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The purpose of this page is two fold. The first is to provide a review of the results of the 1996 International Piping Plover Census in Texas and the second is to provide a page of useful links for people interested in this species. The focus of this page will be on WINTERING Piping Plover information. I hope this will inspire some additional discussion about the bird on the wintering ground. As you can see from the links, the focus has been on the breeding grounds. This is what it looks like the other 10 months of the year.
The species is federally listed as threatened on the wintering grounds and is also state listed as threatened in Texas. Birds begin to arrive on the Texas coast in mid-July. Their numbers peak in October. Roughly half of the world population winters on the Texas coast, but it is unknown how many migrate along the Texas Coast on their way further south into Mexico. Almost all of the birds have departed by mid-May, although a few may summer here (not breeding). So, the Texas Coast is PIPLess for half of May, June, and half of July.
This page, like most, is under construction. Send comments and info to lelliott@interconnect.net.
You can see another of my photos on the back cover of Defenders Magazine, Winter 1996-1997.
Last updated on 23 June 1998
Christmas Bird Count Data for Texas - to 1995
Piping Plovers Plucked
from Perilous Predicament
Image of
a Piping Plover on a nest from the Ecology
Channel
Some interesting facts and links provided by
Biodiversity and Ecosystems Network
US Army Corps of Engineers - Omaha District Environmental
Slide Show on Tern and Plover Habitat
Send comments and info to lelliott@interconnect.net