Field Notes

When I arrived at Whitefish Point from Minnesota on May 11, I was nervous to begin my first monitoring season. There had only been a handful of Piping Plover sightings, and patches of snow still lingered around the Point. A lot of questions were running through my head: Is it always this cold and [...]

With only one Piping Plover remaining at Whitefish Point, this week marked the beginning of a new chapter. As migration season ramps up, the beach has become busier with shorebirds passing through, and our Piping Plovers prepare to head south for the winter. It's a bittersweet time of year, filled with exciting new arrivals [...]

It's hard to believe it's already week 10... It feels like yesterday we were putting up the psychological fencing before the pair had even established a nest, hoping we wouldn't have to move the entire enclosure if they picked a different spot to lay their eggs. Now, Vie has begun her migration south, leaving [...]

It's been another exciting week at the Point, full of milestones for our favorite little Piping Plover family. The last remaining chick - who I've nicknamed "Butters"- continues to grow stronger and more independent each day. From first flight attempts to an exciting banding day, its been a week full of progress mixed with [...]

Week 8 (July 2-8 ) began with V, G, and their two chicks exploring the shoreline. V and G have proven to be excellent parents, constantly remaining alert for potential threats and quickly becoming territorial whenever new birds venture along their shoreline. G, especially, has embraced his role as a first-time dad. He is [...]

It has been quite the eventful and exciting week at Whitefish Point! On the morning of June 26th, I raced down the beach and was greeted with the best surprise: three of the Piping Plover eggs had hatched! They were tucked tightly beneath V on the nest, peeking out now and then from under [...]

After nearly a month of incubation, Whitefish Point's resident Piping Plovers are entering the final stretch before hatch day. Our resident pair of Piping Plovers are now just days away from their expected hatch date (June 28), and the nest has become the center of attention during daily monitoring. G Plover Stomp. Photo [...]

Week 5 (June 11-17) at Whitefish Point was another week of watching the Piping Plovers faithfully take turns keeping their eggs warm and safe. Hatch day is quickly approaching, and I am so excited to hopefully watch the pair raise their chicks in the following weeks. PIPL V. Photo by Morgan Ness [...]