Monday, February 9, 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
February's Featured WI Endangered Species: The Piping Plover
My thoughts about the Piping Plover:
Okay – I think these birds are cute! Many of you looking at my poster had this reaction too. Unlike the American Burying Beetle, saving Piping Plovers won’t be a hard sell. They, like the Beetle, are beautiful, unique in their behavior, form and function, and like all other living creatures deserve to exist. We have a responsibility to help them, as we are the cause of their being endangered! Here’s what you can do to help:
1. Learn more about Piping Plovers (Charadrius melodus) and why they are endangered.
2. Act to help the Piping Plovers that still exist stay alive, and raise a new generation of plovers!
Here is some information, and ways you can learn about and act to save the Piping Plover:
1. IMPORTANT UPDATE! Nesting Piping Plovers are now found in Wisconsin! They are in the Apostle Islands area on or near National Park Service lands, on Long Island and Chequamegon Point, places you might decide to go for a vacation. Together, these groups and individuals monitor and protect Piping Plover nests there:
a. National Park Service (http://www.nps.gov/apis/naturescience/birds.htm ), specifically the Apostle National Lakeshore (http://www.nps.gov/apis/ )
b. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (http://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/pipingplover/index.html ), which includes the (Ashland National Fish & Wildlife Conservation Office http://www.fws.gov/midwest/ashland/ )
c. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/er/factsheets/birds/plover.htm )
d. University of Minnesota’s Great Lakes Waterbird Research Program (http://www.waterbirds.umn.edu/Piping_Plovers/piping9.htm )
e. Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa Tribe
f. The Nature Conservancy
g. Private landowners
h. Some kids from Cedarburg, WI!
2. To find out more about this exciting partnership, go to WI DNR’s magazine: http://www.wnrmag.com/stories/2008/jun08/plovers.htm .The Ashland National Fish & Wildlife Conservation Office elaborates at http://www.fws.gov/Midwest/ashland/AccomRpt_FY07index.html , in an article called “Piping Plovers Once Again Utilizing the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore”. And for the very latest, check out the Fish & Wildlife Journal at http://www.fws.gov/arsnew/regmap.cfm?arskey=24686&callingKey=region&callingValue=3 .
3. You can help! While it’s true that Piping Plovers’ nests are enclosed to protect them from people and wildlife, the plovers can move freely entering and exiting the enclosures. Your actions can determine if they survive. While vacationing in Piping Plover habitat, keep your dogs on-leash, don’t bring food to the beach and dispose of garbage carefully to avoid attracting raccoons and foxes, and don’t use all-terrain vehicles. Be vigilant to avoid stepping on vulnerable plover chicks!
4. Be observant! If you see a new Piping Plover nest, or tagged or untagged plovers outside of their enclosures, contact these agencies so you can help them monitor and protect these plovers: the National Park Service Ecologist ((715) 779-3398, Ext. 211 (if seen on the Apostle Islands); WI DNR's Bureau of Endangered Resources, (608) 266-1571, and the University of Minnesota's Plover Team at plover@umn.edu or phone (612)-624-1202.
5. See if there are opportunities to be Piping Plover patrollers! Contact the National Park at http://www.nps.gov/apis/supportyourpark/volunteer.htm , and the US Fish & Wildlife Service at http://volunteer.gov/gov . Here is a similar opportunity in Michigan: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/pipingplover/volunteers.html (Some of these Michigan Plovers migrate to Wisconsin to live and breed!)
6. Find some very good general information about Piping Plovers at these great sites: Cornell University Lab of Ornithology’s http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Piping_Plover_dtl.html#fig1 , the Encyclopedia of Life’s http://eol.org/pages/1049343 , WI Bird Education Initiative’s http://www.wisconsinbirds.org/plan/species/pipl.htm , and the Center for Biological Diversity’s http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/birds/piping_plover/
7. Donate money to help Endangered Species through the WI DNR at http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/er/support/taxes.htm . Find out how you can donate to the National Park Service’s partners at http://www.nps.gov/apis/supportyourpark/joinourfriends.htm .
8. Donate to and get involved with our local environmental organizations that fight to preserve natural spaces, such Madison Audubon Society, Madison Sierra Club, and the Madison Nature Conservancy. There are many bird enthusiasts at Audubon who would love to answer your questions and help you get involved!
9. Support politicians who oppose development in sensitive plover habitat. We can find other places to live and vacation. These endangered birds have very specific habitat requirements, and can not live in most places!
10. Live your life in a way that is respectful of other living creatures! When vacationing, be mindful that for Piping Plovers this land is necessary for their survival. Make your enjoyment of the beach encompass an enjoyment of them! I especially enjoy the way Piping Plovers sound and move, something I can’t capture in my painting. Listen to Wild Birds Unlimited’s recording of their “plaintive bell-like whistles” http://whatbird.wbu.com/obj/1001/_/Piping_Plover.aspx and this video http://www.videodouble.com/video/piping-plover-chicks-21416348/ to hear and see for yourself!
11. Let’s all work together, like the private and government agencies, as well as the private citizens of Ashland, Cedarburg, and the Bad Indian Reservation. Tell relatives, friends, and acquaintances about these unique creatures. Help change the world!!
Okay – I think these birds are cute! Many of you looking at my poster had this reaction too. Unlike the American Burying Beetle, saving Piping Plovers won’t be a hard sell. They, like the Beetle, are beautiful, unique in their behavior, form and function, and like all other living creatures deserve to exist. We have a responsibility to help them, as we are the cause of their being endangered! Here’s what you can do to help:
1. Learn more about Piping Plovers (Charadrius melodus) and why they are endangered.
2. Act to help the Piping Plovers that still exist stay alive, and raise a new generation of plovers!
Here is some information, and ways you can learn about and act to save the Piping Plover:
1. IMPORTANT UPDATE! Nesting Piping Plovers are now found in Wisconsin! They are in the Apostle Islands area on or near National Park Service lands, on Long Island and Chequamegon Point, places you might decide to go for a vacation. Together, these groups and individuals monitor and protect Piping Plover nests there:
a. National Park Service (http://www.nps.gov/apis/naturescience/birds.htm ), specifically the Apostle National Lakeshore (http://www.nps.gov/apis/ )
b. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (http://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/pipingplover/index.html ), which includes the (Ashland National Fish & Wildlife Conservation Office http://www.fws.gov/midwest/ashland/ )
c. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/er/factsheets/birds/plover.htm )
d. University of Minnesota’s Great Lakes Waterbird Research Program (http://www.waterbirds.umn.edu/Piping_Plovers/piping9.htm )
e. Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa Tribe
f. The Nature Conservancy
g. Private landowners
h. Some kids from Cedarburg, WI!
2. To find out more about this exciting partnership, go to WI DNR’s magazine: http://www.wnrmag.com/stories/2008/jun08/plovers.htm .The Ashland National Fish & Wildlife Conservation Office elaborates at http://www.fws.gov/Midwest/ashland/AccomRpt_FY07index.html , in an article called “Piping Plovers Once Again Utilizing the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore”. And for the very latest, check out the Fish & Wildlife Journal at http://www.fws.gov/arsnew/regmap.cfm?arskey=24686&callingKey=region&callingValue=3 .
3. You can help! While it’s true that Piping Plovers’ nests are enclosed to protect them from people and wildlife, the plovers can move freely entering and exiting the enclosures. Your actions can determine if they survive. While vacationing in Piping Plover habitat, keep your dogs on-leash, don’t bring food to the beach and dispose of garbage carefully to avoid attracting raccoons and foxes, and don’t use all-terrain vehicles. Be vigilant to avoid stepping on vulnerable plover chicks!
4. Be observant! If you see a new Piping Plover nest, or tagged or untagged plovers outside of their enclosures, contact these agencies so you can help them monitor and protect these plovers: the National Park Service Ecologist ((715) 779-3398, Ext. 211 (if seen on the Apostle Islands); WI DNR's Bureau of Endangered Resources, (608) 266-1571, and the University of Minnesota's Plover Team at plover@umn.edu or phone (612)-624-1202.
5. See if there are opportunities to be Piping Plover patrollers! Contact the National Park at http://www.nps.gov/apis/supportyourpark/volunteer.htm , and the US Fish & Wildlife Service at http://volunteer.gov/gov . Here is a similar opportunity in Michigan: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/pipingplover/volunteers.html (Some of these Michigan Plovers migrate to Wisconsin to live and breed!)
6. Find some very good general information about Piping Plovers at these great sites: Cornell University Lab of Ornithology’s http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Piping_Plover_dtl.html#fig1 , the Encyclopedia of Life’s http://eol.org/pages/1049343 , WI Bird Education Initiative’s http://www.wisconsinbirds.org/plan/species/pipl.htm , and the Center for Biological Diversity’s http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/birds/piping_plover/
7. Donate money to help Endangered Species through the WI DNR at http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/er/support/taxes.htm . Find out how you can donate to the National Park Service’s partners at http://www.nps.gov/apis/supportyourpark/joinourfriends.htm .
8. Donate to and get involved with our local environmental organizations that fight to preserve natural spaces, such Madison Audubon Society, Madison Sierra Club, and the Madison Nature Conservancy. There are many bird enthusiasts at Audubon who would love to answer your questions and help you get involved!
9. Support politicians who oppose development in sensitive plover habitat. We can find other places to live and vacation. These endangered birds have very specific habitat requirements, and can not live in most places!
10. Live your life in a way that is respectful of other living creatures! When vacationing, be mindful that for Piping Plovers this land is necessary for their survival. Make your enjoyment of the beach encompass an enjoyment of them! I especially enjoy the way Piping Plovers sound and move, something I can’t capture in my painting. Listen to Wild Birds Unlimited’s recording of their “plaintive bell-like whistles” http://whatbird.wbu.com/obj/1001/_/Piping_Plover.aspx and this video http://www.videodouble.com/video/piping-plover-chicks-21416348/ to hear and see for yourself!
11. Let’s all work together, like the private and government agencies, as well as the private citizens of Ashland, Cedarburg, and the Bad Indian Reservation. Tell relatives, friends, and acquaintances about these unique creatures. Help change the world!!
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