Taxonomy
Occurence in Illinois
Status
Habitat associations
Guilds
Food-habits
Environmental associations
Life history
Management practices
References
Taxonomy
Occurence in Illinois
Status
Habitat associations
Guilds
Food-habits
Environmental associations
Life history
Management practices
References
Early May-mid May, late July-late Sept. *01*. Status: rare migrant. Very rare summer resident along Lake Michigan *01*. No current nesting sites are known, last being 1973 at Waukegan *13*. Observed during breeding season as late as 1981 at Waukegan *14*.
Items in bold indicate applicable categories
Forest Service Categories: S = recommended for regional sensitive status, F = forest listed species, M = management
indicator species
| Endangered | Threatened | Proposed for listing |
| Candidate for proposal | Recovery plan approved | Recovery plan received (USFWS) |
| Recovery plan in preparation | Under notice of review | Delisted |
| Migratory | EPA indicator | Forest Serv.- Shawnee species |
| Endangered | Threatened | Proposed |
| Game | Furbearer | Nongame protected | |
| Sportfish | Commercial | Pest | None of the above |
Comments on status:
Present on Illinois endangered species list 1977 *02*. Rebounded from
extirpation after full protection from hunting in 1913, see *11*. Very
low numbers and vanishing habitat continue its endangered status in
Illinois *02*. Also protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act,
1918 *15* and Illinois Wildlife Code, 1971 *21*.
C. melodus was listed by FWS on 11 Dec. 1985 as endangered in the
great lakes area and threatened in rest of its range * *.
Items in bold indicate applicable categories
| Unknown | Terrestrial | Aquatic | Riparian |
| Unknown | Unstocked | Seedling | Sapling |
| Seedling/sapling | Pole | Mature | Over mature |
| Unknown | Urban | Residential Commercial Industrial Transportation, communication Complex industrial/commercial Mixed Other | |
| Agricultural | Crop, pasture Orchards, groves, nurseries Feedlot Other | Rangeland | Herbaceous Shrub and brush Mixed |
| Forestland | Deciduous Evergreen Mixed | Water | Stream Lake Reservoir Bay |
| Wetland | Forest Non-forest | Barren | Salt flat Beach Sand Rock Mine Transit Mix |
Associated tree species: No records.
| System | Subsystem | Class | Subclass | Water regime modifiers | Water chemistry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lacustrine | Littoral | Beach/bar | Cobble/gravel | Permanent nontidal | Freshwater |
| Lacustrine | Littoral | Beach/bar | Sand | Permanent nontidal | Freshwater |
| Riverine | Lower perennial | Beach/bar | Cobble/gravel | Permanent nontidal | Freshwater |
| Riverine | Lower perennial | Beach/bar | Sand | Permanent nontidal | Freshwater |
Comments on species-habitat associations:
Piping plovers on the great lakes or atlantic coast are associated
with fairly wide, sandy, sparsely or unvegetated beaches when nesting
*07,08,10,18*. Outside breeding season birds may be found on beaches,
lagoon edges or areas of rubble *08*.
Important plant and animal association: No comments.
| Habitat | Structural stage | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Beaches | Special habitat | Spring/summer |
| Beaches | Special habitat | Fall |
| Sandy areas other then beaches | Special habitat | Fall |
| Lake shore | Special habitat | Spring/summer |
| Lake shore | Special habitat | Fall |
| Beach | Special habitat | Spring/summer |
| Beach | Special habitat | Fall |
| Foredune | Special habitat | Spring/summer |
| Foredune | Special habitat | Fall |
Species-habitat interrelations: Type (sandy beaches) function (breeding, feeding) value (high) season (spring/summer/fall) *01,10,17,18*. Piping plovers on great lakes prefer fairly wide, sandy, sparsely or unvegetated beaches for nesting *18*. In michigan substrate was varying amounts of sand and stone (most 1-10 cm.) *18*. On narrow beaches (approx. 20 m) nest on unvegetated upper beach near dune, on wider beaches between dune and lake *18*. High value potential habitat includes sand or sand-stone beaches at least 9 m. wide (above present water line) that are unvegetated or sparsely vegetated *18*. Sandbars in the Mississippi River may be suitable as those of the Missouri River in Nebr. but no breeding observed *17*. For preferred habitat parameters in Michigan, see *18*.
| Habitat | Structural stage | Season | Feed-guilds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake shore | Special habitat | Fall | Terrestrial subsurface- arthropods Terrestrial subsurface- invertebrates other than arthropods Terrestrial surface- arthropods Terrestrial surface- invertebrates other than arthropods Water bottom-unconsolidated bottom, arthropods Water bottom-unconsolidated bottom, invertebrates other than zooplankton or arthropods |
| Lake shore | Special habitat | Spring/summer | Terrestrial subsurface- arthropods Terrestrial subsurface- invertebrates other than arthropods Terrestrial surface- arthropods Terrestrial surface- invertebrates other than arthropods Water bottom-unconsolidated bottom, arthropods Water bottom-unconsolidated bottom, invertebrates other than zooplankton or arthropods |
Comments on feed-guilding:
Food consists almost entirely of animal organisms which are picked
from sands that are washed by flowing water *09,19*.
| Habitat | Structural stage | Season | Breed-Guilds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beach | Special habitat | Spring/summer | Terrestrial surface, beaches (mud, sand, rock) without hydrophytes |
| Foredune | Special habitat | Spring/summer | Terrestrial surface, beaches (mud, sand, rock) without hydrophytes |
Comments on breed-guilding:
Copulation occurs anywhere within nesting and feeding territories
which are typically fairly wide, sandy, sparsely or unvegetated
beaches *06,18*. Nest is a slight hollow or scrape in sand *02*.
Trophic level is CARNIVORE
| Food item | Life stage/plant part |
|---|---|
| Invertebrates | Unknown |
| Annelida (segmented worms) | Unknown |
| Mollusca | Unknown |
| Crustaceans | Unknown |
| Insecta | Unknown |
| Coleoptera (beetles) | Unknown |
| Diptera (flies, midges, mosquitoes) | Larva |
| Important: | |
| Annelida (segmented worms) | Unknown |
| Mollusca | Unknown |
| Crustaceans | Unknown |
| Insecta | Unknown |
| Juvenile: | |
| Invertebrates | Unknown |
| Annelida (segmented worms) | Unknown |
| Mollusca | Unknown |
| Crustaceans | Unknown |
| Insecta | Unknown |
| Adult: | |
| Invertebrates | Unknown |
| Annelida (segmented worms) | Unknown |
| Mollusca | Unknown |
| Crustaceans | Unknown |
| Insecta | Unknown |
| Coleoptera (beetles) | Unknown |
| Diptera (flies, midges, mosquitoes) | Larva |
Comments on food habits:
General: Characteristic feeding habit of deliberate movements, run a short
distance, pause, stare at sand, etc. *04*. Foods are not well studied
but apparently consists almost entirely of animal organisms; insects
of various kinds, worms, small crustaceans and mollusks, beetles and
fly larvae *04,09*.
Juvenile: Wilcox (1959) reports parents brood but do not feed young *05*. No
other mention of parental feeding in literature. Older juveniles are
known to gather on neutral feeding areas with adults *06*. Assume
juvenile food habits same as adults *00*.
Adult: See comments on general food habits.
General:
Limiting:
Egg
Feeding juvenile:
Resting juvenile:
Feeding adult:
Breeding adult:
Comments on environmental associations:
General: Associated with lake shore beaches in Illinois with sandy rather than
pebbly texture *02*. Recreational use of beaches is a primary limiting
factor. See *07,17,18*. Occupies restricted breeding habitat *04*. See
*18* for habitat measurements and parameters.
Feeding juvenile: Assume feeds as adults do. See comments on feeding adult.
Resting juvenile: Assume rest on sand.
Feeding adult: Outside breeding season may feed on beaches, lagoon edges, and areas
of rubble *08*. Otherwise feeds on sands washed by flowing water *19*.
Resting adult: Rests and sleeps on dunes and sandy areas at the rear of beach *19*.
Also squat on sand and resemble incubating bird *06*.
Breeding adult: See comments on species-habitat interrelations.
Origin: Native *01,12*.
Physical description: Small sandpiper 6-7 in. long; wingspread 14- 15 1/4 in.; wt. 1 1/2-2 1/4 oz. Breeding adult similar to semipalmated but much paler. Upperparts sandy, matching dry sand of beach; much white on head with narrow black band above forehead extending from eye to eye; white underparts; black ring around neck which may be incomplete, very narrow and complete or wider and complete; orange yellow legs; black-tipped yellow bill. Sexes similar but males appear to have larger bills and broader black band on forehead *05*. Winter has black bill and may be without dark neck ring and band on forehead *03,08,10,20*.
Reproduction: Little information is available for Illinois. No exact breeding season stated but assume approx. mid May-late July *00,01*. Most information comes from Nova Scotia, but biology recognized as same *08*. Upon arrival birds initially feed in areas unclaimed as territories. Males begin spending much time on prospective nesting territory. Male performs aerial displays and calls above territory in ritualized courtship explained in *06*. After series of displays male attracts female to territory where copulation takes place (duration up to 1.5 min.) *06*. Established pairs court and copulate repeatedly before and during egg laying *06*. The nest appears as a deprression or scrape in sand sometimes lined with pebbles or bits of shell *02,03*. Scrapes appeared up to 2 weeks before females selected a scrape to lay eggs *06*. It is unclear which sex made scrapes. Bull (1974) reports clutch size almost invariably 4 (n=500) except when renesting may produce 2-3 egg clutches *11*. Cairns (1982) reports clutches completed in approx. 6 days with laying occurring on alternate days *05,06*. Eggs are gray to pale sand color, sparingly dotted, spotted with purple, black; very cryptic *03*; wt. 9.6 gm. (35) *05* 32.5 + or - 0.955 X 24.8 + or - .05 mm. (215) *06*. Incubation by both sexes *03,05,06*. Apparently starts with 3rd egg layed *05*, lasting 27-31 days, usually 27-28 *03,06,08*. Eggs usually hatch on same day *05*. Hatchlings are precocial and very cryptic. For description see *04*. Young birds leave nest within 2-3 hrs. of hatching *05*. They do not return to the nest but remain within a few hundred feet (4-500 ft. reported by Wilcox 1959). Apparently both adults brood but do not feed young *05*. Brooding sometimes occurs until young are 20 days old *05*. Flight occurs at age 30-35 days *05*. Hatching success reported for Long I. 91.0% with 3.52 young hatched per nest *05*. Nova Scotia reports 75.7 hatching success with 2.98 young hatched/nest *06*. Piping plovers are single brooded but willlay replacement clutch *05,06,10*. Young achieve sexual maturity at 1 year *05*. Max. breeding age unavailable.
Behavior: Piping plover is migratory in Illinois. This species breeds in 2 separate areas of North America to form a coastal and interior population (for details see *07,08,17,18*. Winters chiefly on S. Atlantic and gulf coasts *11*. This species exhibits seasonal monogamy, but may pair with mate of previous year. See *06* for details. Territories are vigorously defended *05*. Nesting and feeding territories are usually contiguous and are maintained throughout breeding season by breeding pairs, non-breeding pairs and individuals *06*. Adults appear to return to same breeding areas yr. After yr. *05,08*. Young don't necessarily return to place of hatching but usually place of 1st successful breeding *05*. Cairns (1982) reports average territory size approx. 4000 m square (500-8000 m square, n= 28) *06*. Nests averaged 52 m. Apart *06*. Wilcox (1959) reported 60 m. or more between nests on Long I. *05*. Closest simultaneous nest were 3 m. Apart *06*. Piping plovers have a characteristic feeding habit. This species is very deliberate in feeding, running a short distance then pausing, staring at sand, then repeating *03*. Also exhibits a bobbing habit as stands around on beach *04*. On the coast, piping plovers apparently move southward soon after nesting activities are over when adults and oldest juveniles flock on neutral feeding areas assoc. with other migrants *06*.
Limiting factors: With population size being so small, the piping plover may be less successful at aquiring a mate *18*. The piping plover had always occupied a restricted habitat in Illinois and began declining with increased recreational use of its habitat, Lake Michigan shoreline, in the 1950's *02*. Human disturbance is probably their primary limiting factor. For details see *07,17,18*. Enemies include house rats, house mice, crows, red fox, opossum, dogs, cats, racoons *05,07*. In Mich. feral dogs are a principle predator, also vehicles run over young and eggs *18*. Storms and high water levels and shore modifications alter shorelines and cause habitat loss *02*.
Population parameters: The population status of Illinois is not stated but assumed down. Relative trends for the great lakes are down *18*. There appears to be no suitable habitat left in Illinois *17* or in other great lakes states othern than Mich. where the species is now threatened *18*. Wilcox (1959) reports that adult mortality is fairly low *05,18*. Cairns and McLaren (1980) report present situation presumably results from failures in productivity rather than increased post-fledging mortality. Habitat change, disturbance of resting birds and direct destruction of eggs and young are possible general causes of reduced reproductive success *07*. Lambert and Ratcliff (1981) report evidence that reproductive success is affected by human activity; Cairns (1982) estimated 1.3-2.1 young/nest fledged as a remote beach and 0.7-1.1 young/nest fledged in an area of recreational use *06,18*. At 1 site on Lake Michigan only 3 out of 10 nests produced young. See *18*. Mortality and survival rates, sex ratio and ave. Lifespan unavailable. Wilcox (1959) reports only 13% of females and 28% of males lived to be 5 years or older *05*. Oldest bird recorded at 14 yrs. old *05*.
Beneficial:
Adverse:
Comments on management practices:
Recreational use of Lake Michigan shoreline, especially during initial
nesting period, may be preventing this species from nesting in
Illinois *02*. Also storm erosion of sand beaches during high lake
levels, erosion from lake shore currents altered by groin construction
cause significant habitat loss *02*. Preservation of nesting habitat
and protection from human disturbance while nesting are important to
the re-establishment of the piping plover in Illinois *02*. Protection
at Illinois Beach State Park came too late *17*. Feral dogs and
vehicles were detrimental in Michigan *18*. Piping plover is protected
by the Illinois Endangered Species Act 1972 *02* and the Migratory
Bird Treaty Act, 1918 *15* and the Illinois Wildlife Code, 1971 *21*.
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