Great Lakes Piping Plovers
Population Status
Historically, Piping Plovers nested throughout the Great Lakes, with an estimated population 500-800 pairs. By the late-1980's the Great Lakes population had declined to about 13 pairs, all within the state of Michigan. Although the breeding population is increasing, the Great Lakes Piping Plover is still extremely vulnerable to extirpation (elimination) from predation, environmental changes, and continuing beach development.
In recent years the Great Lakes Piping Plover population has expanded geographically towards the range they once covered. 2018 was the first year in many decades that Piping Plovers have nested on all five of the Great Lakes.
It is a special opportunity to be able observe Piping Plovers since there are only about 70 nesting pairs in the entire Great Lakes population and about 4000 pairs worldwide.