Monitoring this week consisted of the usual suspects.
Lover Boy spends most of his time east of the boardwalk entrance. Wybie hangs out just west of it. The popular foraging area is directly between either territory, with Little Bill Bob in the mix, causing skirmishes amongst all the males.
Vie and Bob continue to incubate their nest faithfully. Their eggs are expected to hatch the week of June 23.
Anthropogenic disturbances are rising as we see more visitors to the beach. On Sunday, June 2, two loose dogs ran into the exclosed area and were eventually called back by their owner. Just the day before, someone began to fly a kite on the shore directly in front of the nest. In both instances, the parent who was incubating ran off the nest due to the perceived predator. To ensure these eggs hatch here at Whitefish Point, visitors must follow the rules posted at the entrance to the beach.
~ Stephanie Owens
2024 Piping Plover Monitor
Featured photo: Vie standing on the shore near her nest. Photo by Stephanie Owens
Piping Plover monitoring is a collaborative effort between Michigan Audubon and Seney National Wildlife Refuge (USFWS).
You can keep up with the 2024 Piping Plover action at WPBO by reading Stephanie’s blog posts and following WPBO’s social media (Facebook, Instagram, and X).
Stephanie Owens: 2024 Piping Plover Monitor
Stephanie is a native Yooper and a recent graduate of Lake Superior State University. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Conservation Biology and completed her senior thesis on the distribution of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in waterways in Eastern Upper Peninsula. Previously, she worked as a Piping Plover monitor in the U.P. for two seasons and conducted Black Tern and habitat surveys during that time as well.
