Piping Plover Captive Rearing Project
In May of 2005, I was contacted by Saskatchewan conservationist Nolan Matthies. He asked me to establish a photographic record of the Piping Plover Captive Rearing project. Nolan past away on July 10th, 2010. His commitment to wildlife conservation inspired everyone that worked with him. Following his retirement Nolan worked many years with the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority, helping to restore shorebird habitat near Chaplin, Saskatchewan. This webpage is dedicated to his work and memory.
Excerpt: "Piping Plover Captive Rearing Protocols" Prepared by: Corie L. White & D. Glen McMaster, Saskatchewan Watershed Authority
The South Saskatchewan River supports upwards of 5% of the North American breeding population and frequently supports one of the largest single site populations in the North America. The Saskatchewan Watershed Authority with funding from SaskPower, and in cooperation with the Canadian Wildlife Service and Nature Saskatchewan Piping Plover Guardian Program, undertook monitoring of the South Saskatchewan River from Saskatchewan Landing to Saskatoon in early May, 2005. By late May the shores of the South Saskatchewan River from Gardiner Dam to Saskatoon was home to 7.5 % (447 adults) of the North American breeding population (~ 6000 adults) and record number of nests (150). However, by 4 June, 2005 record rain had fallen in Alberta (~240mm) and began flowing toward the South Saskatchewan River and Lake Diefenbaker. With the threat of imminent flooding and complete reproductive failure all attempts were made to move nests to higher elevations. However, after nest moving initiatives failed because water was rising too high too fast, and plans to transfer plover eggs to the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Gavin’s Point captive-rearing facility in Nebraska fell through, the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority assumed the task of raising the young themselves.
Automatic slideshow
In May of 2005, I was contacted by Saskatchewan conservationist Nolan Matthies. He asked me to establish a photographic record of the Piping Plover Captive Rearing project. Nolan past away on July 10th, 2010. His commitment to wildlife conservation inspired everyone that worked with him. Following his retirement Nolan worked many years with the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority, helping to restore shorebird habitat near Chaplin, Saskatchewan. This webpage is dedicated to his work and memory.
Excerpt: "Piping Plover Captive Rearing Protocols" Prepared by: Corie L. White & D. Glen McMaster, Saskatchewan Watershed Authority
The South Saskatchewan River supports upwards of 5% of the North American breeding population and frequently supports one of the largest single site populations in the North America. The Saskatchewan Watershed Authority with funding from SaskPower, and in cooperation with the Canadian Wildlife Service and Nature Saskatchewan Piping Plover Guardian Program, undertook monitoring of the South Saskatchewan River from Saskatchewan Landing to Saskatoon in early May, 2005. By late May the shores of the South Saskatchewan River from Gardiner Dam to Saskatoon was home to 7.5 % (447 adults) of the North American breeding population (~ 6000 adults) and record number of nests (150). However, by 4 June, 2005 record rain had fallen in Alberta (~240mm) and began flowing toward the South Saskatchewan River and Lake Diefenbaker. With the threat of imminent flooding and complete reproductive failure all attempts were made to move nests to higher elevations. However, after nest moving initiatives failed because water was rising too high too fast, and plans to transfer plover eggs to the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Gavin’s Point captive-rearing facility in Nebraska fell through, the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority assumed the task of raising the young themselves.
Automatic slideshow