Piping plovers are small shorebirds recognized by their sandy-colored plumage, which provides camouflage on the beaches they inhabit. These migratory birds are found along the Atlantic coast, northern Great Plains, and Great Lakes shores. During breeding season, they are characterized by a single black breast band and a black bar on their forehead, blending seamlessly with their sandy surroundings. Plovers prefer open, sparsely vegetated coastal habitats, including beaches, sandflats, and mudflats, for both nesting and foraging.
What Piping Plovers Eat
The diet of piping plovers consists almost entirely of small invertebrates found within their coastal environments. They primarily consume marine worms, such as various species of polychaetes, which burrow in wet sand. Small crustaceans form another significant part of their diet, including amphipods, tiny shrimp-like creatures, and isopods, which are often found under wrack lines or in the intertidal zone. Copepods, microscopic crustaceans, also contribute to their food intake.
Plovers also prey on various insects and their larvae, including larval and adult flies (e.g., shore flies and non-biting midges) found in sandy or muddy substrates. Small beetles are also consumed. All these prey items are small, allowing the plovers to capture and swallow them whole.
How and Where Plovers Forage
Piping plovers employ a distinctive “run-and-peck” foraging strategy to locate prey on open beaches and mudflats. They run a short distance, stop abruptly, and then rapidly peck at the sand or mud to seize an invertebrate. This method allows them to cover ground efficiently while visually scanning for prey. Their keen eyesight helps them detect small organisms.
Plovers primarily forage in the intertidal zone, which is the area exposed at low tide and submerged at high tide. This dynamic environment provides a rich source of marine worms, small crustaceans, and other invertebrates. Sandflats and mudflats, often adjacent to beaches or within estuaries, are also crucial foraging grounds due to their soft sediments that harbor abundant prey. Food availability in these areas is directly influenced by tidal cycles, with lower tides exposing more foraging territory.
Diet’s Role in Plover Conservation
A stable and abundant food supply is fundamental for the survival and reproductive success of piping plovers. Adequate nutrition supports their energy needs for migration, courtship displays, and egg production. Sufficient food resources also ensure that adult plovers can feed their chicks, promoting rapid growth and development necessary for fledging.
Habitat degradation significantly impacts the availability of these crucial food sources, posing a threat to the species. Coastal development, erosion, and pollution can reduce the invertebrate populations that plovers rely upon. Human disturbance, such as foot traffic or off-road vehicles on foraging grounds, can also disrupt their feeding activities, forcing them to expend valuable energy and potentially reducing their food intake. Protecting these foraging habitats is an important part of piping plover conservation efforts.