With their cotton-ball-sized chicks and soft “peep-lo” calls, Piping Plovers and their tiny hatchlings might be one of Saskatchewan’s cutest summertime residents — but they’re also among the most vulnerable.
Endangered since 1985, these shorebirds rely on Saskatchewan for breeding, making the province an unexpectedly vital stronghold for the species as advocates try to secure their survival — and possibly even a species recovery.
“Saskatchewan is actually a very important breeding ground for them,” said Emily Putz, coordinator of the Plovers on Shore program with Nature Saskatchewan. “We have the most plovers breeding in our province in the world.”
Unlike most prairie birds, Piping Plovers don’t nest in tall grasses or trees. Instead, they scrape their nests right into the ground on open beaches and gravelly shorelines, on Lake Diefenbaker for example, with minimal vegetation to hide behind. That makes the region’s salty, plant-sparse lakes and sloughs especially valuable. It also means agricultural land can be surprisingly perfect for them.
"They’re found in the South along more of the saline or alkaline sloughs,” Putz explained, “so the ones that are a little salty, where the salt kind of kills the vegetation around the waterline and leaves that open shoreline for them."
Though their stay is brief — just a few months from May through July — Saskatchewan’s role is critical. “We’re very, very important breeding grounds for them,” she said. “Our habitat and our saline sloughs and lakes are very, very important for their species recovery.”
Plovers are well known for their parenting, with both parents involved in defending their nest, especially during incubation. According to Putz, “these guys are also quite the tricksters. During the breeding season the male and female both defend the nest, leading predators away with broken wing displays and false incubation." Additionally, the males typically stay longer with the fledglings, extending their stay into late summer to give the babies the best chance at making it.
However, their nesting strategy has drawbacks.
A Piping Plover nest at Lake Diefenbaker. The nests are difficult to spot unless you're aware and on the look-out (photo by Nathaniel Hak)
“They are extremely well camouflaged,” said Putz. “That’s where some of their risks come from… Like ATVs — you can easily run over them if you're on a beach. An off-leash dog can destroy a bunch of nests at once. Even something as deep as a person's footprint can cause issues with the young."
On agricultural land, the main risk comes from cattle.
“The cattle will go down to the shoreline, and they make very deep footprints if the ground is soft,” she explained. “The babies can actually fall in there and not be able to get out.”
To help, Nature Saskatchewan offers funding for fencing or alternate water sources that can keep cattle away from any 'shoreline' the birds are using during their brief nesting season. Landowners with sightings can join the Plovers on Shore stewardship program.
“If you’re a landholder or pasture manager and you happen to see these birds at your slough while checking cattle or something like that, that sighting would open up the conversation,” said Putz. “We work with landowners that have species at risk to help monitor them every year, because they know their land best.”
Members of the public can also be a big help. “If you do see one, you should definitely report it to us,” she added. “You can call our toll-free hotline at 1-800-667-HOOT or email outreach@naturesask.ca.”
Whether it’s reporting a sighting, avoiding the beach with your ATV, or keeping your dog leashed, Putz says a little mindfulness can go a long way.
“We’re sharing these spaces with such small creatures ... Simply being a little more mindful and aware of our surroundings does wonders in helping these little birds.”