Piping Plover
(Charadrius melodus)
Piping Plover
The piping plover
is generally a species
of northern and
northeastern Montana.
It is known to breed
in wetland areas
throughout this region. Piping plovers
primarily select un-vegetated sand or
pebble beaches on shorelines or islands in
freshwater and saline wetlands for nesting.
Conservation concerns include: destruction
and degradation of summer and winter
habitat; shoreline erosion;
human disturbances of nesting
and foraging birds; and
predation. Conservation strategies
include: protecting as much
existing native prairie as
feasible, primarily by conservation easements;
restoring drained wetlands; increasing
nesting substrate when it appears
to be a limiting factor affecting use of wetlands;
avoiding oil and gas development near
wetlands; and directing predator management.
