The Piping Plover chicks at Whitefish Point are now two weeks old. All four chicks are still going strong and are looking bigger by the day! Most days, I see the chicks accompanied by Violet (X,V:Of,YY) with Really Tricky (X,R:Of,LY) settling territory boundaries with other males.
The chicks have begun to explore the shoreline and can often be found eating insects right along the water in the morning. Killdeer chicks are also present on the beach, which makes for frequent conflicts between protective parents.
In the coming days, we will be banding the chicks to identify each bird individually in the field. I look forward to sharing photos and information about that process with you all, so stay tuned for updates!
~ Joselyn Ralph
2023 Piping Plover Monitor
Piping Plover monitoring is a collaborative effort between Michigan Audubon and Seney National Wildlife Refuge (USFWS).
