Piping plover population increases on P.E.I.

The number of adult piping plovers on Prince Edward Island has increased this year.

There are five new adult birds, bringing the total to 71, said Vicki Johnson, piping plover co-ordinator at the Island Nature Trust.

"We're not quite sure why these numbers might be boosting," said Johnson. "It's always great to see an incline in our numbers."

Johnson said the increase may just be a coincidencebecause ofthe return of some plovers lining up with the team's census.

"It just may be the birds have returned a little bit earlier this year, and happen to be around during the census window."

There are other factors that may be contributing, such as birds travelling through P.E.I. on their way to other provinces.

Johnson said that happens quite often, but believes they may stay.

"I have a lot of hope that some do stick around, and increase our population here on P.E.I.," Johnson said.

The adult birds don't just need to stick around though they need to pair up.

The trust has found approximately 23 breeding pairsand fivesingles within the total number of adults, said Johnson.

The remaining 10 pairs are within the P.E.I. National Park beaches.

Despite the increase in adults, plover chicks on P.E.I. are still struggling to reach an age where they can fly on their own and migrate.

This could be because of bad weather conditions, high tides and predators in the area.

'If we can all work together'

But there are things people can do to help out as well.

She suggests taking any garbage you may produce atthe beach, making sure to keep pets on leashes and walking along the wet sand on the shore to keep away from habitats in dry areas.

In an email, Becky Whittam, head of the terrestrial and marine unit of the Canadian Wildlife Service, said it is too early to confirmnumbersfrom the other Maritime provinces.

However, Whittam said plover population numbers in New Brunswick appear similar to last year's count of 65 breeding pairs.

The Nova Scotia population appears to have dropped a bit from 2018 when 42 pairs were found, based on her discussions with census counters.

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