After being placed on the endangered species list in the early 1980's, Michigan bird experts say the number of breeding pairs of Piping Plovers are on the rise.
The Piping Plover is a tiny shorebird that nests primarily along the shores of the Great Lakes. Experts say they are a necessary indicator of a healthy ecosystem along shores.
Stephanie Schubel, with the Great Lakes Piping Plover conservation team, said recovery efforts of volunteers have helped with the bird's comeback.
"We've done a great job with all the different management practices put into place since then, and we hit a record pair count at 88 pairs," she explained.
That count came at the end of the 2025 breeding season. The bird count, at its lowest point in the 1980's, was 12 to 17 pairs, which placed them on the endangered species list.
Schubel said human activity, predators, and shoreline development led to the birds' initial decline. Piping plovers create their nests as a shallow depression in the sand often lined with small pebbles or shells.
These nests are typically located along open beaches and contain only three to four eggs. Because they're camouflaged, they can be hard to see.
Schubel said many beachgoers may walk on or run over nests along the lakeshore if they aren't aware of the nests. She said to keep numbers growing, humans need to keep their distance.
"All shorebirds need about 100 feet of space between them and a person. So, if you think about that in terms of kayaks, it's like six kayaks lengths away from the birds," she said.
Schubel said getting too close could stress the birds out and recommends people walk along the wet sand close to the water's edge.
To maintain the numbers of the Piping Plovers, Schubel also urges people to get involved as a volunteer.
She said it really comes down to many very dedicated individuals who care deeply about Piping Plovers for the continued growth of the species near the Great Lakes.
