Piping Plovers on Hirtles Beach

August 01, 2025
A volunteer from Birds Canada removed the signage and fencing that had been set up on April 24th in the area most suitable for piping plover breeding on Hirtle’s Beach. Only one pair was observed throughout the season. They had only one nesting attempt with 4 eggs that hatched but only 2 chicks were ever seen. Unfortunately, none of the chicks survived. Birds Canada observed that this was a disappointing outcome given the plovers’ success in raising 3 fledglings last year at the Beach.

The shoreline of Hirtle’s Pond is an important alternative foraging habitat for the adults to bring their chicks for feeding, since they don’t typically bring them over the rocks and onto the ocean side of the beach until the chicks are much older. The large number of beach goers makes it harder for adult plovers to leave the fenced area to forage along the wet sand, or to bring their chicks out to those important foraging areas. Additionally, there are numerous potential predators, including gulls and crows, that are likely attracted by the large numbers of beach visitors.

Piping plovers are an endangered species in Nova Scotia with only 69 pairs, 5 singles, 80 nests and 115 fledglings reported in July 2025.

Birds Canada is a national charitable organization dedicated to bird conservation. — Heather McAllister