As the weather cools in Michigan and we bid summer farewell, a very special community of shorebirds takes wing on their annual southward migration. Piping plovers are small, endangered birds who are commonly found in the northern Great Lakes region and return here each summer to breed.

Breeding pairs camouflage their small clutches of eggs in the pebbles along the beach. Development of shorelines, human encroachment, dogs off leashes and high-water levels all reduce the odds that their eggs will hatch. Only one out of four chicks typically fledge and for this species to survive, piping plovers require a significant conservation effort.

The Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) leads a piping plover recovery program with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to help bolster the population of wild piping plovers. Eggs that are abandoned or found in compromised locations are collected, incubated and hatched on the DZS campus and chicks are later released back to various Michigan shorelines. This program has been very successful, showing an increase from 17 breeding females in 1986 to 74 breeding females in 2021.

“Last year (2020) was a super successful year for our team, but if we have large numbers of abandoned eggs that come to our facility that means it is a bad year in the field,” said Bonnie Van Dam, associate bird curator for the DZS. “This year it is completely opposite, which is what we want.”

This season, the piping plover captive rearing program successfully returned 13 chicks, a low number compared to 2020 when 39 were released. This decrease shows high hopes for the stability of the piping plover population and that rescue efforts are paying off.

Since the launch of the DZS-led piping plover salvage-rearing program in 2001, 312 birds have been successfully reared and released. In 2018, the USFWS recognized the DZS for its leadership in the recovery of this endangered species.

The Detroit Zoological Society – a renowned leader in humane education, wildlife conservation, animal welfare and environmental sustainability – operates the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Center.  With an annual regional economic impact of more than $167 million, the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak is one of Michigan’s largest paid family attractions, hosting more than 1.3 million visitors annually.  Its 125 acres of award-winning naturalistic habitats are home to 2,800 animals representing 239 species.  The Belle Isle Nature Center sits on a 5-acre site surrounded by undisturbed forested wetlands on Belle Isle State Park in Detroit.  For hours, prices, directions and other information, call (248) 541-5717 or visit detroitzoo.org.

A young Plover named Grover was found injured and alone on the side of a busy road and brought to the Wildlife Hospital at Taronga Zoo, in Sydney, Australia, when she was just a week old. The little ball of fluff is now being hand raised by Bird Keeper Grey who says she's growing by the day!

Photo Credits: Taronga Zoo

Plovers are a widely distributed group of wading birds belonging to the subfamily Charadriinae. The Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles) is a large and conspicuous bird species native to northern and eastern Australia, New Zealand, and New Guinea. They are also known as: Masked Plover, Spur-winged Plover, or simply—Plover.

They spend most of their time on the ground searching for insects and worms. They are shy and harmless, but have nesting habits that cause distress in urban areas. They will build their nests on almost any stretch of open ground, including: parks, gardens, school grounds, parking lots or rooftops. They have also proven intrusive at airports, where bird strikes have occurred.

Commonly, two birds are seen together, nearly identical male and female. They can also be seen in groups during feedings. Chicks reach full growth at about four to five months and will stay with the parents for up to two years.

They are currently classified as “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

The Wildlife Hospitals at Taronga and Taronga Western Plains Zoos care for around 1,500 native animals each year. The animals are brought to the hospitals by members of the community, after being found sick, injured or orphaned.

The main aim of the Wildlife Hospitals at Taronga and Taronga Western Plains Zoos is to rehabilitate as many native animals as possible for release back to the wild.

The variety of animals treated is enormous, ranging from stranded seals and orphaned baby bats, to pelicans tangled in fishing line.

All the animals need, and are provided with, professional care and attention during the treatment and rehabilitation process to ensure they can be returned to their natural environment.

The hospitals at both Taronga and Taronga Western Plains Zoos provide a high standard of veterinary expertise in the care of native animals and have well-equipped, modern veterinary facilities.

When an animal is brought to one of the two hospitals, the details are recorded on a hospital record sheet. A veterinarian examines the animal, and a prognosis made. The treatment details and the animal's progress are recorded on its hospital record sheet throughout the rehabilitation process. Whenever possible the rescuer is involved in the eventual release of the animal.

Prior to release, most animals are given a permanent and unique identifier, such as ear tags for possums and leg bands for birds and bats. If the animal is recaptured at a later date, details about its health, movements and post-release behavior can be recorded.

Some animals arrive as orphans and require hand-rearing by Zoo staff, or may have an injury, which makes them unsuitable for release. These animals may be kept for breeding or education purposes at Taronga or Taronga Western Plains Zoos.