67(1.87*) Collection-site and Release-site information for 2005 captive-reared Great Lakes Piping T2a0b05le 5. 58 228 (73%) 166 (56%) 93 1.60(1.86*)

23 Westbrock et al. 2005

Table 5. Collection and release-sites of captive-reared Piping Plovers.

Age at Release Egg Collection Site Hatch Date Release Date Release Site (days)

Platte South 1 4-Jun-05 28-Jun-05 Point Aux Chenes 24 Platte South 1 4-Jun-05 28-Jun-05 Point Aux Chenes 24 Platte South 1 4-Jun-05 28-Jun-05 Point Aux Chenes 24

Platte North 2 9-Jun-05 5-Jul-05 Platte Pointe 26 Platte North 2 9-Jun-05 5-Jul-05 Platte Pointe 26

Platte South 3 14-Jun-05 11-Jul-05 Point Aux Chenes 27 Platte South 3 14-Jun-05 11-Jul-05 Point Aux Chenes 27 Platte South 3 15-Jun-05 11-Jul-05 Point Aux Chenes 26

Cross Village Central 2 (South) 24-Jun-05 19-Jul-05 Waugoshance East 28 Cross Village Central 2 (South) 24-Jun-05 19-Jul-05 Waugoshance East 28 Cross Village Central 2 (South) 24-Jun-05 19-Jul-05 Waugoshance East 28

Port Inland 3 2-Jul-05 29-Jul-05 Waugoshance East 27 Port Inland 3 2-Jul-05 29-Jul-05 Waugoshance East 27 Port Inland 3 3-Jul-05 29-Jul-05 Waugoshance East 26 Port Inland 3 4-Jul-05 29-Jul-05 Waugoshance East 25

Platte North 2 10-Jun-05 Died on 12-Jun-05 - - Platte South 3 15-Jun-05 Died on 29-Jun-05 - - Platte North 2 10-Jun-05 Missing on 1-Jul-05 - -

24 Westbrock et al. 2005

25 Great Lakes Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus): 2006

ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED UNDER ENDANGERED AND THREATENED SPECIES PERMIT # TE 125333

March 2007

Dr. Francesca J. Cuthbert and Erin A. Roche Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA 200 Hodson Hall 1980 Folwell Avenue St. Paul, Minnesota 55108 (612) 624-1202

Roche and Cuthbert # TE 810834, page 2

This report includes data on banding of Piping Plovers, disposition of salvaged plover eggs, collection of genetic samples, and details regarding nest abandonment. Please see the 2006 report to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for information on nesting chronology, success of individual plover nests and management recommendations.

BANDING 2006 A summary of banding in 2006 is found in Table 1. We captured and banded adults and chicks according to procedures stipulated by our USFWS permit. We used a single-chamber Potter trap (Lincoln 1947) to capture adults while they incubated eggs on the nest. We replaced eggs with ceramic replicas (fake eggs) as a precaution against damaging eggs during trapping. Adults were banded with a USFWS aluminum leg band above the tibiotarsal joint on one leg, an orange plastic flag above the tibiotarsal joint on the other leg, and a unique combination of three plastic color bands on the tarsi. We weighed each bird, recorded sex of adults based on plumage characteristics (Wilcox 1959), collected feather samples from a sample of the population (Table 2) and observed post-release behavior. We ensured eggs were not left exposed for excessive lengths of time, birds were handled as carefully and as briefly as possible, and adults were released near the nest after they were banded. We captured chicks by hand. Each was weighed and banded with a USFWS aluminum leg band above the tibiotarsal joint on one leg, an orange band above the tibiotarsal joint on the other leg, and one colored plastic band on the tarsus to indicate its brood. We attempted to capture all chicks from a single brood simultaneously and released them together to facilitate safe return to their parents. After release, we observed parents and chicks from a distance to verify parents reaccepted chicks.

RECAPTURES AND RESIGHTINGS OF BANDED PIPING PLOVERS

2006 At the beginning of the 2006 season, 52% of the breeding individuals (54 of 103 breeding adults) were identifiable by color band combinations. Of the 49 birds originally without unique band combinations in 2006, 12 were completely unbanded and 37 had partial band combinations. During the summer we captured and uniquely banded 27 individuals that had partial combinations, 7 that were unbanded, and one individual that had a unique color combination but no metal band, for a total of 35 adults banded in 2006. We replaced incoloy bands with USFWS aluminum bands on 3 of these individuals. The average handling time for each adult was 5 minutes and 41 seconds. No nest abandonments could be attributed to banding activity. At the end of the summer, we were able to individually recognize 85% of adults (88 of 103); 5% (5 of 103) of the adult population remained completely unbanded. We banded a total of 96 chicks in the wild in 2006. Of 94 chicks assumed to have fledged in the wild, 92 (98%) were banded.

Roche and Cuthbert # TE 810834, page 3

Several foot injuries were observed in 2006. • An adult female was captured on the nest at Sleeping Bear Dunes and had green thread (possibly nylon) wrapped tightly around the left toes. The bird was observed limping in the week preceding capture and the toes were swollen. The thread was cut off with scissors and observers reported that the bird was no longer limping one week later. This injury was not attributable to bands. • A non-breeding adult was seen on North Manitou Island and Ludington State Park, hopping on its unbanded left leg. When it briefly lowered its right leg, a plastic band could be seen slipped over the toes. This bird was banded as a chick in 2005. It was not tending eggs or chicks and so capture was not attempted. It is likely that the plastic band was able to slip down over the toes because the band had not been sealed at the seam using a soldering iron, as is done on adult color bands. This injury is a direct result of banding. • A non-breeding adult in basic plumage was observed hopping on its left leg on 15 June at Pointe aux Chenes. No part of its right leg was ever seen and its left leg had an aluminum band above the tibiotarsal joint and an orange plastic band below; the band number was read through a spotting scope to ascertain the bird's identity. It is a male, banded as a breeding adult in 2005. The right leg was banded with a plastic flag above the tibiotarsal joint and two plastic color bands below. It is unknown whether or not this apparent leg injury is attributable to bands. • A 2006 chick was observed favoring what appeared to be an injured leg at the Volleyball/Rt. 2 nest outside of St. Ignace, MI. This bird was first observed dragging the injured foot on 13 July. There were no external objects such as strings or bands that seemed to be contributing to the injury. It is unknown whether or not this apparent leg injury is attributable to bands. • A 2006 captive-reared chick with a swollen left-ankle was observed on 18 July at Pointe Aux Chenes outside St. Ignace, MI. This captive-reared chick was banded on 7 July and released at Pointe Aux Chenes on 8 July. This injury does not appear to be related to bands given its location, but the cause of the injury is unknown. • A male 2005 fledgling from Pointe aux Chenes missing a right foot was observed defending a territory on North Manitou Islands between the East 2 and East 3 nests. Although he was observed courting a female 2005 fledgling from the Platte River no signs of a nest were ever found. He was observed on North Manitou Island until 14 July. This injury does not appear to be related to bands given its location, but the cause of the injury is unknown.

Roche and Cuthbert # TE 810834, page 4

Of the 6 foot injuries observed in 2006, only one was conclusively attributable to a band (a chick banded in 2005); another injury was due to an extraneous cause (string wrapped around foot). After the plastic band injury was noted on 11 July 2006 we began sealing plastic bands on chicks.

NEST ABANDONMENTS AND CAPTIVE REARING 2006 We successfully reared 17 chicks in captivity at the University of Michigan Biological Station facilities, Pellston, MI. The captive rearing effort was significantly enhanced by participation from the Detroit Zoo. Keepers (approximately one/week) assisted with rearing efforts. Zoo personnel contributed important expertise and insights and enabled field staff to work on wild plover recovery. Salvaged eggs were placed in a Lyon Marsh incubator maintained at 99.4° F with a humidity level of 78 to 82% (Powell et al. 1997, Walden & Quinn 1970) and were automatically turned by the incubator once every hour until pipping began. We allowed chicks to dry in the incubator and then moved them to a large cardboard box lined with sterilized sand where they were maintained at 93°+ F with heat lamps. Broods were kept together and singletons were moved in with existing broods. We provided chicks with a constant source of water, live black worms (Lumbriculus variegates), small meal worms, wax worms, and small crickets (TopHat Cricket Co.) and a feather duster to allow them to be “brooded.” Meal worms, wax worms and crickets were “gut packed” with mineral supplements and vitamins at least 12 hours before feeding. We minimized visual contact with the chicks by providing food from behind a blind and played taped Piping Plover alarm calls when we approached. A compact disc recording of wave sounds was used to provide more “realistic” background noise. Four of the eight clutches were salvaged from sites at which adult breeders were believed to have been depredated by Merlins: the Platte River, Cross Village North and Bliss Township Beach. Captive-reared Piping Plovers were released at Point aux Chenes, and Wilderness State Park (see Table 3 for detailed collection/release site information). The captive rearing effort was significantly enhanced by participation from the Detroit Zoo and 25 keepers from zoos across the country. Keepers (approximately one/week) assisted with rearing efforts. Zoo personnel contributed important expertise and insights, enabling field staff to focus on wild plover recovery.

DISPOSITION OF SALVAGED EGGS In 2006, 37 Piping Plover eggs were salvaged. These eggs were collected from nests after the other eggs in the clutch hatched, adults and chicks left the immediate nesting area, and adults showed no interest in the remaining egg(s) in the nest cup. After salvage, eggs were candled to

Roche and Cuthbert # TE 810834, page 5 determine viability; those viable were incubated until they hatched or died. (see Captive Rearing). In 2006, 27 of the 37 eggs hatched and were captive-reared (Table 3) and 10 eggs were determine inviable and did not hatch (Table 4).

Roche and Cuthbert # TE 810834, page 6

Table 1. Banding records for Great Lakes Piping Plovers in 2006.

Date Location Sex Age FWS Band # Color Time Weight Combo. Handled (g) 5/22/2006 Platte Tiesma M A 1951-26301 X,g:OY 0:07:53 58.5 5/22/2006 Sleeping Bear Point F A 0901-24038 X,R:GO 0:09:42 5/23/2006 NMI Dimmick C1 F A 1951-26302 Og:X,G 0:08:00 55.5 5/23/2006 NMI Dimmick W3 M A 0901-24009 LO:X,Y 0:07:27 53.5 5/24/2006 NMI Dimmick W5 M A 1951-26303 Ob:X,b 0:06:48 50.5 5/26/2006 Waugoshance Point M A 1951-26304 X,g:Of,OR 0:09:23 54.0 5/27/2006 PAC Brevort M A 0901-24050 Of,OR:X,B 0:08:32 49.0 5/27/2006 PAC Central M A 1951-26305 X,L:Of,OR 0:09:52 58.5 5/27/2006 PAC East M A 0981-76670 Of,BB:X,O 0:12:27 49.5 5/27/2006 PAC Volleyball F A 0901-24075 X,Y:Of,YO 0:11:59 55.0 5/31/2006 Ludington F A 1951-26306 Of,LO:X,g 0:07:09 50.0 Beachhouse 6/1/2006 High Island M A 0901-24076 X,Y:Of,LO 0:10:08 51.5 6/2/2006 Gulliver F A 0901-24020 Of,bO:X,G 0:09:51 52.5 6/2/2006 Port Inland East 1 F A 1951-26308 X,R:Of,OB 0:10:37 51.0 6/2/2006 1951-26307 0:00:00 6/7/2006 NMI Dimmick C2 F A 1951-26309 OY:X,L 0:06:48 51.0 6/7/2006 NMI Dimmick E5 M A 0901-24070 X,Y:OR 0:08:20 53.0 6/8/2006 Platte S1 U L 1951-26310 --:X,g 0:03:00 15.5 6/8/2006 Platte S1 U L 1951-26311 --:X,g 0:03:00 16.0 6/8/2006 Platte S1 U L 1951-26312 --:X,g 0:03:00 14.0 6/8/2006 Platte S1 U L 1951-26313 --:X,g 0:03:00 16.0 6/8/2006 Platte Tiesma 1 U L 1951-26314 --:X,g/O 0:15:00 17.5 6/8/2006 Platte Tiesma 1 U L 1951-26315 --:X,g/O 0:15:00 19.0 6/8/2006 Platte Tiesma 1 U L 1951-26316 --:X,g/O 0:15:00 18.5 6/8/2006 Platte Tiesma 1 U L 1951-26317 --:X,g/O 0:15:00 19.5 6/9/2006 Ludington M A 0951-54364 Of,GY:X,G 0:07:53 47.5 Beachhouse 6/9/2006 Ludington L'house N M A 0981-76636 Of,GO:X,g 0:06:43 48.0 6/9/2006 Ludington L'house N F A 8061-19215 X,R:Of,RO 0:07:25 51.0 6/9/2006 Ludington L'house S M A 0951-54292 Of,Og:X,B 0:07:56 53.5 6/13/2006 Gulliver M A 1951-26318 X,O:Of,BR 0:07:33 52.00 6/13/2006 Port Inland East 2 F A 0981-76669 Of,YO:X,L 0:07:30 52.0 6/15/2006 PAC Sandbar 1 F A 0981-76658 Of,OG:X,B 0:07:02 49.0 6/19/2006 PAC Sandbar 1 M A 1951-26319 X,G:Of,GO 0:07:38 49.0 6/20/2006 Glen Haven F A 1951-26322 X,b:OR 0:06:57 53.0 6/20/2006 Platte N4 M A 1951-26323 X,g:OG 0:07:59 52.0 6/20/2006 Platte Tiesma 2 M A 0951-54332 YO:X,R 0:09:29 53.5 6/20/2006 Sleeping Bear Point U L 1951-26320 --:X,O/g 0:05:47 14.5 6/20/2006 Sleeping Bear Point U L 1951-26321 --:X,O/g 0:05:47 13.0 6/21/2006 NMI Dimmick C1 U L 1951-26335 --:X,O/b 14:24:00 22.5 6/21/2006 NMI Dimmick C1 U L 1951-26336 --:X,O/b 14:24:00 19.5 6/21/2006 NMI Dimmick C1 U L 1951-26337 --:X,O/b 14:24:00 22.00 6/21/2006 NMI Dimmick C3 U L 1951-26351 -O:X,b/O 17:27:31 30.0 6/21/2006 NMI Dimmick E2 U L 1951-26342 -O:X,O/b 15:18:00 31.5 6/21/2006 NMI Dimmick E2 U L 1951-26343 -O:X,O/b 15:18:00 31.0 6/21/2006 NMI Dimmick E2 U L 1951-26344 -O:X,O/b 15:18:00 32.5 6/21/2006 NMI Dimmick E3 U L 1951-26348 -b:X,b 0:08:00 30.5 6/21/2006 NMI Dimmick E3 U L 1951-26349 -b:X,b 0:08:00 30.0

Roche and Cuthbert # TE 810834, page 7

6/21/2006 NMI Dimmick E3 U L 1951-26350 -b:X,b 0:08:00 30.0 6/21/2006 NMI Dimmick E4 U L 1951-26345 -O:X,b/O/b 0:06:11 19.0 6/21/2006 NMI Dimmick E4 U L 1951-26346 -O:X,b/O/b 0:06:11 20.0 6/21/2006 NMI Dimmick E4 U L 1951-26347 -O:X,b/O/b 0:06:11 18.0 6/21/2006 NMI Dimmick E5 U L 1951-26338 -O:X,b 0:04:00 12.5 6/21/2006 NMI Dimmick E5 U L 1951-26339 -O:X,b 0:04:00 11.0 6/21/2006 NMI Dimmick E5 U L 1951-26340 -O:X,b 0:04:00 11.0 6/21/2006 NMI Dimmick E5 U L 1951-26341 -O:X,b 0:04:00 12.0 6/21/2006 NMI Dimmick W1 U L 1951-26325 --:X,b/O/b 0:10:45 33.0 6/21/2006 NMI Dimmick W1 U L 1951-26329 --:X,b/O/b 0:05:00 33.5 6/21/2006 NMI Dimmick W1 U L 1951-26330 --:X,b/O/b 0:05:00 34.5 6/21/2006 NMI Dimmick W2 U L 1951-26331 --:X,b/O 0:10:00 22.5 6/21/2006 NMI Dimmick W2 U L 1951-26332 --:X,b/O 0:10:00 25.0 6/21/2006 NMI Dimmick W2 U L 1951-26333 --:X,b/O 0:10:00 19.5 6/21/2006 NMI Dimmick W2 U L 1951-26334 --:X,b/O 0:10:00 22.0 6/21/2006 NMI Dimmick W3 U L 1951-26324 --:X,b 0:10:45 26.0 6/21/2006 NMI Dimmick W3 U L 1951-26326 --:X,b 0:10:45 30.5 6/21/2006 NMI Dimmick W3 U L 1951-26327 --:X,b 0:10:45 29.0 6/21/2006 NMI Dimmick W3 U L 1951-26328 --:X,b 0:10:45 23.5 6/21/2006 NMI Dimmick W4 M A 8061-19241 BO:X,B 0:06:40 53.0 6/22/2006 NMI Dimmick C2 U L 1951-26353 b:X,O/b 12:28:00 11.0 6/22/2006 NMI Dimmick C2 U L 1951-26354 b:X,O/b 12:28:00 10.0 6/22/2006 NMI Dimmick E3 U L 1951-26352 -b:X,b 0:00:00 29.5 6/22/2006 NMI Dimmick W4 F A 0981-76638 Og:X,O 0:07:27 47.0 6/23/2006 Platte N4 F A 0981-76698 X,O:LR 0:13:59 56.5 6/23/2006 Platte Tiesma 2 F A 0981-76621 X,L:YO 0:05:58 55.5 6/24/2006 Platte Central 1 U L 1951-26358 Of,BB/O:X, 0:00:00 g 6/24/2006 Platte Central 1 U L 1951-26359 Of,RB/O:X, 0:00:00 g 6/24/2006 Platte Central 1 U L 1951-26360 Of,GB/O:X, 0:00:00 g 6/24/2006 Platte Central 1 U L 1951-26365 Of,YB/O:X, 0:00:00 g 6/24/2006 Sturgeon Bay 1 U L 1951-26355 O,--:X,R 9:55:20 25.0 6/24/2006 Sturgeon Bay 1 U L 1951-26356 O,--:X,R 9:55:20 23.5 6/24/2006 Sturgeon Bay 1 U L 1951-26357 O,--:X,R 9:55:20 26.0 6/25/2006 PAC Brevort U L 1951-26369 X,L:O,- 0:00:00 16.0 6/25/2006 PAC Brevort U L 1951-26370 X,L:O,- 0:00:00 14.5 6/25/2006 PAC Brevort U L 1951-26371 X,L:O,- 0:00:00 17.0 6/25/2006 PAC Brevort U L 1951-26372 X,L:O,- 0:00:00 14.0 6/25/2006 PAC Volleyball U L 1951-26366 O,-:X,L 0:00:00 32.0 6/25/2006 PAC Volleyball U L 1951-26367 O,-:X,L 0:00:00 31.0 6/25/2006 PAC Volleyball U L 1951-26368 O,-:X,L 0:00:00 30.0 6/26/2006 Ludington U L 1951-26373 O,-:X,B 10:26:00 25.0 Beachhouse 6/26/2006 Ludington U L 1951-26374 O,-:X,B 10:26:00 22.0 Beachhouse 6/26/2006 Ludington U L 1951-26375 O,-:X,B 10:26:00 25.0 Beachhouse 6/26/2006 Ludington W116, S M A 0981-76641 Of,OB:X,R 0:07:55 50.0 6/26/2006 Ludington W116, S F A 1951-26376 Of,OO:X,Y 0:10:08 54.5 6/27/2006 Port Inland East 1 U L 1951-26377 X,b:O,-- 14:41:45 28.0 6/27/2006 Port Inland East 1 U L 1951-26378 X,b:O,-- 14:41:45 30.0 6/27/2006 Port Inland East 1 U L 1951-26379 X,b:O,-- 14:41:45 29.0

Roche and Cuthbert # TE 810834, page 8

6/29/2006 Grand Marais U L 1951-26380 X,R:O,-- 0:00:00 23.0 6/29/2006 Grand Marais U L 1951-26381 X,R:O,-- 0:00:00 24.0 6/29/2006 Grand Marais U L 1951-26382 X,R:O,-- 0:00:00 20.5 6/29/2006 Grand Marais U L 1951-26383 X,R:O,-- 0:00:00 21.5 6/29/2006 Gulliver U L 1951-26384 X,b/O/b:O,- 0:09:55 15.0 6/29/2006 PAC Central U L 1951-26385 X,O/L:O,- 16:41:00 28.5 6/29/2006 PAC Central U L 1951-26386 X,O/L:O,- 16:41:00 28.5 6/29/2006 PAC Central U L 1951-26387 X,O/L:O,- 16:41:00 29.5 6/30/2006 Sturgeon Bay 1 U L 1951-26388 O,--:X,R 0:00:00 37.5 7/4/2006 PAC Sandbar 1 U L 1951-26401 X,L/O:O,- 0:12:15 9.5 7/4/2006 PAC Sandbar 2 F A 8061-19231 X,L:Of,OB 0:09:43 53.0 7/7/2006 Bliss 1 U L 1951-26402 Of,RL/O:X, 0:00:00 Y 7/7/2006 Bliss 1 U L 1951-26403 Of,BL/O:X, 0:00:00 Y 7/8/2006 PAC Sandbar 2 M A 0981-76628 Of,OO:X,O 0:10:13 50.5 7/9/2006 Sturgeon Bay 2 U L 1951-26404 O,-:X,O/R 0:14:50 21.5 7/9/2006 Sturgeon Bay 2 U L 1951-26405 O,-:X,O/R 0:14:50 24.5 7/9/2006 Sturgeon Bay 2 U L 1951-26406 O,-:X,O/R 0:14:50 26.0 7/9/2006 Sturgeon Bay 2 U L 1951-26407 O,-:X,O/R 0:14:50 25.0 7/11/2006 Apostle Islands n1 U L 1951-26361 X,g:O,- 0:00:00 31.5 7/11/2006 Apostle Islands n1 U L 1951-26362 X,g:O,- 0:00:00 28.5 7/11/2006 Apostle Islands n3 U L 1951-26363 X,g:O,- 0:00:00 37.5 7/11/2006 Apostle Islands n3 U L 1951-26364 X,g:O,- 0:00:00 38.5 7/11/2006 Ludington E116 n1 U L 1951-26408 O,-:X,B/O 0:00:00 22.5 7/11/2006 Ludington E116 n1 U L 1951-26409 O,-:X,B/O 0:00:00 28.0 7/12/2006 PAC West U L 1951-26410 X,L:Of,YR/ 0:00:00 33.8 O/R 7/12/2006 PAC West U L 1951-26411 X,L:Of,BR/ 0:00:00 23.8 O/R 7/12/2006 PAC West U L 1951-26412 X,L:Of,gR/ 0:00:00 29.9 O/R 7/12/2006 PAC West U L 1951-26413 X,L:Of,RR/ 0:00:00 28.4 O/R 7/13/2006 NMI Dimmick W4 U L 1951-26414 -,b:X,b/O/b 0:11:30 19.0 7/14/2006 Glen Haven U L 1951-26415 -,O:X,g 14:06:00 22.0 7/14/2006 Glen Haven U L 1951-26416 -,O:X,g 14:06:00 21.0 7/14/2006 Glen Haven U L 1951-26417 -,O:X,g 14:06:00 20.0 7/14/2006 Platte Tiesma 2 U L 1951-26418 -:X,g/O/g 0:02:30 18.5 7/15/2006 Escanaba U L 1951-26419 X,O:O,- 0:00:00 32.5 7/15/2006 Escanaba U L 1951-26420 X,O:O,- 0:00:00 35.5 7/15/2006 Port Inland West U L 1951-26421 X,b/O:O,- 0:00:00 35.0 7/15/2006 Port Inland West U L 1951-26422 X,b/O:O,- 0:00:00 35.5 7/15/2006 Port Inland West U L 1951-26498 X,b/O:O,- 0:00:00 32.5 7/15/2006 Port Inland West U L 1951-26499 X,b/O:O,- 0:00:00 33.5 7/16/2006 Bliss 2 U L 1951-26423 Of,YL/O/L: 0:00:00 25.2 X,Y 7/16/2006 Platte N3 U L 1951-26424 Of,bL/O/L: 0:00:00 38.9 X,g 7/16/2006 Platte N3 U L 1951-26425 Of,OL/O/L: 0:00:00 33.4 X,g 7/16/2006 Platte N3 U L 1951-26426 Of,LL/O/L: 0:00:00 34.9 X,g 7/23/2006 UMBS Captive U L 1951-26427 X,Y:Of,RO/ 0:00:00 Rearing Center L

Roche and Cuthbert # TE 810834, page 9

7/23/2006 UMBS Captive U L 1951-26428 Of,GO/L:X, 0:00:00 Rearing Center b 7/23/2006 UMBS Captive U L 1951-26429 X,B:Of,bO/ 0:00:00 Rearing Center L 7/25/2006 Ludington - 1.5 mi U L 1951-26434 O,-:X,B/O/B 0:00:00 24.0 South of River, east of M-116 7/25/2006 Ludington - Southern U L 1951-26430 O,-:X,O/B 0:00:00 34.5 park boundary, west of M-119 7/25/2006 Ludington - Southern U L 1951-26457 O,-:X,O/B 0:00:00 28.5 park boundary, west of M-119 7/25/2006 Ludington - 1.5 mi U L 1951-26431 O,-:X,B/O/B 0:00:00 28.0 South of River, east of M-116 7/25/2006 Ludington - 1.5 mi U L 1951-26433 O,-:X,B/O/B 0:00:00 29.0 South of River, east of M-116 7/25/2006 Ludington - 1.5 mi U L 1951-26432 O,-:X,B/O/B 0:00:00 24.5 South of River, east of M-116 8/1/2006 Pointe Aux Chenes - U L 1951-26436 X,L/O/L:O,- 0:00:00 32.0 Sandbar 2 8/1/2006 Pointe Aux Chenes - U L 1951-26435 X,L/O/L:O,- 0:00:00 30.0 Sandbar 2

(Read band combinations from left to right, top to bottom. “X” indicates Service band, slash used to denote the unbanded leg or split color. Colors used include: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, light green, Blue, light blue, bLack and Orange flag)

Table 2. Feather samples collected in 2006.

Date Collected Location Collected USFWS # Age Sex Collector(s) 5/30/2006 Bliss Beach 1 0901-24097 A M EAR 6/24/2006 Sturgeon Bay 1 1951-26355 L U MAW,EAR 6/24/2006 Platte Central 1 - 1951-26365 L U MAW,EAR captives 6/25/2006 PAC Brevort 1951-26369 L U MAW,EAR 6/25/2006 PAC Volleyball 1951-26367 L U MAW,EAR 6/26/2006 Ludington State Park 1951-26376 A F MAW,EAR - West of M-116 6/26/2006 Ludington State Park 1951-26375 L U MAW,EAR - Beachhouse 6/28/2006 Port Inland 1951-26379 L U MAW,EAR, LJB 6/28/2006 Port Inland 1951-26378 L U MAW,EAR, LJB 6/29/2006 Grand Marais 1951-26380 L U MAW,EAR, LJB 6/29/2006 Grand Marais 1951-26381 L U MAW,EAR, LJB 6/29/2006 PAC - Central 1951-26385 L U MAW,EAR, LJB 6/29/2006 Gulliver 1951-26384 L U MAW,EAR, LJB 6/30/2006 Sturgeon Bay 1 1951-26388 L U MAW, CCS 7/4/2006 PAC Sandbar 1 1951-26401 L U MAW, EAR 7/4/2006 PAC Sandbar 2 8061-19231 A F MAW, EAR 7/7/2006 Bliss 1 1951-26402 L U MAW, EAR 7/8/2006 PAC Sandbar 2 0981-76628 A M MAW, EAR 7/9/2006 Sturgeon Bay 2 1951-26405 L U EAR,LJB 7/9/2006 Sturgeon Bay 2 1951-26404 L U EAR,LJB 7/11/2006 Ludington East of 1951-26408 L U MAW, AJA, BBL 116 (1 mile) 7/11/2006 Ludington East of 1951-26409 L U MAW, AJA, BBL 116 (1 mile) 7/12/2006 UMBS Captive 1951-26411 L U MAW, EAR, LJB Rearing Facility 7/12/2006 UMBS Captive 1951-26412 L U MAW, EAR, LJB Rearing Facility 7/12/2006 UMBS Captive 1951-26413 L U MAW, EAR, LJB Rearing Facility 7/15/2006 Port Inland West 1951-26498 L U EAR, MAW 7/15/2006 Port Inland West 1951-26499 L U EAR, MAW page 11

7/15/2006 Escanaba 1951-26420 L U EAR, MAW 7/15/2006 Escanaba 1951-26419 L U EAR, MAW 7/15/2006 Port Inland West 1951-26422 L U EAR, MAW 7/16/2006 UMBS Captive 1951-26424 L U EAR, LJB Rearing Facility 7/16/2006 UMBS Captive 1951-26425 L U EAR, LJB Rearing Facility 7/16/2006 UMBS Captive 1951-26426 L U EAR, LJB Rearing Facility 7/23/2006 UMBS Captive 1951-26427 L U EAR, LJB Rearing Facility 7/23/2006 UMBS Captive 1951-26429 L U EAR, LJB Rearing Facility 7/25/2006 Ludington - Southern 1951-26430 L U MAW, LJB park boundary, west of M-119 7/25/2006 Ludington - 1.5 mi 1951-26434 L U MAW, LJB South of River, east of M-119 7/25/2006 Ludington - 1.5 mi 1951-26432 L U MAW, LJB South of River, east of M-119 7/25/2006 Ludington - Southern 1951-26431 L U MAW, LJB park boundary, west of M-119 8/1/2006 Pointe Aux Chenes 1951-26436 L U MAW Sandbar 2

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page 13

Table 3. Collection and release site information for 2006 captive reared chicks.

Egg Collection Site Hatch Date Release Date Release Site Age at Release (days)

Platte Central 1 30-May-06 29-Jun-06 Sturgeon Bay 30

Platte Central 1 31-May-06 29-Jun-06 Sturgeon Bay 29 Platte Central 1 31-May-06 29-Jun-06 Sturgeon Bay 29 Platte Central 1 31-May-06 29-Jun-06 Sturgeon Bay 29 Bliss Beach 1 8-Jun-06 08-Jul-06 Pointe aux Chenes 30 Bliss Beach 1 8-Jun-06 08-Jul-06 Pointe aux Chenes 30 Point aux Chenes West 11-Jun-06 13-Jul-06 Sturgeon Bay 32

Point aux Chenes West 12-Jun-06 13-Jul-06 Sturgeon Bay 31

Point aux Chenes West 12-Jun-06 13-Jul-06 Sturgeon Bay 31 Point aux Chenes West 12-Jun-06 13-Jul-06 Sturgeon Bay 31 Bliss Beach 2 16-Jun-06 17-Jul-06 Pointe aux Chenes 31 Platte North 3 17-Jun-06 17-Jul-06 Pointe aux Chenes 30 Platte North 3 17-Jun-06 17-Jul-06 Pointe aux Chenes 30 Platte North 3 17-Jun-06 17-Jul-06 Pointe aux Chenes 30 Beaver Island 22-Jun-06 23-Jul-06 Pointe aux Chenes 31

Cross Village North 2 22-Jun-06 23-Jul-06 Pointe aux Chenes 31 North Manitou Island West 5 29-Jun-06 23-Jul-06 Pointe aux Chenes 24 Bliss Beach 1 7-Jun-06 Died 9-Jun-06 - - Bliss Beach 1 8-Jun-06 Died 9-Jun-06 - - Bliss Beach 2 16-Jun-06 Died 28-Jun-06 - - Platte N3 17-Jun-06 Died 19-Jun-06 - - Cross Village North 2 22-Jun-06 Died 22-Jun-06 - - Cross Village North 2 22-Jun-06 Died 22-Jun-06 - - Cross Village North 2 22-Jun-06 Died 22-Jun-06 - - Cross Village North 2 22-Jun-06 Died 23-Jun-06 - - NMI W5 30-Jun-06 Died 2-Jul-06 - - NMI W5 30-Jun-06 Died 2-Jul-06 - -

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Table 4. Collection dates for unhatched Piping Plovers eggs collected in 2006.

Reason Year Site location Type Transferred To: Collected NMI - Dimmick 30-May-06 1 egg Abandoned ELFO - USFWS NMI - Dimmick #2 17-May-06 1 egg Abandoned ELFO - USFWS NMI - Dimmick E4 16-Jun-06 1 egg Abandoned ELFO - USFWS NMI - Dimmick 11-May-06 1 egg Abandoned ELFO - USFWS NMI - Dimmick C3 8-Jun-06 1 egg Abandoned ELFO - USFWS NMI - Dimmick C3 8-Jun-06 1 egg Abandoned ELFO - USFWS NMI - Dimmick W1 8-Jun-06 1 egg Abandoned ELFO - USFWS Point Aux Chenes Central 18-Jun-06 1 egg Abandoned ELFO - USFWS Ludington City Park, 7-Jul-06 1 egg Abandoned ELFO - USFWS Escanaba unknown 1 egg Abandoned ELFO - USFWS

Great Lakes Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus): 2007

ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED UNDER ENDANGERED AND THREATENED SPECIES PERMIT # TE 125333-1

January 2008

Dr. Francesca J. Cuthbert and Erin A. Roche Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA 200 Hodson Hall 1980 Folwell Avenue St. Paul, Minnesota 55108 (612) 624-1202

Cuthbert and Roche # TE 125333-1, page 2

This report includes data on banding of Piping Plovers, disposition of salvaged plover eggs, collection of genetic samples, and details regarding nest abandonment. Please see the 2007 report to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for information on nesting chronology, success of individual plover nests and management recommendations.

BANDING 2007 A summary of banding in 2007 is found in Table 1. We captured and banded adults and chicks according to procedures stipulated by our USFWS permit. We used a single-chamber Potter trap (Lincoln 1947) to capture adults while they incubated eggs on the nest. We replaced eggs with ceramic replicas (fake eggs) as a precaution against damaging eggs during trapping. Adults were banded with a USFWS aluminum leg band above the tibiotarsal joint on one leg, an orange plastic flag above the tibiotarsal joint on the other leg, and a unique combination of three plastic color bands on the tarsi. We weighed each bird, recorded sex of adults based on plumage characteristics (Wilcox 1959) and collected feather samples. We ensured eggs were not left exposed for excessive lengths of time, birds were handled as carefully and as briefly as possible, and adults were released near the nest after they were banded. We captured chicks by hand. Each was weighed and banded with a USFWS aluminum leg band above the tibiotarsal joint on one leg, an orange band above the tibiotarsal joint on the other leg, and one colored plastic band on the tarsus to indicate its brood. We attempted to capture all chicks from a single brood simultaneously and released them together to facilitate safe return to their parents. After release, we observed parents and chicks from a distance to verify parents reaccepted chicks.

RECAPTURES AND RESIGHTINGS OF BANDED PIPING PLOVERS

2007 At the beginning of the 2007 season, 50% of the breeding individuals were identifiable by color band combinations (60 of 116 breeding adults for whom band combinations were known). Of the 56 birds originally without unique band combinations in 2007, 8 were unbanded and 48 had partial band combinations. Four additional birds had unknown band combinations, making the total number of nesting adults 120. During the summer we captured and uniquely banded 28 individuals that had partial combinations, 7 that were unbanded, and one uniquely banded individual that had lost a color band, (a total of 36 adults were banded in 2007). The average handling time for each adult was 7 minutes and 41 seconds. At the end of the summer, we were able to individually recognize 82% of all adults with known band combinations (95 out of 116) and 79% of the total number of nesting adults (95 of 120); to our knowledge only one nesting adult remained unbanded. In 2007, 151 chicks were banded (140 wild, 11 captive-reared). Of 136 chicks assumed to have fledged in the wild, 127 (93%) were

Cuthbert and Roche # TE 125333-1, page 3 banded. Several leg or foot injuries were observed in 2007. • A male 2005 fledgling from Pointe aux Chenes (X,L:-) missing a right foot was seen on Dimmick’s Pont, North Manitou Island, throughout the summer. This male was seen at the same location throughout 2006. The leg injury does not appear to be related to bands given its location, but the cause of injury remains unknown. • A non-breeding, unbanded one-legged adult was observed at Portage Point, Escanaba, MI, on 8 June. It is unknown whether or not this apparent leg injury is attributable to bands. • During a 13 June banding trip to North Manitou Island, Cladophora (filamentous algae) was removed from around the feet of three chicks. As it dried the Cladophora constricted around the legs of the still-growing chicks, causing swelling and discoloration of toes and feet. We did not band the legs with swollen feet or toes. Two chicks were banded as X,-:- and one chick was banded -:X. During a later visit, A. Van Zoeren noted that at least one of the three chicks had lost toes on a foot from which Cladophora had been removed. These injuries were likely due to foraging on Cladophora mats washed up on Dimmick’s Point. Cladophora is increasing in the Great Lakes in response to zebra mussel presence. • On 8 July a chick hatched at Pointe aux Chenes suffered a band injury during capture. The left leg of the chick was swollen and discolored below the tibiotarsal joint; upon release the chick limped significantly and could not keep up with the rest of the brood. The chick was recaptured and housed at the UMBS captive- rearing facility; color bands were removed from the swollen leg. By 28 July this chick showed no evidence of a leg injury and was released along with a fully captive-reared brood at Sturgeon Bay, Wilderness State Park, MI (band combination: X,L/O/L:O,-). This leg injury was directly attributable to chick- capture. • On 8 July a captive-reared chick banded on 7 July showed signs of irritation and swelling around one of the color bands directly above the left foot. The color band was removed and the chick’s movement was restricted. The chick was rebanded and released at Sturgeon Bay, Wilderness State Park, MI, after showing signs of complete recovery (band combination: X,L:Of,RR/O). We believe this leg injury was attributable to banding. • On 13 July a 2007 fledgling on North Manitou Island was observed limping and dragging what appeared to be a broken leg; the leg in question was banded with an aluminum metal band above and a color band below the tibiotarsal joint. The

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injury was reported a few weeks previous by Park Service monitors but there was no evidence of leg injury immediately before or after banding. It is unknown whether or not this leg injury is attributable to bands; this bird was not observed after the end of July.

In summary, of the 8 leg or foot injuries observed in 2007, 2 were conclusively attributable to a band (two chicks banded in 2007) and 3 were due to Cladophora. When banding chicks we continued to seal plastic bands located below the tibiotarsal joint but did not seal orange bands located above the tibiotarsal joint.

NEST ABANDONMENTS AND CAPTIVE REARING 2007 We successfully reared 12 chicks in captivity at the University of Michigan Biological Station facilities, Pellston, MI. The captive rearing effort was significantly enhanced by participation from the Detroit Zoo. Keepers (approximately one/week) assisted with rearing efforts. Zoo personnel contributed important expertise and insights and enabled field staff to work on wild plover recovery. Salvaged eggs were placed in a Lyon Marsh incubator maintained at 99.4° F with a humidity level of 78 to 82% (Powell et al. 1997, Walden & Quinn 1970) and were automatically turned by the incubator once every hour until pipping began. We allowed chicks to dry in the incubator and then moved them to a large cardboard box lined with sterilized sand where they were maintained at 93°+ F with heat lamps. Broods were kept together and singletons were moved in with existing broods. We provided chicks with a constant source of water, live black worms (Lumbriculus variegates), small meal worms, wax worms, and small crickets (TopHat Cricket Co.) and a feather duster to allow them to be “brooded.” Meal worms, wax worms and crickets were “gut packed” with mineral supplements and vitamins at least 12 hours before feeding. We minimized visual contact with the chicks by providing food from behind a blind and played taped Piping Plover alarm calls when we approached. A compact disc recording of wave sounds was used to provide more “realistic” background noise. In 2007, 12 chicks were released from the captive-rearing facility at the University of Michigan Biological Station, Pellston, MI. Six of nine clutches were salvaged from nests at which adult breeders were believed to have been depredated by Merlins: Volleyball, Brevort River Mouth, Pointe aux Chenes. Captive-reared Piping Plovers were released at Sturgeon Bay, Wilderness State Park (see Table 2 for detailed collection/release site information). The captive rearing effort was significantly enhanced by participation by the Detroit Zoo and ~ 20 keepers from zoos across the country. Keepers (approximately two/week) assisted with rearing efforts. Zoo personnel contributed important expertise and insights, enabling field staff to focus on wild

Cuthbert and Roche # TE 125333-1, page 5 plover recovery.

DISPOSITION OF SALVAGED EGGS In 2007, 41 Piping Plover eggs were salvaged. These eggs were collected from nests after the other eggs in the clutch hatched, adults and chicks left the immediate nesting area, and adults showed no interest in the remaining egg(s) in the nest cup. After salvage, eggs were candled to determine viability; those viable were incubated until they hatched or died. (see Captive Rearing). In 2007, 17 of the 41 eggs hatched and were captive-reared (Table 2) and 24 eggs were determine inviable and did not hatch (Table 3).

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Table 1. Banding records for Great Lakes Piping Plovers in 2007.

Date Location Sex Age FWS Band # Color Time Weight Combo. Handled (g) 5/30/2007 NMI C2 M A 1951-26437 Of,BO:X,Y 0:06:45 57.5 5/30/2007 NMI E4 M A 1951-26438 Of,GG:X,g 0:05:37 56.5 5/30/2007 NMI E2 M A 0981-76664 Of,bO:X,b 0:08:16 58.5 5/30/2007 NMI W4 M A 0981-76637 Of,GL:X,g 0:08:00 56.0 5/30/2007 NMI W5 F A 1951-26342 Of,bL:X,b 0:05:59 52.0 5/31/2007 NMI C2 F A 0951-54382 Of,Y/O/YO: 0:11:58 51.5 X,O 5/31/2007 Sleeping Bear Point 2 M A 1951-26439 Of,GR:X,O 0:10:07 53.5 5/31/2007 Sleeping Bear Point 1 M A 1951-26343 Of,GL:X,b 0:07:44 50.5 6/1/2007 Grand Marais - F A 1951-26440 X,G:Of,LO 0:11:03 56.0 Superior Beach 1 6/1/2007 Grand Marais - M A 0901-24037 RX:Of,LG 0:05:40 54.0 Lonesome Point 6/5/2007 Port Inland East 1 F A 1951-26441 X,G:Of,OB 11:51:04 52.0 6/5/2007 Port Inland East 2 M A 0981-76646 X,L:Of,bL 0:08:20 50.0 6/6/2007 Escanaba M A 0981-76675 Of,gY:X,b 0:05:38 51.0 6/6/2007 Escanaba F A 1951-26442 X,B:Of,BO 0:15:29 60.5 6/6/2007 Indian Point M A 1951-26443 X,G:Of,YO 0:08:55 51.0 6/8/2007 Platte North 2 M A 0981-76679 Of,GR:X,B 0:07:29 51.0 6/8/2007 Platte North 3 M A 1951-26356 Of,BG:X,R 0:05:50 48.0 6/8/2007 Platte Tiesma 3 F A 1951-26325 Of,BL:X,b 0:05:35 45.5 6/8/2007 Platte - SOIT M A 1951-26336 Of,gL:X,b 0:05:16 45.5 6/8/2007 Ludington Lighthouse M A 1951-26404 Of,BR:X,R 0:06:27 50.0 6/9/2007 Platte North 2 F A 1951-26388 Of,GR:X,R 0:05:35 48.0 6/9/2007 Platte North 3 F A 1951-26444 Of,LR:X,B 0:10:47 45.0 6/9/2007 Platte Central 1 F A 1951-26416 Of,Lg:X,g 0:10:44 45.5 6/9/2007 Platte Tiesma 3 M A 1951-26327 Of,gR:X,b 0:06:14 48.5 6/9/2007 Platte North 1 U L 1951-26445 -:X,g 16.5 6/9/2007 Platte North 1 U L 1951-26497 -:X,g 18.0 6/9/2007 Platte South 1 U L 1951-26446 g:X,g 11.0 6/9/2007 Platte South 1 U L 1951-26447 g:X,g 11.0 6/9/2007 Platte Tiesma 1 U L 1951-26448 O/g:X,g 17.5 6/9/2007 Platte Tiesma 1 U L 1951-26450 O/g:X,g 18.50 6/9/2007 Platte Tiesma 1 U L 1951-26449 O/g:X,g 18.0 6/9/2007 Platte Tiesma 1 U L 1951-26451 O/g:X,g 17.5 6/11/2007 Grand Marais M A 1951-26380 X,R:Of,YR 0:06:16 50.5 Superior Beach 2 6/13/2007 NMI Dimmick W1 U L 1951-26458 b:X,b/O/b 27.0 6/13/2007 NMI Dimmick W1 U L 1951-26459 b:X,b/O/b 29.0 6/13/2007 NMI Dimmick W1 U L 1951-26460 b:X,b/O/b 28.0 6/13/2007 NMI Dimmick E3 U L 1951-26461 b:X,b 21.0 6/14/2007 NMI Dimmick E2 U L 1951-26470 b:X,O/b 14.0 6/14/2007 NMI Dimmick E2 U L 1951-26471 b:X,O/b 18.0 6/14/2007 NMI Dimmick E2 U L 1951-26472 b:X,O/b 18.0 6/14/2007 NMI Dimmick E2 U L 1951-26473 b:X,O/b 17.00 6/13/2007 NMI Dimmick C1 U L 1951-26466 b:X,b/O 15.0 6/13/2007 NMI Dimmick C1 U L 1951-26467 b:X,b/O 17.0 6/13/2007 NMI Dimmick C1 U L 1951-26468 b:X,b/O 15.0 6/13/2007 NMI Dimmick C1 U L 1951-26469 b:X,b/O 14.0

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6/14/2007 NMI Dimmick W3 U L 1951-26474 -:X,b 16.0 6/14/2007 NMI Dimmick W3 U L 1951-26475 -:X,b 15.0 6/14/2007 NMI Dimmick W3 U L 1951-26476 -:X,b 11.0 6/13/2007 NMI Dimmick E1 U L 1951-26462 g:X,b 17.0 6/13/2007 NMI Dimmick E1 U L 1951-26463 g:X,b 17.0 6/13/2007 NMI Dimmick E1 U L 1951-26464 g:X,b 18.0 6/13/2007 NMI Dimmick E1 U L 1951-26465 g:X,b 18.0 6/15/2007 Platte - Tiesma 2 U L 1951-26477 g:X,g/O/g 17.0 6/15/2007 Platte - Tiesma 2 U L 1951-26478 g:X,g/O/g 16.0 6/15/2007 Platte - Tiesma 2 U L 1951-26479 g:X,g/O/g 17.0 6/15/2007 Platte - Tiesma 2 U L 1951-26480 g:X,g/O/g 16.0 6/15/2007 Platte - SOIT F A 8061-19216 X,G:Of,OR 0:10:44 59.5 6/16/2007 Cross Village Central U L 1951-26481 O,Y:X,Y 22.0 6/16/2007 Cross Village Central U L 1951-26482 O,Y:X,Y 22.0 6/16/2007 Cross Village Central U L 1951-26483 O,Y:X,Y 18.0 6/16/2007 Cross Village Central U L 1951-26484 O,Y:X,Y 20.0 6/16/2007 Sturgeon Bay South U L 1951-26485 O,R:X,R/O/ 19.0 R 6/16/2007 Sturgeon Bay South U L 1951-26487 O,R:X,R/O/ 20.0 R 6/16/2007 Sturgeon Bay South U L 1951-26486 O,R:X,R/O/ 21.0 R 6/16/2007 Sturgeon Bay North U L 1951-26490 O,R:X,R 17.0 6/16/2007 Sturgeon Bay North U L 1951-26488 O,R:X,R 18.0 6/16/2007 Sturgeon Bay North U L 1951-26489 O,R:X,R 16.0 6/16/2007 Sturgeon Bay North U L 1951-26491 O,R:X,R 17.0 6/16/2007 Cross Village North M A 1951-26430 Of,GY:X,B 53.0 6/17/2007 Pointe aux Chenes - F A 1951-26378 X,b:Of,LO 0:05:00 52.5 Central 2 6/19/2007 Ludington Lighthouse F A 1951-26331 Of,LY:X,b 0:06:00 53.5 6/20/2007 Cross Village North F A 1951-26349 Of,GR:X,b 0:05:51 50.0 6/20/2007 Bevort River - West U L 1951-26492 X,L:O,L 0:15:01 30.5 6/20/2007 Bevort River - West U L 1951-26493 X,L:O,L 0:15:01 30.0 6/20/2007 Bevort River - West U L 1951-26494 X,L:O,L 0:15:01 30.5 6/20/2007 Bevort River - West U L 1951-26495 X,L:O,L 0:15:01 29.5 6/21/2007 Grand Marais F A 1951-26381 X,R:Of,YR 0:06:00 51.5 Superior Beach 2 6/21/2007 Grand Marais - U L 1951-26496 X,R:O,- 0:20:00 18.0 Lonesome Point 6/21/2007 Grand Marais - U L 1951-26500 X,R:O,- 0:20:00 20.0 Lonesome Point 6/21/2007 Grand Marais - U L 1951-26501 X,R:O,- 0:20:00 17.5 Lonesome Point 6/21/2007 Grand Marais - U L 1951-26502 X,R:O,- 0:20:00 18.5 Lonesome Point 6/22/2007 Escanaba - Aronson U L 1951-26504 X,O:O,- 0:13:40 29.5 Island sandbar 6/22/2007 Escanaba - Aronson U L 1951-26505 X,O:O,- 0:13:40 28.5 Island sandbar 6/22/2007 Escanaba - Aronson U L 1951-26506 X,O:O,- 0:13:40 17.5 Island sandbar 6/22/2007 Escanaba - Aronson U L 1951-26507 X,O:O,- 0:13:40 21.5 Island sandbar 6/22/2007 Seul Choix, Gulliver U L 1951-26508 X,g:O,- 0:10:30 18.0 Lake Outlet 1

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6/22/2007 Seul Choix, Gulliver U L 1951-26509 X,g:O,- 0:10:30 15.5 Lake Outlet 1 6/25/2007 NMI Dimmick C2 U L 1951-26518 b/O:X,b 0:14:00 30.5 6/25/2007 NMI Dimmick C2 U L 1951-26528 b/O:X,b 0:14:00 33.5 6/25/2007 NMI Dimmick C2 U L 1951-26517 b/O:X,b 0:14:00 30.5 6/25/2007 NMI Dimmick E4 U L 1951-26513 b/O/b:X,b 0:19:34 25.5 6/25/2007 NMI Dimmick E4 U L 1951-26515 b/O/b:X,b 0:19:34 23.5 6/25/2007 NMI Dimmick E4 U L 1951-26516 b/O/b:X,b 0:19:34 25.0 6/25/2007 NMI Dimmick E4 U L 1951-26514 b/O/b:X,b 0:19:34 15.0 6/25/2007 NMI Dimmick E5 U L 1951-26512 X,-:- 0:11:02 17.0 6/25/2007 NMI Dimmick E5 U L 1951-26511 X,-:- 0:11:02 18.0 6/25/2007 NMI Dimmick E5 U L 1951-26510 O:X,b 0:11:02 20.5 6/25/2007 NMI Dimmick W2 U L 1951-26520 O/b:X,b 0:09:00 10.0 6/25/2007 NMI Dimmick W2 U L 1951-26519 O/b:X,b 0:09:00 9.0 6/25/2007 NMI Dimmick W4 U L 1951-26526 O:X,b/O/b 0:12:42 18.0 6/25/2007 NMI Dimmick W4 U L 1951-26527 O:X,b/O/b 0:12:42 16.5 6/25/2007 NMI Dimmick W4 U L 1951-26525 O:X,b/O/b 0:12:42 19.5 6/25/2007 NMI Dimmick W5 U L 1951-26523 O:X,b/O 0:12:27 11.0 6/25/2007 NMI Dimmick W5 U L 1951-26524 O:X,b/O 0:12:27 10.0 6/25/2007 NMI Dimmick W5 U L 1951-26251 O:X,b/O 0:12:27 11.5 6/25/2007 NMI Dimmick W5 U L 1951-26522 O:X,b/O 0:12:27 10.5 6/26/2007 Sleeping Bear Point 1 U L 1951-26535 g:X,O/g 0:10:37 31.5 6/26/2007 Sleeping Bear Point 1 U L 1951-26533 g:X,O/g 0:10:37 31.0 6/26/2007 Sleeping Bear Point 1 U L 1951-26534 g:X,O/g 0:10:37 29.0 6/26/2007 Sleeping Bear Point 2 U L 1951-26530 g:X,g/O 0:14:00 19.5 6/26/2007 Sleeping Bear Point 2 U L 1951-26531 g:X,g/O 0:14:00 24.0 6/26/2007 Sleeping Bear Point 2 U L 1951-26532 g:X,g/O 0:14:00 24.0 6/26/2007 Sleeping Bear Point 2 U L 1951-26529 g:X,g/O 0:14:00 20.5 6/28/2007 Port Inland West M A 1951-26536 X,G:Of,OL 0:10:00 51.5 6/28/2007 Port Inland West F A 0901-24056 Of,Lb:-,YX 0:06:00 50.0 6/28/2007 Gulliver 3 F A 1951-26330 Of,LR:X,b 0:04:00 52.5 6/28/2007 Gulliver 3 M A 1951-26346 Of,BO:X,b 0:06:52 51.0 6/29/2007 Grand Marais - U L 1951-26537 X,R/O:O,R 0:21:02 18.5 Superior Beach 1 6/29/2007 Grand Marais - U L 1951-26538 X,R/O:O,R 0:21:02 22.0 Superior Beach 1 6/29/2007 Grand Marais - U L 1951-26539 X,R/O:O,R 0:21:02 20.5 Superior Beach 1 6/29/2007 Grand Marais - U L 1951-26540 X,R/O:O,R 0:21:02 22.0 Superior Beach 1 7/2/2007 Port Inland - East 1 U L 1951-26546 X,b:O,- 0:06:00 31.0 7/2/2007 Port Inland - East 2 U L 1951-26547 X,b/O:O,- 0:11:54 18.0 7/2/2007 Port Inland - East 2 U L 1951-26548 X,b/O:O,- 0:11:54 19.0 7/2/2007 Port Inland - East 2 U L 1951-26549 X,b/O:O,- 0:11:54 17.0 7/5/2007 Pointe aux Chenes - U L 1951-26553 X,L:O,- 0:18:26 19.0 East 2 7/5/2007 Pointe aux Chenes - U L 1951-26552 X,L:O,- 0:18:26 18.0 East 2 7/5/2007 Pointe aux Chenes - U L 1951-26551 X,L:O,- 0:18:26 17.0 East 2 7/5/2007 Pointe aux Chenes - U L 1951-26550 X,L:O,- 0:18:26 13.0 East 2 7/5/2007 Brevort River - East 3 M A 0981-76665 Of,GY:X,b 0:06:01 54.5 7/5/2007 Pointe aux Chenes - U L 1951-26554 X,L:O,- 0:18:26 14.0 East 2

Cuthbert and Roche # TE 125333-1, page 9

7/6/2007 Platte Tiesma 3 U L 1951-26564 O:X,g/O/g 0:05:00 7/6/2007 Platte Central U L 1951-26555 g/O/g:X,g 0:12:59 7/6/2007 Platte Central U L 1951-26556 g/O/g:X,g 0:12:59 7/6/2007 Platte Central U L unbanded unbanded 0:12:59 7/6/2007 Platte North 2 U L 1951-26557 g/O:X,g 0:09:42 7/6/2007 Platte North 2 U L 1951-26558 g/O:X,g 0:09:42 7/6/2007 Platte North 2 U L 1951-26559 g/O:X,g 0:09:42 7/6/2007 Platte North 3 U L 1951-26560 O:X,g 7/6/2007 Platte North 3 U L 1951-26561 O:X,g 7/6/2007 Platte SOIT U L 1951-26562 O:X,g/O 7/6/2007 Platte Tiesma 3 U L 1951-26563 O:X,g/O/g 0:05:00 7/8/2007 UMBS U L 1951-26568 X,L:Of,YR/ O 7/8/2007 UMBS U L 1951-26566 X,L:Of,BR/ O 7/8/2007 UMBS U L 1951-26565 X,L:Of,GR/ O 7/8/2007 UMBS U L 1951-26569 X,L:Of,LR/ O 7/8/2007 UMBS U L 1951-26567 X,L:Of,RR/ O 7/9/2007 Grand Marais - U L 1951-26570 X,R:O,R 0:16:50 12.5 Superior Beach 2 7/9/2007 Grand Marais - U L 1951-26571 X,R:O,R 0:16:50 24.0 Superior Beach 2 7/9/2007 Grand Marais - U L 1951-26572 X,R:O,R 0:16:50 23.0 Superior Beach 2 7/9/2007 Grand Marais - U L 1951-26573 X,R:O,R 0:16:50 14.0 Superior Beach 2 7/10/2007 Pointe aux Chenes - U L 1951-26574 X,L/O/L:O, 0:15:00 21.0 Central 2 L 7/10/2007 Pointe aux Chenes - U L 1951-26575 X,L/O/L:O, 0:15:00 23.5 Central 2 L 7/10/2007 Pointe aux Chenes - U L 1951-26576 X,L/O/L:O, 0:15:00 35.5 Central 2 L 7/12/2007 Cross Village North U L 1951-26577 O,-:X,Y 0:16:00 27.0 1a* 7/12/2007 Cross Village North U L 1951-26578 O,-:X,Y 0:16:00 25.0 1a* 7/12/2007 Cross Village North U L 1951-26579 O,-:X,Y 0:16:00 23.0 1a* 7/12/2007 Cross Village North U L 1951-26580 O,-:X,Y 0:16:00 21.0 1a* 7/13/2007 NMI - Central 3 U L 1951-26581 O:X,O/b 0:04:00 23.5 7/18/2007 UMBS U L 1951-26582 X,B:Of,RL/ O/L 7/18/2007 UMBS U L 1951-26583 X,B:Of,BL/ O/L 7/18/2007 UMBS U L 1951-26599 X,B:Of,GL/ O/L 7/18/2007 UMBS U L 1951-26584 X,B:Of,YL/ O/L 7/24/2007 Brevort River - East 3 U L 1951-26586 X,O/L:O,L 0:14:24 22.0 7/24/2007 Brevort River - East 3 U L 1951-26585 X,O/L:O,L 0:14:24 21.5 7/24/2007 Brevort River - East 3 U L 1951-26587 X,O/L:O,L 0:14:24 23.0

Cuthbert and Roche # TE 125333-1, page 10

7/27/2007 Ludington - U L 1951-26588 O,B:X,B 0:04:55 Beachhouse* 7/27/2007 Ludington - South of U L 1951-26589 O,-:X,B 0:07:47 River* 7/27/2007 Ludington - South of U L 1951-26590 O,-:X,B 0:07:47 River* 7/27/2007 UMBS U L 1951-26592 X,L:Of,RL/ 0:00:00 O/L 7/27/2007 UMBS U L 1951-26591 X,L:Of,YL/ 0:00:00 O/L 7/28/2007 Escanaba - Aronson U L 1951-26593 X,O:O,- 0:10:10 Island sandbar 2 7/28/2007 Escanaba - Aronson U L 1951-26594 X,O:O,- 0:10:10 Island sandbar 2 7/28/2007 Indian Point - West U L 1951-26595 X,g:O,g 0:12:20 7/28/2007 Indian Point - West U L 1951-26596 X,g:O,g 0:12:20 7/28/2007 Indian Point - East 2 U L 1951-26452 X,O/g:O,g 0:07:38 7/28/2007 Indian Point - East 2 U L 1951-26453 X,O/g:O,g 0:07:38 7/28/2007 Indian Point - East 2 U L 1951-26454 X,O/g:O,g 0:07:38 7/28/2007 Indian Point - East 2 U L 1951-26455 X,O/g:O,g 0:07:38 7/2/2007 Long Island - Middle U L 1951-26545 X,G/O:O,- 0:07:43 Nest, APIS, WI 7/2/2007 Long Island - North, U L 1951-26544 X,G/O/G:O, 0:11:00 APIS, WI - 7/2/2007 Long Island - North, U L 1951-26543 X,G/O/G:O, 0:11:00 APIS, WI - 7/2/2007 Long Island - North, U L 1951-26542 X,G/O/G:O, 0:11:00 APIS, WI - 7/2/2007 Long Island - North, U L 1951-26541 X,G/O/G:O, 0:11:00 57.5 APIS, WI -

(Read band combinations from left to right, top to bottom. “X” indicates Service band, slash used to denote the unbanded leg or split color. Colors used include: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, light green, Blue, light blue, bLack and Orange flag)

Table 2. Collection and release site information for 2007 captive reared chicks.

Egg Collection Site Hatch Date Release Date Release Site Age at Release (days) Ludington Lighthouse - 19-Jun-07 Ludington Lighthouse Returned to nest Ludington Lighthouse - 19-Jun-07 Ludington Lighthouse Returned to nest Ludington Lighthouse - 19-Jun-07 Ludington Lighthouse Returned to nest Ludington Lighthouse - 19-Jun-07 Ludington Lighthouse Returned to nest Pointe aux Chenes - Central 1 12-Jun-07 15-Jul-07 Sturgeon Bay 33 Pointe aux Chenes - Central 1 12-Jun-07 15-Jul-07 Sturgeon Bay 33 Pointe aux Chenes - Central 1 12-Jun-07 15-Jul-07 Sturgeon Bay 33 Pointe aux Chenes - Central 1 13-Jun-07 15-Jul-07 Sturgeon Bay 32 Pointe aux Chenes - Central 1 14-Jun-07 15-Jul-07 Sturgeon Bay 31 Pointe aux Chenes - Sandbar 1 16-Jun-07 20-Jul-07 Sturgeon Bay 34 Pointe aux Chenes - Sandbar 1 16-Jun-07 20-Jul-07 Sturgeon Bay 34 Pointe aux Chenes - Sandbar 1 17-Jun-07 20-Jul-07 Sturgeon Bay 33 Indian Point - East 1 22-Jun-07 20-Jul-07 Sturgeon Bay 28 Brevort River - East 2 26-Jun-07 28-Jul-07 Sturgeon Bay 32 Brevort River - East 2 27-Jun-07 28-Jul-07 Sturgeon Bay 31 Pointe aux Chenes - Central 2 30-Jun-07 28-Jul-07 Sturgeon Bay 28 Brevort River - East 1 17-Jun-07 Died 25-Jun-07 - - Pointe aux Chenes - Sandbar 1 17-Jun-07 Died 9-Jul-07 - - Brevort River - East 2 26-Jun-07 Died 1-Jul-07 - - Brevort River - East 2 26-Jun-07 Died 9-Jul-07 - - Ludington - South of River 1 2-Jul-07 Died 7-Jul-07 - - Pointe aux Chenes - Volleyball Dead in shell 15-May-07 - - - Pointe aux Chenes - Volleyball Dead in shell 15-May-07 - - - Pointe aux Chenes - Volleyball Dead in shell 15-May-07 - - - Pointe aux Chenes - Volleyball Dead in shell 15-May-07 - - - Brevort River - East 1 Dead in shell 31-May-07 - - - Brevort River - East 1 Dead in shell 27-May-07 - - - Brevort River - East 1 Dead in shell 16-Jun-07 - - - Indian Point - East 1 Infertile - - - Port Inland - West Dead in shell 22-Jun-07 - - - Ludington - South of River 1 Dead in shell ? - - - Ludington - South of River 1 Dead in shell ? - - - Ludington - South of River 1 Dead in shell 29-Jun-07

Table 3. Collection dates for unhatched Piping Plovers eggs collected in 2007.

Date Site location Type Reason Collected Transferred To: 22-Jun-07 Platte - North 2 1 egg Abandoned ELFO - USFWS 5-Jul-07 Port Inland - West* 1 egg Abandoned ELFO - USFWS 5-Jul-07 Port Inland - West* 1 egg Abandoned ELFO - USFWS 5-Jul-07 Port Inland - West* 1 egg Abandoned ELFO - USFWS 5-Jul-07 Port Inland - West* 1 egg Abandoned ELFO - USFWS 1-Jun-07 Platte - North 1 1 egg Abandoned ELFO - USFWS 1-Jun-07 Platte - North 1 1 egg Abandoned ELFO - USFWS 1-Jun-07 Platte - North 1 1 egg Abandoned ELFO - USFWS 10-Jun-07 Unknown 1 egg Abandoned ELFO - USFWS 16-Jun-07 NMI - Dimmick East 2 1 egg Abandoned ELFO - USFWS 3-Jul-07 NMI - Dimmick Central 3 1 egg Abandoned ELFO - USFWS 28-Jun-07 Port Inland - East 2 1 egg Abandoned ELFO - USFWS 27-May-07 Brevort East 1 egg Abandoned ELFO - USFWS 15-May-07 Pointe Aux Chenes - Volleyball 1 egg Abandoned ELFO - USFWS 15-May-07 Pointe Aux Chenes - Volleyball 1 egg Abandoned ELFO - USFWS 15-May-07 Pointe Aux Chenes - Volleyball 1 egg Abandoned ELFO - USFWS 15-May-07 Pointe Aux Chenes - Volleyball 1 egg Abandoned ELFO - USFWS 31-May-07 Brevort East 1 egg Abandoned ELFO - USFWS 10-Jun-07 Ludington - South of River 1 egg Abandoned ELFO - USFWS 7-Jun-07 Indian Point 1 1 egg Abandoned ELFO - USFWS 3-July-07 Long Island, WI 1 egg Abandoned ELFO - USFWS 3-July-07 Long Island, WI 1 egg Abandoned ELFO - USFWS 3-July-07 Long Island, WI 1 egg Abandoned ELFO - USFWS 3-July-07 Long Island, WI 1 egg Abandoned ELFO - USFWS