Plover Recovery Significantly Enhanced by Generous Donation from an Anonymous Donor!

The Great Lakes Piping Plover Recovery program thrives thanks to the donations of many generous donors to the University of Minnesota Foundation’s fund for plover research and recovery.  Over the past several years, an anonymous donor has made important contributions that have allowed us to invest in key research efforts, as well as acquire needed tools to be used during the breeding season.

Thanks to this individual’s donations, we have accomplished the following in prior seasons, as well as in preparation for the 2025 season, and we have several new efforts we will pursue this season. Here is a summary:

1.     In 2023, funds were donated to support two significant research efforts: (a) collection and analysis of fecal samples to understand Great Lakes Piping Plover diet, specifically spatial and temporal variation as it may relate to survival and fecundity.  320 samples were collected and prepared for DNA sequencing. Lab work will be completed this fall and use bar coding to identify prey to the lowest taxonomic unit.  (b) ~1000 genetic samples (blood; fecals; mouth cells) were collected during routine banding operations to assess genetic diversity in the Great Lakes population and to discern migration patterns. Comparative samples were also obtained from the Atlantic Coast and Great Plains populations and from museum collections. This work is nearing completion and presentations have been made at several scientific meetings.

2.     We have 6 more chick catchers made by Alice Van Zoeren. She will make 2 more yet this season. These greatly increase safety during capture of chicks for banding as they are light weight and soft. When dropped over a chick, they land delicately for a safe capture and keep the chick from escaping.

3.     Alice has also made 2 noose carpets out of monofilament line. She has 2 more to make. These will be used if we need to capture an adult that has an injured foot or leg. This happens rarely but is critical to address so the foot is not permanently injured. Injuries can occur when feet or toes get constricted by monofilament line, human hair, algae or a slipped plastic band. If you think making a noose carpet is easy, just try it yourself! When a plover walks on the “carpets” they get caught and are easy to catch by hand to address the problem.  The Chicago team would have greatly benefited from such a carpet had they had one when Searocket’s foot got tangled in monofilament, and all efforts to capture her failed!

4.     We purchased 2 new Nikon spotting scopes (with carbon steel tripods, tripod heads, scope bags). Wow, are these beautiful and allow easy ID of plover band combinations by our field staff and volunteers.

5.     Stephanie Schubel developed a set of guidelines for protecting nests that are certain to flood. These strategies were developed by our field staff in Canada, PA, MI, IL and MN and they work! This document will be shared, but not publicly posted, with our partners who have the state and federal permits to modify nests during storm conditions.

6.     Flights by floatplane will be chartered to several remote nesting sites in the Great Lakes region to scout for new nests or to band adults or chicks.  These sites are difficult to monitor and a flight can visit these islands in just several hours versus several days and uncertain weather via boat.

7.     Travel and food will be covered for a volunteer to monitor plover nests at a remote location over the 4th of July weekends when regular monitors cannot visit the site. This is a time when many recreational boaters visit this island and this volunteer will be present to reduce potential disturbance by communicating with boaters who: run dogs off leash, attempt to walk through the nesting area, or land their boat adjacent to the nesting area.

The plover recovery effort is greatly enhanced by donations such as this one! We are deeply grateful to this donor and to all donors who have supported us over the years.  If you would like to donate to this fund, look for the DONATE button at the top of each page of this blogsite.