Piping Plover Notice

[Pam Grassmick]

What you can do to help preserve Piping Plovers on the Beaver Island Archipelago:

The Piping Plover Recovery Team reported a total of 53 pairs and 54 nests (44 active nests) across the Great Lakes. There are still at least 13 potential pairs at various locations. So far, a total of 10 nests have been lost.

Signs have been posted on the High Island spit by the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Natural Resource Department. Please respect these signs and do not enter the spit area that has been posted from April 15 to August 15, 2023. On the High Island spit-4 nests were observed-2 are active and 2 others had to be sent to a captive rearing facility due to loss of parent birds. Feel free to enjoy the shoreline, just stay off the spit area.

Exclosures are metal cages normally 4 ft x 6ft. These are to protect nesting birds. Please do not approach. This cage allows the PIPL to come and go but keeps out predators like coyote, gulls, raven and merlin. These mid-sized exclosures are equipped with trail cameras that are pointed at the nests to monitor hatch time and the presence of predators.

Keep your dogs on leashes during bird nesting season, especially on the island’s beaches.

Report human activity on the High Island spit to the LTBB NRD Conservation Enforcement Program. LTBB Conservation Officers can be reached @ 231-242-1670.
Also contact the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division Report All Poaching Hotline (RAP call or text) at 1-800-292-7800.
PIPL photos courtesy of Tom Hawkins.