Saturday's Crittters . . .

 

Piping Plover

 

We took a drive to Lake Michigan the other day

and as we were driving through one of the large

areas of sand and beach we noticed a large roped area

with signage stating that the area was protected for the nesting

of the

Piping Plover. 

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I looked the bird up when we arrived home and found out that the

Piping Plover in the Great Lakes area is an endangered species

and in danger of becoming extinct.  

Identifying, protecting and restoring endangered and threatened species

 is the primary objective of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's

endangered species program. 

 

These small stocky shorebirds have a sand-colored upper body,

a white underside and orange legs. 

During the breeding season,

adults have a black forehead,

a black breast band and an orange bill. 

 

Piping Plovers use wide, flat, open, sandy beaches for their habitat,

with very little grass or other vegetation. 

 

The Piping Plover is very sensitive to the presence of humans.  

Too much disturbance causes the parent birds to abandon their nest. 

(precisely why the area we saw, was roped off)

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I found the above info on the

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service website, Endangered Species. 

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Joining Up With Eileen

and

Saturday's Critters
 

Thanks for hosting Eileen