Hanging With an Endangered Species
After more than two months away from being in the field, my first morning out was to photograph some endangered Piping Plovers (Charadrius melodus melodus) at sunrise and in the rain somewhere in Ontario.
This was my first time seeing them in Ontario. I was very lucky to see Piping Plovers twice before in 2022 and 2023 during our fall migration trips to Cape May, New Jersey. The beach they are on in Cape May is busy, populated, filled with other shorebirds and also filled with yahoos driving their pick-ups on the beach - this is allowed I might add!
This was quite a different experience. I was alone on the beach, it was at sunrise and there were very few other shorebirds or any other wildlife around. These two Piping Plovers also got close. Very close! In fact, at times they were too close to photograph with my 600mm lense.
The two I saw seem to be non-breeding adults. Which makes sense since breading season had long passed. At no more than 49g in total mass, it really is easy to miss these adorable little shorebirds. Although, they can often be heard before seen. They feed on aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates, including marine worms, fly larvae, beetles, crustaceans, and molluscs, which they capture with their short bills by running around and pecking or probing along shores. And man do they run and peck! It is almost impossible to see them in one spot for very long.
Like many small shorebirds, their prey are many including gulls, crows, foxes and even minks, weasels, raccoons, ravens and skunks. Sadly, we - humans - are their biggest threat.
In Canada, the Piping Plover is listed as Endangered and as Threatened in the United States, making any chance to see and photograph them a blessing.
This was my only chance to see them before they head south. So I’m really happy to share my experience with you and have the chance to see my photos of this amazing little bird working to survive and keep their breed going.
Piping Plover heading straight for me.
Visit the link below to see these and other photos of my favourite little endangered species.