Beach maintenance has been a controversial issue at Sauble Beach for the Great Lakes Piping Plover, an endangered shorebird. Twenty-eight nesting sites were examined and plover behaviours were scrutinized to determine if plovers prefer a “clean” beach. The ideal plover habitat contained 40.5% vegetation and debris. Plovers spend 56.3% of their time on the wrack line so raking the beach would definitely hasten their extinction.
Islay Graham
Beach maintenance has been a controversial issue at Sauble Beach for the Great Lakes Piping Plover, an endangered shorebird. Twenty-eight nesting sites were examined and plover behaviours were scrutinized to determine if plovers prefer a “clean” beach. The ideal plover habitat contained 40.5% vegetation and debris. Plovers spend 56.3% of their time on the wrack line so raking the beach would definitely hasten their extinction.