Piping Plover
Charadrius
melodus
This bird is classified as "threatened" and is protected under the Endangered Species Act.
The Piping Plover pictured in the
three photos (above) photographed 12 April 2008 at Lake
Hefner (Oklahoma City). Research on the leg bands provided information from
Prairie and
Northern Wildlife Research Center in Saskatoon
on
the bird's history. This Piping Plover
was originally from Lake Diefenbaker, Saskatchewan. It was one of several chicks
that
were captive reared in 2002 when the reservoir water rapidly rose during the
nesting period,
threatening to flood all nests. The eggs were taken to a captive rearing
facility in the US
then brought back to Chaplin Lake, Saskatchewan to be released once they had
achieved fledging.
Photo: © 2006-2008
Patricia Velte