Released on August 30, 1996
Lorne Scott, minister responsible for the Saskatchewan WetlandConservation Corporation, today announced some surprising results from
the province's census of the piping plover, an endangered shorebird.
Almost 100 biologists and other volunteers combed Saskatchewan wetlands
in June in search of the piping plover as part of an international
survey conducted in nine provinces and 23 states.
"Surveyors located 1,340 piping plovers, 14 per cent more than the
number found during the 1991 census in Saskatchewan, and more than they
expected to find in the province," Scott said. "In Big Quill Lake
alone, 435 birds were spotted, substantially more than the 151 found
around Big Quill Lake in 1991. The number more than doubled in the
Chaplin Lake area with 205 birds sited.
"However, around Lake Diefenbaker, an area considered ideal habitat and
thought to hold at least 275 birds as indicated in 1991, only 75 piping
plovers were found. This year, higher than average water levels have
made nesting for these birds less attractive in this area."
This extensive survey to calculate the number of piping plovers in
North America also shows biologists the preferred nesting spots and the
quantity and quality of habitat available for the birds, all of which
will be used to guide recovery plans for the species.
The 1,340 piping plovers in Saskatchewan are 80 per cent of this
species of bird found on the prairies and an overwhelming number of the
world's population. These plovers are competitive with people for open
sandbars and pebble beaches, especially in June, when young birds are
active and people visit beaches.
Saskatchewan's survey was co-ordinated by the Saskatchewan Wetland
Conservation Corporation and Saskatchewan Environment and Resource
Management. Agencies funding the census are: Gas Technology Canada,
World Wildlife Fund, Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation, SaskPower,
Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management, Canadian Wildlife
Service, Elsa Wild Animal Appeal, Sask Water, Nature Saskatchewan and
Saskatchewan Wetland Conservation Corporation.
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For more information, contact:
Margaret Skeel
Project Co-ordinator
1996 International Piping Plover Breeding Census
c/o Saskatchewan Wetland Conservation Corporation
Regina Phone: (306) 586-1468
Earl Wiltse
Provincial Co-ordinator
1996 International Piping Plover Breeding Census
c/o Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management
Regina Phone: (306) 787-2889
Sharon Rodenbush
Saskatchewan Wetland Conservation Corporation
Regina Phone: (306) 787-0913