Plover
The Piping plover (Charadrius melodus) is a small sparrow-sized shorebird that nests and feeds along coastal sand and gravel beaches in North America. The Piping plover is difficult to see when it is standing still, as it blends well with open, sandy beach habitats. It typically runs in short, quick spurts and then stops. Its name is derived from its plaintive bell-like whistles which are often heard before the bird is visible.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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NocturnalNocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal",...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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CongregatoryCongregatory animals tend to gather in large numbers in specific areas as breeding colonies, for feeding, or for resting.
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OviparousOviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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PrecocialPrecocial species are those in which the young are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching. Precocial species are normall...
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Wading birdsWading birds forage along shorelines and mudflats searching for small aquatic prey crawling or burrowing in the mud and sand. These birds live in w...
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Serial monogamySerial monogamy is a mating system in which a pair bonds only for one breeding season.
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FlockingFlocking birds are those that tend to gather to forage or travel collectively. Avian flocks are typically associated with migration. Flocking also ...
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MigratingAnimal migration is the relatively long-distance movement of individual animals, usually on a seasonal basis. It is the most common form of migrati...
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starts withThe Piping plover is a stout bird with a large rounded head, a short thick neck, and a stubby bill. It is a sand-colored, dull gray/khaki shorebird. The adult has yellow-orange legs, the male has a prominent black band across the forehead from eye to eye, and a black ring around the neck during the breeding season. The band on the female's brow is much fainter. During the non-breeding season, the black bands become less pronounced. Its bill is orange with a black tip.
Piping plovers are found on the Atlantic Coast of the U.S. and Canada and the Great Lakes shores. They migrate from their northern range in the summer to the south in the winter months, migrating to the Gulf of Mexico, the southern Atlantic coast of the United States, and the Caribbean. Their breeding grounds extend from southern Newfoundland south to the northern parts of South Carolina. Piping plovers live on open sandy beaches or rocky shores, often in high, dry sections away from water. They can also be found along lakeshores, rivers, and wetlands.
Piping plovers live the majority of their life on the ocean shores running quickly along the beach looking for food. They forage by day and night, usually by sight, moving across the beaches in short bursts. When not feeding these small shorebirds spend their time away from water where they can rest peacefully blending in with the sand. Piping plovers are usually seen in pairs or in small; however, on the wintering grounds, they may gather in large flocks that contain up to 100 individuals. The common call of Piping plovers is a soft, whistled 'peep peep' usually given when birds are standing and flying. Their frequently heard alarm call is a soft 'pee-werp'. Piping plovers begin migrating north in mid-March. Migration south begins in August for some adults and fledglings, and by mid-September, most Piping plovers usually head south for winter.
Piping plovers are carnivores and eat mainly insects, marine worms, snails, water beetles, and crustaceans.
Piping plovers are serially monogamous and form pairs that usually last only during one breeding season. These birds arrive at sandy beaches to breed in mid to late April. Males will begin claiming territories and pairing up in late March. When pairs are formed, the male begins digging out several scrapes (nests) along the high shore near the beach-grass line. The males also perform elaborate courtship ceremonies, including stone tossing and courtship flights featuring repeated dives. The male begins a mating ritual of standing upright and "marching" towards the female, puffing himself up and quickly stomping his legs. Females lay 2-4 eggs and incubation of the nest is shared by both the male and the female. Incubation is generally 27 days and eggs usually all hatch on the same day. After the chicks hatch, they can feed within hours. The adults' role is then to protect them from the elements by brooding them. They also alert them to any danger. It takes about 30 days before chicks achieve flight capability. They must be able to fly at least 50 yds (46 m) before they can be considered fledglings. Both parents care for the young, however, males often remain with chicks until they can fly. Young females usually start breeding at 1 year of age.
The Piping plover is globally threatened and endangered. In the 19th century and early 20th century, these shorebirds were hunted for their feathers, as were many other birds at the time, as decorations for women's hats. These decorations, called plumes, became a symbol of high society, especially those from larger rare birds. This practice led to the Piping plover's initial population decline. The second decline in the Piping plover population and range has been attributed to increased development, shoreline stabilization efforts, habitat loss, and human activity near nesting sites in the decades following World War II. Droughts, oil industry, development, disturbances, and climate change still threaten the Piping plover populations and despite current conservation strategies, this species remains in serious danger.
According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Piping plover is around 12,000-13,000 individuals which includes around 8,100 breeding individuals. Specific populations have been estimated in such areas: 3,320 mature individuals on the Atlantic coast; 4,662 mature individuals on the northern Great Plains and prairies; and 110 mature individuals in the Great Lakes. Overall, currently, Piping plovers are classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List but their numbers today are increasing.
Social animals are those animals that interact highly with other animals, usually of their own species (conspecifics), to the point of having a rec...