The Great Lakes Piping Plover with Sarah Saunders, National Audubon Society

Monday, March 30, 7:30 – 8:30 PM
Aquinas College Donnelly Conference Center
157 Woodward Lane SE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49506

Monthly membership meetings are FREE and open to the public.

We continue our theme of conservation spaces and wildlife by examining another Michigan wildlife recovery success story. The Great Lakes Piping Plover, a federally endangered shorebird, has made a remarkable comeback from the brink of extinction thanks to decades of dedicated conservation efforts. Join us on March 30th as Sarah Saunders tells us about the amazing comeback of this favorite Michigan species. Once reduced to just 12 breeding pairs in the 1980s, this population now exceeds 80 pairs, with record-breaking breeding seasons in recent years. This success is a testament to the power of science-driven conservation and the collaboration of researchers, land managers, and community volunteers on the Great Lakes Piping Plover Conservation Team. In this talk, Sarah will highlight the key strategies that have fueled this recovery, including nest monitoring and protection, predator management, annual banding, captive-rearing, and education and outreach. Sarah will also showcase how long-term banding data have further strengthened these strategies, contributing to population growth. Despite these gains, challenges remain, including increasing threats from climate change and human disturbance. Yet the resilience of the population and the dedication of the Conservation Team offer hope for continued success. The recovery of the Great Lakes Piping Plover serves as an inspiring example of how rigorous science, partnerships, and community engagement can drive meaningful conservation outcomes.

This event was submitted to our community calendar page by an outside organizer and is not a Michigan Audubon event. If you have questions, please reach out to the event organizers or the contact information provided in the event description.