Piping Plover Monitoring Project

Since 1997, the Irving Eco-Centre has been involved in monitoring the nesting piping plover, an endangered species that nests on the shoreline of eastern New Brunswick. The objectives of this program are:

• Observe numbers of nesting pairs on the Irving Eco-Centre’s dune spit
• Monitor hatching and fledging success
• Protect the nesting habitat with signage and fences
• Educate the public
• Participate in the Atlantic provinces' efforts through the Piping Plover Working Group

In 1999, efforts were made to accomplish these objectives along the whole coast of southeastern N.B. thanks to funding by the World Wildlife Fund’s Endangered Species Recovery Fund. In 2000, these monitoring efforts were pursued on all beaches from Escuminac to Johnston’s Point N.B., with the assistance of funding by Environment Canada’s Stewardship Funds and the New Brunswick Wildlife Trust Fund. Two students were hired to visit nesting sites weekly to monitor success rates. They also prepared an educational campaign about the endangered status of the plovers and how to participate in saving them. Presentations and exhibits about the plovers were given at the IEC.

Results
For 2000 on the Bouctouche spit only 3 nesting pair were observed, and 5 chicks produced. Total numbers for south-eastern New Brunswick. were also low with only 9 nests and 17 chicks produced. Although predator exclosures were used, fledging success and the number of chicks fledged is close to the 1998 numbers when predator exclosures were not used and two of three nests were destroyed.

The bad weather in the spring and high tides which flooded two first nesting attemps on June 7th, had an impact on nesting success.

Findings will be submitted to the annual Working Group meeting, spring 2001. The monitoring will be pursued next year on the Bouctouche spit, and on other beaches of south-eastern New Brunswick if appropriate funding is obtained. (Contact Irving Eco-Centre for full report and maps.)