2005 PIPING PLOVER NUMBERS DOWN

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2005 PIPING PLOVER NUMBERS DOWN

MassWildlife has compiled figures for piping plovers with data gathered through the cooperation of nearly 70 biologists and beach managers from state and federal agencies, local municipalities and private conservation groups. A total of 475 pairs of Piping Plovers nested at 109 sites on Massachusetts coastal beaches. This represents a 3% decline from last year’s 490 pairs. Dr. Scott Melvin, Senior Zoologist for MassWildlife, noted that the average number of chicks fledged per pair was only 1.0; below the minimum reproductive success needed to sustain Massachusetts’ breeding population of Piping Plovers. "This year’s low reproductive success is due in part to two spring coastal storms that destroyed many nests," said.Melvin. He also said that loss of eggs and unfledged chicks to a variety of avian and mammalian predators continues to be a primary factor limiting productivity. Beach management practices to safeguard beach-nesting birds from disturbance, mortality and habitat degradation still remain effective conservation tools. Piping plovers are classified as “Threatened" on both the federal and state endangered species lists.