National Recovery Plan For The Piping Plover Charadrius Melodus

The piping plover (Charadrius melodus) is a small shorebird that breeds on sand or gravel beaches on the Atlantic coast, Great Lakes and Great Plains. In February 2000, the piping plover was listed as Endangered in Alberta, because of a low population size (

The piping plover is a small shorebird that is listed as endangered in Alberta because of low population size, threats to habitat, and an inability of existing management to increase population levels. This document presents a plan for recovery of the Alberta piping plover population. It begins with an action statement & information on the recovery team, then reviews the breeding biology and the population distribution & trends of the piping plover in Alberta. Factors limiting the population of the species are discussed, such as predation and human disturbance. Finally, the strategy & action plan for recovery of the species is set out, including guiding principles, recovery goals, habitat protection & enhancement, productivity enhancement, public awareness & education, and research. A plan implementation & cost schedule is included.

The piping plover (Charadrium melodus) is an endangered species in Alberta. In 2001, the Alberta Piping Plover Recovery Team was formed, and an inaugural recovery plan (2002-2004) was launched. An updated plan, with similar goals, strategies and activities was drafted in 2005. This report summarizes activities completed during implementation of the Alberta Piping Plover Recovery Plan, 2005-2010, and sets the stage for a new recovery plan to be drafted in 2010. The activities relate to resource acquisition, population monitoring and research, productivity enhancements, habitat management and protection, and outreach.--Includes text from document.