Piping Plover Summer by Janet Riegle

Suggested ages: 5 to 10

Summary:

A pair of piping plovers returns to their nesting area in the spring to find new threats to their safety and adangerous environment in which to raise their chicks.  The pair finds a better place nearby, but is frightened by biologists who build an exclosure around their nest to keep out predators.  Gradually they adjust to this new structure and are successful in raising their chicks.

 

Tips for reading:

The story is told from the perspective of the bird pair, gently reminding readers that human behavior affects the lives of other creatures in ways we often don't notice.  But it also offers hope and encouragement that there are effective methods for helping endangered populations and that caring humans can make a difference.

Engage the students by having them imagine they are a piping plover.  Have them consider how the world around them would appear to a very small bird that spends most of its time on the ground.

Or, suggest that the students imagine they are the biologists in the story who are working to help the plovers.

 

Questions before reading:

Have you ever been to a beach or seashore?

What kinds of birds did you see there?

If you saw birds at the beach, did they look similar to the birds you might see near your home?  If not, how did they differ?

Have you heard of an endangered species?

Have you ever seen an endangered species?  If so, where? 

 

Introducing the story:

In this story, a pair of Piping Plovers returns in the spring to the beach where they built their nest the previous year.  Unfortunately, things have changed since last year and they can't build their nest there again. 

Before we read the story, I want to give you some idea of the size of these birds. (Have a ruler handy to illustrate.)  An adult Piping Plover is about 7 inches long, from the tip of the beak to the end of the tail.  Their wing span (distance from wing tip to wing tip when wings are spread wide) is about 19 inches.  In general, they are slightly smaller than a Robin, and about the size of a large sparrow, such as a White Throated Sparrow.

 

Where do you think these birds make their nests? 

(Answer:  On the ground, along the shoreline of the ocean, a lake, a pond, or a river.  Pretty much right out in the open.  They rely on camouflage to keep the nest hidden.) 

Does anyone know what camouflage is?

(Answer:  The colors, patterns, textures and shape of an animal that help it to blend in with its surroundings.)

I love to go to the beach.  How many of you like to go to the beach?

What do you think happens when these little birds try to build their nests on a beach that so many of us enjoy using?

 

This story shows some of the problems piping plovers run into, and also shows an important way in which people are trying to help them.

As we read each page, try to imagine you are one of the Piping Plovers.  How would it feel to be that small and to face the large creatures and other obstacles the plovers face in the book? Or, maybe you would like to imagine you are one of the biologists in the story working to help the plovers.

 

Questions after reading:

1. In the beginning of the story, the Piping Plover pair returns to the place they nested the previous year, but things are very different now. 

a. What changed?

b. The birds land on a tall cliff that wasn't there the previous year.  What is this "cliff" and how could it appear in less than a year?

c. What is the "cave in the cliff?"

d. What are the creatures that come out of a cave in the cliff?

 

2. The plover pair leaves their original nest site choice and chooses an island. 

a. Would there be advantages to nesting on an island? Explain.

b.Would there be disadvantages?  Explain.

 

3. The story is written from the perspective of the birds. When the three tall creatures come over the dunes with bundles of sticks, then plant the sticks in the ground and weave shiny vines among them, what is actually happening?

 

4. What the biologists built around the nest is called an "exclosure."  How can an exclosure help nesting birds?

 

5. What other creatures do you see in this book?

(Answer:  Double Crested Cormorant, Herring Gull, dog, human, Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly, tiger beetle, ladybird beetle ["ladybug"], Silvery Blue butterfly, Red Fox)

a.Discuss each creature and whether it would help, hurt or have no effect on the Piping Plover.

 

6. In the prairie regions of this continent, the Piping Plover nests near ponds, wetlands, streams and rivers.

a. What kinds of plants might be found in those regions?

b. What kinds of animals might be found in those regions?

c. Think of some difficulties Piping Plovers might encounter in the prairie regions that they would not encounter on the seashore or lakeshore.

d. Think of some advantages Piping Plovers might have by nesting in the prairie regions rather than the seashore or lakeshore.

 

RELATED ACTIVITIES

ART:

1. Draw or paint a picture or make a collage with birds you might find along shorelines near you.  ("Shorelines" can include ocean, lake, river, stream, wetland, or pond.)  Use a bird field guide to help find birds you may not know of.

2. Make a drawing of Piping Plovers in the prairie regions of this continent.  How might the landscape look different from that of the lakeshore or seashore?

3. Make a drawing of a Piping Plover nest with eggs, or a drawing of Piping Plover chicks.  In the drawing, show how camouflage keeps the eggs or chicks from easily being seen.

4. Draw Piping Plovers on their wintering grounds.  (Piping Plovers spend winter in southern US, in Mexico and on Caribbean islands.) 

a. How would the landscape look different? 

b. How would the plovers look different?  (find a bird field guide or a website that shows winter plumage)

5. Using modeling clay or paper mache, make a sculpture of Piping Plovers and/or a Piping Plover nest with eggs.

  

CULTURE:

1. Piping Plovers spend winter in southern US, in Mexico and on Caribbean islands.  Research the name for Piping Plover in the languages used in Mexico and the Caribbean islands.

2. Pick out a country on the map and try to find out what kinds of plovers or other shorebirds are found in that country. 

a. How are those birds similar to the ones found in North America?  How are they different?

3. See if you can find any stories or legends from other cultures based on Piping Plovers, or on another kind of bird.

4. See if you can find any customs from other cultures based on birds or bird behavior.  (For example, dances based on bird dances; clothing or makeup based on bird appearances; songs about birds.)

 

DRAMATIZATION:

1. Have students act out Piping Plover behavior and have other students guess what they are "saying."

2. Act out the entire book, Piping Plover Summer, as a play.

3. Many birds do what we would describe as dancing.  Research a particular bird's type of dance and try to imitate it.

 

LANGUAGE:

1. Find out the names for Piping Plover in the other countries in which they are found.

2. Find the language source for the Piping Plover's English name.

3. Find the language source for the Piping Plover's scientific name, Charadrius melodus.

 

MUSIC:

1. Locate Piping Plover calls on the internet.  Try to imitate them by voice or on a musical instrument.

2. If you were writing a piece of music, which instrument(s) would you use to depict the calls of the Piping Plover?  Explain your reasons.

3. Most Piping Plover vocalizations are high in pitch.  Why do you think that is the case? 

(Answer:  Higher pitched sounds tend to be heard more easily over the sound of splashing water and pounding surf.) 

4. Look up (in books or on the Internet) the sounds different birds make.  How do those sounds relate to the habitat in which they spend most of their time?

5. Locate music that is based on or includes the songs or sounds of birds.

 

SCIENCE:

1. Use the Internet and books to find out more about Piping Plovers.  Create a map showing where they used to be found 75 to 100 years ago and where they are found today.  Why has their range changed?

2. Find out more about endangered species. 

a.What is an endangered species? 

b. What other animals are on the endangered species lists in the United States and Canada?

c. What animals have been placed on the endangered species list but have now been taken off because they have recovered?

d. What did humans do to help the animals recover?

e. What animals are not on the endangered species list but should be put on because they are also in trouble?

3. Use the Internet and books to compare the nesting cycle of Piping Plovers with the nesting cycle of a common bird in your neighborhood.  One example might be comparing the Piping Plover with the Robin.  Items that could be discussed:

a. How are nests built? 

b. How many eggs? 

c. Which parent sits on them? 

d. How long before the eggs hatch? 

e. What are the chicks like when they first hatch?

f. How long before they can feed themselves? 

g. How long before they can walk? 

h. How long before they can fly? 

i. How long do they stay together as family groups? 

 

WRITING:

1. Think of an experience you had with a bird that made a strong impression on you.  It can be something like seeing a colorful bird at a feeder or watching pigeons dance and coo.  Write a poem or a story about the experience.

2. Write a story about a bird species that lives in your neighborhood.  Include some of the problems the bird may encounter while trying to nest and raise a family. 

 

"QUICK FACTS" ON PIPING PLOVERS

SIZE:

Around 7 inches from tip of beak to end of tail.

Wing span 19 inches.

About the size of a large sparrow (White Throated Sparrow)

Slightly smaller than a Robin.

Weighs about 2 ounces.

 

FOOD:

Insects, spiders, flies, grasshoppers, beetles and larvae. Near the ocean:  marine worms, mollusks, crustaceans and eggs.

 

NEST:

Simple scrape with a pebble lining.  Can be made in a day.  Adults continue to line nest with pebbles and shells throughout egg laying and incubation.  Size:  about 3" across; about 1/2 - 3/4 of an inch deep.

 

EGGS:

Description:  About 1 1/4 inches long by 3/4 inch wide.  Pale cream color with dark brown speckles. 

Number: Usually four eggs are laid.

Time periods:  It takes about 6 days to complete a clutch of 4 eggs.  Eggs take about 28 days to hatch (nearly a month). 

Who incubates (sits on eggs)?  Both male and female incubate -- both have incubation patches.  Eggs covered nearly 100% of the time. 

Hatching:  Nest mates hatch within 4-8 hours of each other, so it takes about a day for all to hatch.  Hatch in early morning to late afternoon.

 

YOUNG:

Several hours after hatching, chicks can walk a few feet from nest, but need to be brooded often (parent sits on chicks to warm them).  They peck for food right away, but probably don't get much for a few days.  Parents do not feed them.

The family moves away from the nest 1 to 2 days after hatching. Young are able to fly continuously in about a month. The young mature over the winter months and are able to breed the following spring.

 

PARENTAL CARE:

Both parents brood, but some females leave the family within 5 to 10 days after young hatch.  Male & female change breeding duties every 30-45 minutes.  Chicks need less brooding as they get older; past age 21 days, it's infrequent.

Family groups (male and chicks) stay together through fledging and sometimes until migration.

 

MIGRATION

SOUTH MIGRATION:  Females leave first, then unmated males, then males with young, then unaccompanied juveniles.  Juveniles migrate south in late summer and early fall.  Earliest departure would be late June; latest would be September.

The reasons for leaving the young on their own are not clear, but one theory is to provide more food resources for them.  (If you have a family of four juveniles and two adults, take two of those mouths away and the remaining four have more food to eat.)

 

WINTER RANGE:  Piping Plovers spend winter in southern US, in Mexico and on Caribbean islands.

 

NORTH MIGRATION:  In more northerly regions birds arrive from mid-April to mid-May.  In more southerly regions birds arrive late March to mid-April. They probably migrate in small groups, although not much is known about migratory behavior.

 

MATING SYSTEM

Individuals usually keep same mate through the breeding season.  They don't stay together over the winter.  The following year, they may select other mates or they may reconnect with their mate from the previous year. A pair produces only one brood per year.

 

SLEEPING

Plovers tuck their heads into their scapular (shoulder) feathers.  They may stand on one leg.  They sometimes roost by digging small pockets in the sand and lying in them.

 

PHYSICAL INTERACTIONS

Intruders into a territory are chased and may be pecked or bitten.  Males fight by pecking each other and beating each other with their wings.

Threat display:  bird leans forward with head pulled back into body - neck ring prominent - feathers puffed - then may charge toward the intruder this way.

Occupants of bordering territories sometimes define boundaries by running along boundary lines.

Distances between nests vary:  average distance could be 75 meters

 

BREEDING HABITAT

Wide variety - along sandy beaches bordering the ocean and large lakes (such as the Great Lakes); along gravelly shores next to rivers, ponds and wetlands.

 

MEANING OF NAMES

The word "Plover" is from the Latin word for rain:  pluvia. In ancient European folklore the birds were associated with rain.

"Charadrius" is from the Greek word charadrios - an inconspicuous water bird that nests in ravines (Aristotle is said to have described it so.)

"Melodus" is from Latin meaning melodious, or pleasantly singing.

 

RELATED BOOKS

Beginner's Guide to Shorebirdsby Donald and Lillian Stokes; maps by Thomas Young.  Published by Little, Brown & Company, 2001.

Saving Endangered Birds:  Ensuring a Future in the Wildby Thane Maynard.  Published by the Zoological Society of Cincinnati, Inc., 1993.

Shorebirds:  Beautiful Beachcombers by Arthur Morris.  Published by North Word Press, an imprint of Creative Publishing International, 1996.

National Audubon Society Pocket Guide to Familiar Birds of Sea and Shore.  Text by Simon Perkins.  Published by Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1994.

Shorebirds by Des Thompson and Ingvar Byrkjedal.  Published by Voyageur Press, Inc., 2001.

How to Know the Birds:  An Introduction to Bird Recognition by Roger Tory Peterson.  1986 Edition published by Gramercy Publishing Company, distributed by Crown Publishers, Inc., by arrangement with Houghton Mifflin Company.

 

 

RELATED WEB SITES

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Piping_Plover/id

Michigan Department of Natural Resources

http://www.michigan.gov/dnr

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

www.fws.gov/endangered

Hyde, D.A.  1999.  Special animal abstract for Charadrius melodus (piping plover).  Michigan Natural Features Inventory, P.O. Box 30444, Lansing, MI  48909

http://web4.msue.msu.edu/mnfi/abstracts/zoology/Charadrius_melodus.pdf

Environment Canada

http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/virtual_sara/files/gen_info/fs_piping_plover_eastern_canada_0210_e.pdf

Texas Parks and Wildlife

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_bk_w7000_0013_piping_plover.pdf