Photo: Oliver Slater

Why Piping Plovers Matter

Piping plovers are more than a rare bird. They are an indicator species for the health of Great Lakes coastal ecosystems. Protecting the habitat they depend on also benefits many other plants and animals that share these fragile shoreline environments.

Their story is also a powerful reminder that conservation works. When communities, scientists, and volunteers come together, even species on the brink of extinction can begin to recover.

Through education, stewardship, and partnerships, Lake County Audubon Society and the Sharing Our Shore Waukegan initiative are helping ensure that piping plovers remain part of the Great Lakes landscape for generations to come.

The Great Lakes piping plover is one of the rarest birds in North America and one of the most remarkable conservation success stories unfolding along the shores of the Great Lakes.

Piping plovers are small, pale sand colored shorebirds about the size of a sparrow. They have a short black bill with a bright orange base during the breeding season, a black neck band, and a single black band across the forehead. Their soft coloration helps them blend into sandy beaches where they live and nest.

Unlike many birds that build elaborate nests, piping plovers create a simple scrape in the sand, a shallow depression often lined with small pebbles or shells. These nests are typically located along open beaches near the high water line or among sparse beach vegetation. Because the eggs and chicks are so well camouflaged, they can be difficult to see, making them vulnerable to disturbance from people, pets, and predators.

By the 1980s, the Great Lakes population of piping plovers had declined to fewer than 20 breeding pairs, placing the subspecies at serious risk of extinction. Habitat loss, disturbance from human activity, predators, and severe weather all contributed to their decline.

In response, a broad coalition of partners including wildlife agencies, conservation organizations, scientists, and volunteers launched an intensive recovery effort across the Great Lakes region. Through nest protection, habitat management, monitoring, captive rearing, and public education, the population has slowly begun to recover.

By the end of the 2025 breeding season, the Great Lakes population reached a record 88 nesting pairs, a remarkable milestone for a bird that was once on the brink of disappearing from the region..