The male parent of the only surviving Piping Plover born at Wasaga Beach Provincial Park Beach Area One this summer is preparing the chick for their journey south.

The chick, now the same size as the adult male, appears to be in good health said Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) Piping Plover Volunteer Coordinator Stacey Kerslake.

On Fri., July 18, its surviving sibling fell ill and died at a local veterinarian clinic after the Canadian Wildlife Service gave MNR officials permission to take it there to be examined.

The body has since been sent to the University of Guelph for analysis. Results from the examination are expected to take several weeks, said Kerslake. The bodies of the other Piping Plover chicks that died this summer have also been sent there.

Two pair of Piping Plovers nested at Wasaga Beach this summer. It is a significant number considering only four pair is known to have nested on the shores of Lake Huron this summer.

Their presence has earned Wasaga Beach international attention, especially within the birding community, said Kerslake.

In May, one couple laid four eggs and in June, the second couple laid four eggs as well.

Much to the chagrin of park staff, the Plovers chose to nest in an area of the park that has the highest volume of visitor traffic, beside the boardwalk, instead of at the point, which had been left to naturalize in order to provide the birds an ideal spot to nest.

The choice of location forced staff to put up protective fencing and close the dog beach. Events scheduled to take place in the location were jostled to accommodate the birds.

Kerslake said although the situation angered a few angry beachgoers, most people are enamored and fascinated by the birds and they are diligently watched over by about 100 volunteers, some of whom travel from as far as Toronto and Orillia. Kerslake said some people have been putting in as many as three or four four-hour shifts per week.

Many volunteers took it hard when a freak hailstorm blew over the beach on June 22, killing all four of the chicks born to the second nest only six days earlier.

Two of the chicks born to the first nest have also died.

Now only one of the eight chicks is alive. The adults that laid the second clutch headed south shortly after their chicks died and the female parent of the surviving chick has also departed, which Kerslake says is normal behaviour. It is the male's role to stay with the chick during the fledging process. She said they will fly together to the Gulf of Mexico.

The chick born at Wasaga Beach was banded and park staff will be watching to see if that bird returns to its birthplace to mate, as they often do, said Kerslake.

"We were hoping they would fledge this week but it may be another week or so," said Kerslake adding the birds were not doing enough flying last week to indicate they were preparing to depart.

Once they leave, volunteers will monitor the fenced area for two days to ensure the birds have not returned, said Kerslake.

She said the volunteers will reflect on the experience at an Aug. 5 event at which the MNR will show its appreciation to the volunteers, town staff, municipal councillors and the OPP who have all been very supportive of the program.

Kerslake said even if only one chick survives, the program has been successful because it will have contributed to the population of an endangered species. The program has helped to raise a lot of awareness about the birds and other threatened species.

"We have been through a lot this year and everyone has been very supportive," said Kerslake.

NOTES:
Piping Plovers in Oliphant laid one egg and that chick has survived.

A pair nesting at Sauble Beach had two chicks and one survives.

Only about 55 pair are known to be breeding on the Great Lakes.

Bands attached to legs of the birds that nested at Wasaga Beach indicate the adults that mated in Wasaga Beach this summer are from Ludington, Dimmick, Central Platte and Sturgeon Bay North.