By the time you read this, four little Piping Plover chicks may be taking their first steps on the shore of Whitefish Point.

With their hatch date right around the corner, June 23, I watch in anticipation and preparation. Piping Plover chicks are described as small cotton balls on two toothpicks, so naturally, I worry for their survival. I intend to serve as a scare crow, with hope that predators like ravens will be deterred from considering these birds as prey. I will also vigilantly watch to make sure beach rules are adhered to, and look forward to showing off these new members of the beach to the public.

Little Bill Bob on shore. Photo by Stephanie Owens

I’ve enjoyed meeting new faces, some who travel all the way from South Carolina and Florida just to catch a glimpse at a Piping Plover.

Unfortunately, I’ve seen an increase in litter on the beach. Every day, I find a new piece. On Thursday, someone was walking their dog in the closed area.

On Saturday, I saw a new face, a male whose band code reads X,-:O,B (Red dot). On Wednesday, I saw the male X,B:Of,OG (aka Bog), whom I had not seen since May 18.

As time marches forward, the prospects of one of our bachelors finding a mate dwindles. It seems that they are aware of this and have grown restless. Really Tricky has been present within the past week, seemingly performing the territorial display of a parallel walk with Lover Boy on the shore in front of Vie and Bob’s nest. And, as usual, Wybie is somewhere in the mix, watching from afar. These males have been relentlessly following Vie around the beach, but she can hold her own.

On Friday, I watched as two males flew up with her on the shore. One flew away immediately, but Lover Boy hung around. Vie chased him around in an attempt to make him flee, positioning her body in a horizontal position and puffing up her feathers. It was time for her to switch incubation shifts with Bob and once he was off the nest, he continued her work, scaring off the spare male.

I have no doubt that Vie and Bob will be dutiful parents, rearing their young to become strong, healthy plovers.

~ Stephanie Owens
2024 Piping Plover Monitor

Featured photo: Vie on the nest on June 21. 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.