Bird Studies Canada's Nova Scotia Piping Plover Conservation Program is reporting better breeding success for this endangered shorebird in 2014 compared to the previous three years. In the 2014 breeding season, the provincial productivity rate of 1.78 fledglings per pair monitored surpassed the annual objective (1.65) outlined in the federal Recovery Strategy for the species. However, the province's total 2014 population of 46 pairs was down by six pairs from 2013, returning to the 2012 population level.

The vast majority of plover adults and young have now left Canada for their wintering grounds. Walker Golder of Audubon photographed this Nova Scotia-banded individual on September 28 off North Andros, The Bahamas. We appreciate the work of all our international partners, including Bahamas National Trust, to identify key wintering areas for the species and strengthen range-wide conservation efforts.

To learn more about plover conservation and wintering ground sightings, please visit our website and connect with us on Facebook.

MORE AT: http://birdscanada.org/volunteer/nsplover/